River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-04-08
THE NORMAL DEBATERS.
They Lose with Credit, and are
Handsomely Entertained.

Iney Lose WIN Iredit, and are
Handsomely Entertained.
The River Falls Normal engaged in
its first inter-scholastic debate last
Friday and met gentle defeat. For
though the judges decision went
against the boys, the announcement
was so generously broken to them, and
the treatment accorded them by the
students of the Superior Normal, the
officers in charge of the debate and
the public press, that the contest
looked more like concerted scheme
for lionizing our debaters, and even
making proselytes of them, than a
cleverly laid plan for defeating them
in debate. And whether Bodman,
Sloniker and Andrews were carried
away by the winning influence of the
River Falls atmosphere with which
the Superior Normal surrounded
them, or by the effects of much feast
ing, it was seriously suspected for a
time that these mbitious gentlemen
had gone over, body and soul, high
argument and all, to the rival school
that defeated them. On Monday the
boys returned, however, and it is
through them and the Superior Leader
that we CLEAN these brief notes of the
contest.
The first thing noted by our debaters
was that the crowd quite exceeded
the accommodations, and the next,
that the red and white were given
equal honor with the orange and
black in the abundant decorations
festooned about the hall. 1t was re-
assuring for them to find, too, that
their presiding officer was Judge G.
Smith whom River Falls, but a brief
| cycle since, claimed both in the flesh
and spirit and to whose sensitive vein
of wit she still asserts her earlier
right. After music by an orchestra
and the Normal chorus, Judge Smith
happily introduced the business of the
evening and announced Mr.. Bodman,
who opened for the affirmative on the
question, "ls law embodying the
suggestions of the Baltimore plan
preferable to the present national
banking law" "Mr. Bodman" says
the Superior Leader made a good
impression by his style, speaking in a
lucid, unhesitating way and attempt
ing nothing of dramatic effect. He
| spoke as a debater and not as an
orator, driving his points home by
solid argument"
| Whether or not Mr.. A. p. Casey. the
first speaker for Superior, chances to
be relative of the famous Casey at
the bat his onslaught at Mr.. Bod
mans honest argument partook at
least of the frey quality of that
| gentleman's conduct on a certain
occasion at Midwife. But in spite of
his almost savage ardor, the fires
within him had TO be rekindled. at
intervals of three minutes, from
behind the scenes.
Mr.. Sloniker is credited with max
ing good points for his cause, and
with putting out some of Mr.. Casey's
precOcious flames. He grew nervous.
however, and consequently a trifle
| dithyram bic, So that he scarcely did
himself full honor. But though he
| fell short. perhaps, in the minds OF
the judges, certain young hearts in
the audience were filed with a touch
ing enthusiasm for the speaker, and
swOre by their white hands, he should
have the decision on account of his
eyes.
Mr.. Edwin A. Snow, Superior's
second speaker. is described as the
Wendell Phillips of his school, and
as an orator made decided hit. Mr..
Andrews is described by the Leader
as one of the best debaters of the eve
ming. He not only answered many
of the arguments of his opponents,
but put up strong ones for the side he
was defending. He lost no time i'm
useless expressions but made every
word count" In short. he kept his
head. Mr.. Gillett the last speaker
for Superior was, it would seem, a
trifle better than Andrews, especially
on delivery, and the leader of the six
Mr. Bodman closed effectively, and
the River Falls men awaited the de-
cision of the Judges with equal chances
to win.
After a musical interlude the judges
20. ID. Davidson of Little Falls,
Mimi, DR.. Ellis of Ashland, and Oscar
Mitchell of Duluth-announced their
decision in these words: "The judges
have found it very hard to decide
whom to give the decision to, but
after due deliberation sc have decided
that the side which has a right to it
is the negative"
A reception vas given the River
Falls men at the school building Sat
urday night. Pres Parker attended
the contest, and expresses cordial
satisfaction with the work Of his three
debaters.
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