The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-08


tendance on schools as means to DO
away with child labor in factories. His
final summing up was that public senti
ment demanded compulsory education.
Mr.. Brown in his rejoinder for the neg
ative said that the speaker before him
was calling into question the statements
of the Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
tion of the State. when he said that
there would be plenty of room in the
public schools for all the children. The
speaker declared that North Carolina had
shown less per cent of illiteracy Tor
the last ten years than any other South
ern State. He contended that compulsory
education would drive the poorer class
of white people from the State and that
there would be a rush of negroes to take
their places on the farms. The result
would be the crowding of schools with
negro children.
Mr.. Little, of Wake Forest, ir his reply
said compulsory education is just to the
taxpayer and just to the State. Il is
Necessary. We ask for compulsory edu-
cation because the time is ripe for it and
because it is practical. Wherever COM
pulsory education has been tried it has
been found satisfactory and in only two
instances has it been repealed. The other
side says the law has not been enforced
and that it is not satisfactory If it has
not been satisfactory, why has the law
not been repealed in these States.
Mr. Howell, of Trinity concluded the
debate. He said: 1.-THE friends o. Trim
ity read from the report of the Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction TO support
their cause. l will read from the next
page of the report of Superintendent Me-
bane, who said: I do not believe COM
pulsory education could be enforced N
the State. My friends have questioned
the statement that North Carolina is adj
vancing in education l learned from the
office of superintendent of Public In
struction this morning that the increase
in the attendance at public schools this
year has been $4,000. They have stated
that the constitutional amendment has
done nothing to promote education. Since
the adoption of the amendment e9uca-
tion has advanced almost twofold in Hyde
and other counties. There are more
school children in the State today than
ever before. There has been an increase
every year with one or two exceptions. !
have shown that compulsory education
has proved failure in nearly every State
1t is failure in every Southern States
and in the one county attempted in North
Carolina it is a failure. Conditions do
not warrant it at this time"
WITH THE JUDGES.
When Mr. Howard. of Trinity, had con-
cluded the argument President Ward, of
the Chamber of Commerce, advanced to
the stage and announced that the judges
would retire The orchestra struck up
q lively air and by the time it had got in
motion on a second selection the judges
entered from the rear OF the stage.
Cheers drowned the music which soon
subsidized Rev. Mr.. Stage was the spokes-
man for the judges and as he hesitated
to begin there was breathless silence. In
happy and we'll chosen words. Mr.. Stagg
announced the result of the judges decis-
ion.
When / was sitting in front of these
young men / wondered how they spoke
so we'll" the speaker declared. But
now as l look on the beautiful faces be-
fore me, l can see how it is. / am for
compulsory education from now on and ]
would have every girl in this audience
come to school," daughter and cheers).
This has been high order Of debate.
1t was we'll conceived and we'll executed.
Both sides have done well. According to
the resolution presented to us to con-
slider we are unanimous in giving our de-
cision in favor of Wake Forest
WAKE FOREST HAPPY.
Hardly had the words passed from the
lips of the speaker before the shouts OF
the adherents of the old gold and black
rang through the Academy. 1t was a
students leaped on their streets and
threw hats in the air. while pretty col
lege girls waved colors from canes, hand
kerchiefs and any old thing that was
convenient In the midst OF the tumult
the Trinity debaters did the graceful
thing walking across the stage to con-
graduate their opponents. This was the
occasion for renewed outburst of ap-
plause."
President Ward of the Chamber of
Commerce, figured it out that the real
powers of the cheerers were about en-
hausted and when he attempted to re-
store order the applause broke ont anew
Mr.. Ward took his seat and waited
few minutes longer when he was able to
introduce Mr.. A. ]. Field, who presented
the silver trophy. Mr.. Fields said
THE CUT PRESENTED.
"On behalf of the Chamber of Com
merce and the good people of the city /
have the honor to present to the con-
testants this high token of our 2ppre-
citation of this annual event and the good
will entertained for the State colleges. |
congratulate you, gentlemen of Trinity,
on your magnificent argument and the
able manner in which you acquitted your
selves. And you likewise, gentlemen of
Wake Forest. have lone credit to your
selves and your college. Your effort
was a noble one and you covered your
selves with glory.
II would impress upon you that elo-
quence is a means and not an end, and
that it is of the greatest Importance in
republic like ours. where the great
mass Of the people have 10 be aroused
to the protection of their rights aid tho
redress of their grievances. Therefore,
when you leave your halls of learning
and go out into the busy world, we trust
you will then carry with you the same
spirit and zeal which you have mani
tested tonight, and as you have striven
nobly for this prize, so may you then
strive for the peoples rights, for truth