The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-27
HENDERSoN'S CHIEF HOBBY.
BELIEVES IN THE OLD TIME DE-
BATTING SOCIETIES.

both sides of the Question-HOw
He Felt when First Under Fire.
Friendship Between Henderson
and Allison.
Copyrighted by the 5. S. Mcclure Co.
Washington. Nov. 24-Setting aside ques-
tons Of public policy, there is no subject
upon which David Bremen Henderson mas
more pronounced views than upon the i'm
portance to young men of thorough train
ing in the art Of disputation. This IS
quite natural in a man whose exceptional
abilities as a public speaker and debater
have been such powerful aids to advance
ment as they have in Col. Henderson's
case 1t is true that as Speaker OF the
House of Representatives. one of the most
difficult bodies in the world to control,
he will need 90 bring comparatively I'M
tried faculties into play, but beyond
doubt his speeches and debates on the
floor of the House, in conventions and on
the platform have been a special training
which viii be of immense advantage to
him in his new place. His predecessor,
Thomas Bracket Reed, was all the
stronger as presiding officer because of
hs skill in debate.
There was no progressive American
neighborhood without its debating society
when I was young" said Col. Henderson
the other day. Some communities boast
ed Of two or more and the young man
who took no interest in their meetings
was decidedly at disadvantage in more
ways than one among his associates.
Every sort of topic was discussed by the
6ab9faTe wifi IA. INIT to ,,
earnestness as if the decision of tfle judges
a the close of each dispute were binding
upon the whole world. AT first blush you
may not perceive how general and thor
ough is the training received; how wide
the range of information acquired by the
young man who throws himself heart and
soul into general debating, but a little re-
Election will convince you that the ability
10 express his views is only one of the
advantages he derives.
"One of the most desirable things about
regular debating is that the speakers are
forced to read extensively and study
deeply. In no other way can they hope
to stand chance of making a good show
ing such reading and study is far more
beneficial than ordinary preparation for
class room work. In the one case he must
take the initiative must bring out every,
possible point in favor of mis- contention
in order to sustain his side of the dispute
Besides, he must understand all the points
lhtly 10 De advanced on the other side
that he may the more readily answer
them. In the other case he has only To
acquaint himself sufficiently with the SUBJ
5ect to make a fairly satisfactory recita-
lion possible. Il is not expected that he
viii take the initiative at all; the instruc-
tor does that
The higher institutions of learning in
this country could do the young men of
America no greater service than 90 make
speclalfy of instruction in disputation
and public speaking. 1t would Increase
the hold of the students vastly upon the
Things they know and so would be Of great
advantage, even to those who do not en-
ter public life; to those who do il would
be simply invaluable. The sinpIe mower
OF thinking on his feet Is something which
many man has had to learn long after
his school days have passed: hut II Is
something that must of necessity be ac-
CURED by every youngster who attends a
DEBATING school of the sort that was com
mon in Iowa in the fifties NOWADAYS few,
such organizations are to be found any
where, / am afraid
Speaking on Both Sides.
When Col. Henderson was boy. living
at home with his fathers family on Hen
nersoh Pfairle, the debating school was
MS greatest passion. and undoubtedly no
owes much to the experience he acquired
then. There was a debating society In
the home neighborhood which held lis
meeting in the Henderson schoolhouse."
there was another in the neighborhood TO
the west and yet another to the south As
the schoolhouse in which the societies in
the adjoining neighborhoods met were
within easy riding distance, he Joined all
three ana gave up three nights each
week to disputation. Naturally, he had
70 deVote virtually all his spare time 10
preparing himself for the debates. This
gave him little opportunity for the ordi-
nary amusements of youngsters of his own
age, for often the questions at issue before
the three debating societies were of the
most diverse nature. and ii was his prac,
tlce always 10 inform himself as thorough
~ on the opposite side as on his own.
On one occasion the question to be de-
pated was very intricate and, moreover
one regarding which a good deal could he
sad on both sides. Young Henderson no
dced TINS in his reading, and soon after
ne arrived at the schoolhouse was mighty,
glad he had. Ii was customary TO have
three speakers or more on each side the
question generally being worded so that
one side took the affirmative and the 9TH
er the negative. Henderson's reputat ton
had come to be such that he was gener-
any CHOSEN, as on this OCCASION to oDen
me debate in support of the affirmative.
naturally, the next best debator in the
society was invariably selected 10 lead for
the negative. Henderson had already en-
1oyed some close disputes with the voung
man who was 10 oppose him that night.
and was wondering how he could best
him, for the negative side was at least as
strong as the affirmative But when the
meeting was called to order it was an
nounced that the leader of the negative
was not present and would not be there.
In the regular course of events the duty
of answering Henderson on behalf of the
negative contention would have devolved
upon the second speaker on that side. but
that individual declined TO accept the re-
eponsibility, and so did the next speak
er In the circumstances ii was al first
proposed TO give up the debate. Before de-
Gliding upon that course however, the pre-
sidlns officer suggested that perhaps Hen
derson would consent to lead both sides
He demurred for q moment, but on sec
ond thought concluded 10 accept the prop
osition, and then ensued a debate The like
of which had never before been heard in
lhe MLtle schnol honea. For HE a alrr,,a -