Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-03-12
TARTAR WAS THIRD.
Edward Minchir, of Newberg, Won the
Gold Medal, and j. Shcrmat Wallace
Was Awarded CerorA pfara

Gold Medal, and j. Sherman Wallace
Was Awarded Second Place.
No event in the history of the Stat,
Agricultural College has brought together
so large and enthusiastic an audience as
greeted the speakers in the ninth annua
! state intercollegiate oratorical contes
at the College Armory last Friday night.
The S. P. trains alone brought 3O3 per
sons on chartered cars; 6S from Forest
Grove, 95 from McMinnville, 7S from
| Monmouth and Independence, and 81
from Newberg. Large delegations ar
] rived: over the C. & E. from Albany,
Salem and Eugene. Long before eight
o'clock, the time set for the beginning
Of the program, q vast crowd had
gathered at the entrance of the Armory,
and there was jam until after the hour
for beginning.
Each delegation was reserved space,
and the incessant din of college Sells
gave evidence of no lack of college spirit,
or confidence in the ability of their re-
spective representative to win.
While there has been some diversity
of opinion as to the correctness OF the
verdict of the JUICES, all agree as to the
exceptionally high character of the ora
tions and the unusually fine delivery
It is estimated that 800 people were
present at the contest, SO that unanimity
Of opinion is almost out OF the question.
The average auditor is apt to be i'm
pressed by general results. He over
looks the fact that separate set of
judges have half decided the contest be-
fore the event has taken place. Fifty
per ceat of the credit is awarded on the
paper OF the orator. The casual listener
gives little heed to mispronunciation,
bad infection, or poor enanciatien.
But the judges are forced to look at the
matter in cold-blooded light and take
into account every defect. The con-
testant with the fewest defects wins the
contest; not the orator who charms by
some particular merit.
The GAzETrE's critic, if he may be
allowed an opinion, must endorse the
decision of the judges at least so far as
Mr.. Miachin, of Newberg, is concerned.
Our whole, heart went out to Mr.. Tartar,
o A C's spendid representative, and we
were proud of him. He certainly de-
served second honers. In natural abil-
ity and power to stir his auditors, no
other speaker on the program equalled
Mr.. Tartar. He was credit to his COL
lege. Mr.. Minchin, Mr.. Wallace and
Mr.. Tartar were so close together that
comparison of the markings of the judges
must be made before one can determine
the shortcomings of the loser. These
bave not yet been secured yet, but will
appear in the GAZETTE later.
The relative positions of the eight
contes ants in the verdict Of the Judges
with their grade of per. cent out of pos
sible 100 were as follows: Minchin, Sc !;
Wallace, SO; Tartar, 80; Bryant, 70;
Miss Barnard, 7s; Schumacher, rs;
Miss Stout and Kerr tied for seventh
place with grade of 81.
The judges on delivery were Senator
F. P. Mays of Portland; Judge VIM.
Colvig, of Jacksonville, and Rev. W. S.
Gilbert, of Portland, The judges of the
papers were Prof. Padilford, of the uni
versity of Washington; Prof. Meany, of
Idaho, and DR.. Penrose, OF Whitman
college, Walla WalIa.
Pleasing features of the programe were
the soles by Mrs. Holland and Professor
Fulton, and selections by the band.
One never tires of hearing Professor Full
toms remarkably fine tenor voice and
delightful Interpretation of every num-
Der he essays to sing.
Miss Holden presided during the even-
ing and performed the pretty ceremony
of presenting Mr.. eMinchin with the
medal.