The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-20
MUSIC BY COLLEGE BAND
Mr.. F. W. Bonltz Won the Medal For
Best Debater.
THE CONTESTS WERE ALL VERY CLOSE
Mr.. W. N. Kreeger Got The Essayists Medal
and the DISCLAIMERS Medal Was Wen by
Mr.. H. G. Dorsett. An Inter-
esting 0ccasi.n.

The Leazar Literary Society of the
A. and NJ. College gave its annual
series of literary contests last night
at the college chapel.
As has been before announced in
these columns, these exercises were
to have been held Friday night, but
on account of the unpropitious wealth
er, they were postponed until last
night. However. the dance. which
had been so eagerly looked forward
to by those given TO the practice OF
tripping the light fantastic, was Civ
en- Friday night, quite a number Of
young people being present and talk
ing part.
The exercises last night were eX-
cellent beyond the customary grade
OF such contests, and We're greatly
enjoyed by an appreciative audience,
who had dared the inclement wealth
er in order to be present. The chapel
had been handsomely decorated for
the occasion with bunting and flow
ers. On one wall was a large United
States flag. and the rostrum was dec
GRATED with palms. Music was fur
nished by the A. and NJ. College band.
The exercises were presided over by
NJ. j. L. Porter, president of the Lea
Ear society, who introduced each OF
the speakers.
The first contest was for the de-
Chalmers medal Mr.. II. NJ. Miner,
whose subject was "a Legend of
I
who detained Il selection, entitled
1.-The Fireman's Prayer" were the
contestants. Both of these young
men had been carefully drilled, both
had memorized the selections perfect
ly, and both acclaimed in a very
sprightly manner. Their enumeration
was very good, and their part of the
exercises was very creditable indeed.
Then followed the essayists' con
test, between Messrs. A. II. Johnson
and w. n. KreeZer, who had chosen
respectively the subjects Recent
Changes in the Art of Warfare and
SANITARY Engineering" They are
both to be congratulated ON having
chosen subjects Of practical import
ance, and in this particular their eff
forts were in happy relief from the
spread eagleism' which too often
characterizes these college contests.
The subject matter of the essays was
good, had been carefully prepared
and skilfully arranged. and was evil
IDENTITY the object of careful and labo-
riouS research.
The debate was next on the pro-
gram. The question discussed was:
Resolved, That North Carolina should
cease further efforts to be an agricul-
raj State and lend all its energies
toward manufacturing The affirma-
tive was represented by Messrs. W. S.
Sturgil and W. ID. Fauset. The neg
alive by Messrs. j. j. Lilies and T..
W. Bonitz.
Mr.. Sturgil contended that North
Carolina had more to hope from
manufactures than farming for the
reasons that farming is not profitable;
that while we can raise almost any
given product, we do not excel at
any. Our land requires a great deal
of fertiliZing. and the prices of farm
products are low. We have great nat
ural advantages: we have unexcelled
water power, and labor is cheap. 81
Mr.. Lilies for the negative said we
can raise enough to supply our need
of almost any crop raised in the
Unionti and consequently are not de-
pendent upon the wheat fields of the
West, or sugar of Louisiana. He emu
merated the value of the different
crops raised in the State. and said the
value of the total was ST. 100000 Mr.
Lilies had arranged the subject mat
ter of his speech in a very logical
manner, and made many telling
points.
Mr.. Faucet. Of the negative, next
spoke. He said that it was time the
old condition of affairs when we
raise the raw product, sell it at low
price and buy back the manufac-
tured article at a high price, should
cease. His pertinent illustration OF
the North Carolina negro ploughing
with a Kentucky mule and plough
each part of which was manufactured
IN another State brought applause
from the audience. He compared this
State and Massachusetts, and closed
with an argument that factory life
is not lnlmlcal TO good morals
Mr.. f. w. BonitZ closed the debate.
He said it was of more Importance
to a State to have the highest type
of citizenship than to have the most
improved machinery. He compared
the condition of the working classes
of the large cities, with the squalor
and CRIME of the tenements. TO the
freedom and life of the farm laborer.
He contrasted the opportunities for
intellectual improvement and spoke
of child labor in the mills. and closed
by referring to the fact that the
wealth of a manufacturing commu-
nifty went to favored few.
After the debate the judges, Capt
w. B. Day. Mr.. Jos. G. Brown and
Mayor A. NJ. Powell, retired, and af-
ter a selection by the band rendered
their decision as follows: Declaim-
ers' medal, III. G. Dorset; essayists
medal, Mr.. w. n. Kreeger, and de-
baters' medal, f. w. Bonitz.
The speeches were all heartily
cheered. and the contestants were the
recipients Of handsome bouquets.