The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-17
GOV. AYCOCK PRESENT
And Made a Speech That Means
Things.
90 RIGHT BECAUSE IT is RIGHT
The Debate in The Afternoon Was About the
income Tax. A Very Large Attendance
at the Exercises. The Reception
Scene Of Beauty
a Scene Of Beauty.
Especial to News and Observer. )


ty-fifth annual debate and grafton drew
large crowds to Wake Forest College
yesterday and last night. The exercises
were held in the Wingate Memorial
| Hail. and in the afternoon the debate
was the attraction which drew about
800 people to the hall
The marshalls for the occasion were:
Messrs Leon II. Vaughn, Alma M
Fourhand and Talcotte w. Brewer for
the Euzelian, while the Philometheseans
were represented by Messrs. F. z. Bar
bee G. f. McCullen, and f. S. Up
church.
The debate was not between the So
cieties distinctively, but each side of
the question was supported by two
young men each from different societies.
The question for consideration was: rs
the Income Tax Justifiable." After able
arguments the affirmative scored the
victory amid applause from the au-
dience.
At night there was fully a thousand
people present in the Wingate Memorial
Hall. Governor Aycock, Senators JUS
tice, London, Webb, Stikeleather, and
others had reached Wake Forest ON
special train and had been cheered by
the students at the depot. AS the Gov
ernor entered the hall there was cheer
ing which was repeated as the banners
of the two societies, Euzelian and Phil
omethesian were borne to the rostrum.
and again sounded as the society ora
tors and marshalls entered.
Hollowbushs Raleigh orchestra play
ed number of selections. after which
Mr.. +. @. Barbee, of Wake, made
graceful opening speech and presented
Mr.. S. G. Flournoy, of Rockingham, as
the Philomethsean orator. His subject
was Calvin Graves, Patriot, Hero" In
eloquent words he told of the deeds of
this bold and fearless son of Caswell and
of the events preceding and following
the building of the State road from
Charlotte to Greensboro. His sketch OF
the life of his subject was most admir-
able and the dramatic manner in which
he lead up to the casting vote of Cal
vim Graves, by which the building of
the road was settled was well done.
Mr.. Leon It. Vaughn. of Halifax, for
the Euzelian next gracefully introduced
Mr.. Horace E. Flack, who in an elo-
ouent and forcible Grafton told of the
valiant deeds of the sons of THE Old
North State Forever" 1t WIS a well
conceived and happily delivered speech,
and was worthy of the applause which
greeted it's periods and it's final burn
ing words.
Before the music which followed Mr..
Flacks's grafton had died away there
were calls of "Aycock, Aycock." and
storm of applause subsidized as North
Cardinals popular Governor came to the
rostrum. Gov. Aycock spoke briefly,
but eloquently. In part he said:
I must return thanks to you for call
ing for me, but did not come to wake
Forest to speak, but to hear and nave
heard excellent speeches, so excellent,
indeed as to make me afraid to speak.
IT'S q great thing to be young and to
be a boy. / wish / was one. and the
truth is that have never felt as young
as do tonight in the last twenty years.
We have had some fine biographical
and historical orations tonight, but the
truths told in them will prove to be of
no use to us unless as incentives for
greater effort and for renewed deter
mination to go forward.
The biographical address is the story
of a great North Carolinian who dared
to do right, and the result is that look
ing back to his memory we give him the
fame that he deserved then. That is the
thing, despite jeers, despite taunts, de-
spite everything, do right, because it is
right and the future will care for your
fame.
And that historical grafton. How it
told of the sterling worth of North
Carolinians who volunteered when war
came, and who went to the front, and in
this fight for light and truth and knowl-
edge 1 want volunteers to go to the
front in the campaign 1 intend taking.
I've been campaigning in North Caro-
lima for twenty years and l will con-
tinue to do so, but as am out of poll
tics and am bound to talk for univer-
sal education.
Ihad letter day ago from a Con-
gresham who aided me in my canvass.
He said: Don't forget your promise
Of educational speeches this summer"
Bless him, I've not forgotten the
pledges / made the simple, unlettered
and poor people of North Carolina. who
trusted in me and the Democratic party,
and SO help me God, will do by utmost
to keep those pledges to the letter.
You are doing a splendid work here
for young men, and the young men are
going forward and are thinking for
and speaking for themselves,
without the fear of offense to others.
This thing thinking is wholesome, and
free speech is all right when you have
the facts to sustain you in your posi-
ton. 1t will be grand day for the
State when the thinkers and the takers
can go up and down the land without
let or hindrance.
But I've talked too. long now for you
young people, as I've kept you from
talking to each other. don't want the
young men to dislike me, so quit that
they may talk to the young ladies whom