The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-06-07
Big Crowd Hears Annual
Debate at Columbian
University.
AFFIRMATIVE SIDE WINS
MI. W. F. Adams, Winner of First
Prize, Held That Such Legislation
Would be Injurious to Country's In
terest-Second to Nh. H. 7. Pack.

committee of judges that the argument
is with the affirmative, and we award
the first prize to Mr.. William F. Adams
of Wisconsin. The second prize is given
TO Mr.. Harold J. Pack, of Pennsyl-
yania."
These were the words of Chief Justice
Edward F. Bingham, of the District Su-
preme Court, enc of the judges of the
prize debate of the school of law of the
Columbian University, last night. The
decision came at the end of an exciting
contest at the Columbia Theater. in
which the pick of Columbian debaters
took issue. Those who passed upon the
merits of the debate, besides Chief JUS
tice Bingham, were United States Sen
ators Krute Nelson and Moses E. Clapp
both of Minnesota.
Six Debaters.
Seated on the stage at the theater
last night were the opposing debaters
six in number, and the presiding officer.
Dr. Howard L. Hodgkins. dean of Col
umbian University. The students who
faced each other in debate had met
often before in like contests in the class
rooms and University Hall, but not be-
fore such an audience. representing
wealth. intellect. and refinement.
To this gathering, numbering several
hundred friends and guests, arguments
FRO and con were presented with full
force on this proposition:
Resolved. That the enactment of the
pending ship subsidy Till would be detri-
mental to the best interests of the Unit
ed States"
On this question. the, the following
debaters were arrayed against one an
other William F. Adams. Wisconsin.
George B. Nelson, Wisconsin. and Thorn
as A. Scott, Missouri. for the affirmative.
and Philip r. Hindman. Pennsylvania;
Harold J. Pack. Pennsylvania. and Wal
lace c. Franklin, Kentucky, for the mega
tive.
Mr.. Adams. for the affirmative. opened
the debate, and his address fairly bris-
tied with logical conclusions. He held
that the drain on the Treasury conse-
quent upon the passage of the ship sub
sidy bill would be tremendous. amount
Ing to many millions of dollars.
Would Enrich Corporations.
This vast sum. he asserted, would go
for the protection and interests of pri-
waite shipbuilding corporations, which
already held a shadowy menace over the
heads of the American people. Thus. the
speaker thought. corporations would lay
a vast tribute on the Government, for
which no compensation of Just charac-
ter could be expected.
The proposed merchant marine, Mr..
Adams held. would in years to come
amount to little more from point Of
actual worth than a promise of vague
assistance in case of war. For such
promise by shipbuilding interests. the
speaker claimed the Government must
supply millions of dollars to build ships
which it may never actually own.
Spoke in Its Favor.
For the negative. Mr.. Hindman fol-
lowed Mr.. Adams, and his address was
hardly less interesting and instructive. |
While Mr.. Adams had showed the bill in |
varied colors, both disappointing and |
unsatisfactory, Mr.. Hindman brought |
forth good points OF the pending meas
ure. The latter said that home ship
building interests should be encouraged;
and he cited the cases of railroads and
like corporations, which he claimed had
already been aided materially by the
Government.
Mr. Nelson following MIR Hindman, and
Mr.. Pack, for the negative, coming next
in regular order. Mr.. Scott. a forceful
speaker. closed the debate for the affirm
alive. and Mr.. Franklin for the negative
After Mr. Franklin had finished Mr..
Adams was allowed four minutes to re
ply in rebuttal.
When all had been said on both sides,
DR.. Hodgkins requested the committee
of Judges TO retire and consider the
verdict. This they did. and it was ten
minutes before they returned. Chief
Justice Bingham then announced the
committees decision. There was much
cheering. and friends of the various de-
baters crowded about them as they left
the platform.
Officers of the Society.
The officers of the debating society of
Columbian University are: T. Percy
Guyton, president, Mississippi; Philip r.
Hindman, vice president, Pennsylvania;
william J. Fritsche, secretary, Ohio;
f. Ii. Pitcher. treasurer. Illinois; a. F.
Belitz, press representative, Wisconsin;
Perry s. Pearson. critic. Georgia.
Executive committee-Orian Clyde I
Cullen. chairman, Minnesota; Thomas A. {
Scott, Missouri; John G. Challice, Dis ,
trict of Columbia.