Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-02
THE MERRISK DEBATE.
Annual Event at sGeOrgetoyyn College
With Medal ns "a Prize.

with mccall as Prize.
The annual debate of the Philodemic De-
batting Society of Georgetown College was
held last night in Castor Hall, a large audi
ence being present. After a selection by
tle gee ciub, Mr.. j. 2. 3. Duffy. president
vi the thliodemic Society. made a brief in
PRODUCTION, in which he spoke of the fo,,nd
ing of the society by Father RYDER in 1870
and referred to the excellent results which
nave continually attended the annual de-
bate. About thirty years ago, he said, Mr..
Merrick. as a means of providing a fitting
reward for the deba ters' efforts gave a
beautiful gold medal, which was to be con-
tested for annually by the four representa-
ives chosen from the society," and in ap-
Preciation of this generous donation. the
annual DEBATE Is called the Merrick debate
Alter thanking the distinguished judges for
so kindly lending their assistance to the
occasion, and assuring all those who aided
II, III, preparing Tor the debate of the deep apIs
Preciatlon OF the society, Mr. Duffy intro
duced the four speakers as follows. Nv
5. A. Douglas of North Carolina, first at
hrmative; Mr. j. f. Lahghlin OF Pennsy,-
vania, second affirma tive; Mr. f.. j. smith
OF Maryland, first negative and Mr. I l.
McAieer of Pennsylvania, second negative
Inc Judges of the debate were: Nathan
t -: scott United States senator from West
Virginia; David A. De Almond. represen-
tative in Congress from Missouri and R.
Ross Perry. lecturer in school of law,
Georgetown University. The question de-
dated was. That the existence of great
com lnations of capital is detrimental to
the best interests Of society,"
MI. douglas, in opening. maintained that
great combinations of capital are detri-
mental 10 the best interests of society be-
cause they destroy competition, place i'm
mense power into the hands of a few men.
and this power. as past records show has
OFTEN been used to the injury of the many.
no col
the raw product and charge whatever they
please for the finished article; they throw
many men out of employment and decrease
the wages of those whom they still emnlov
AS remedy for this great evil the speaker
advocated publicity and taxation of issues
of stocks and bonds.
Mr.. Smith for the negative, declared that
great combinations of capital are NOT only
beneficial. but absolutely necessary Sucb
combinations. he said, have benefited the
iaboring man by decreasing hours of labor
ana increasing wages. The farmer is bene-
hted by improved methods of transporta-
uon and business depression the result of
cut-throat competition, is prevented by the
existence of great combinations of capital.
Cur loreisn trade too, is benefited by the
existence of such combina TONS
Mr.. Laughlin held that great combine
tons of capital are injurious to the best
interest of society because they raise the
price OF subsistence through lack of COM
petition and do the farmer and producer of
raw material a double injury by lowering.
the price of his product and at the same
.illie charging MIN more for the finished
article. ihey are detrimental .morally be-
cause they are a menace to our politics
because they destroy the freedom of our
"orkingman; because their business meth
DDS are often corrupt and dishonest and
because, finally, they pave the way for
disastrous speculation
MT McAleer, closing for the negative.
SAID that such combinations are beneficial
because they raduce5the cost of commodi-
ties to the consumer and improve the
quaftty of the commodity; because they IN
crease wages and the purchasing power of
wages. They give the farmers improve
ments and have, developed the railroad sys-
TENS OF our country, together with its min
erai and agricultural wealth. Lastly, be-
cause ihey are restoring our merchant ma
rine. the foundation of every great ma
tion's prosperity.
Each of the speakers was warmly APP
plauded. The decision of the distinguished
Judges VIII be announced at the commence
ment in June.