The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-19
JUDGING CREATIONS
Changes in Rules # the N. o. A.
Are Prop ssed.
FIGHT PROMISED AT CHICAGO
Advocates of Change Say Thought
and Composition Is Given TOO
Much Prominence.

The oratorical contest at the university
Friday night for the Pillsbury prize is of
special interest this year on account Of
the important part Minnesota will play
in the fight at Chicago for change in
the constitution of the Northern Oratori-
cal association.
AS the constitution now stands, the
orations are submitted to a set Of judges
who consider them solely with regard to
thought and composition; an entirely diff
ferent set Of judges passes upon the de-
livery.
The advocates OF the change that these
conditions are unsatisfactory in that the
first set of judges, unless they happen to
be orators themselves, are almost GER
tain to judge the thought and composition
solely on the basis of the essay form, on
which basis the thought and composition
of men who have written in oratorical
form is marked very low. One of the
ablest of the advocates of the change
says: - 10y
To judge the thought and composition OF
an oration on the basis Of an essay is just
about as fair as to judgeea short story on the
basis of a poem. An Grafton is just as dis
tinct form of composition poem is,
and judged as an essay it must of necessity
fall short in every particular.
The advocates Of reform say further
that the present system does not give
equal prominence to thought and COM
position and to delivery. 1t gives two
thirds to thought and composition and
one-third to delivery. They base this
assumption on the grounds that any fair
judge must take into consideration the
thought and composition of an Grafton
while it is being given on the stage, be-
cause the delivery is dependent in such
| large measure on the construction. This
being the case, they contend that thought
and compassionate marked twice and de-
livery but once.
Professor McDermott is one of the lead
ers in the fight for a change, which was
begun several years ago, and which came
near being successful last year, only
Michigan and Northwestern universities
standing out against 1t. Yesterday Pro
fessor McDermott said:
I'm going to Chicago this year ready to put
in some strong work, and Others are also. i
think we shall win out this year, and If we
do oratory will for the first time be placed
npon fair platform and be given a fighting
show. ..-- - $50 Il, .-...e .s
II the constitution is changed, the
orations will be sent to a set Of Judges
who will be instructed to read them
merely to become familiar with them.
The same judges will be present at the
actual speaking contest, and will judge OF
the value of the orations then and there.
1t is proposed to augment the list of
judges to such a degree that no chance of
bias of opinion will be possible.
The objection to the plan Is that it ad-
mits of SO much wire-pulling at the time,
Some of the opponents say that the rich
universities send many of their men to
the contests, and that these men feast and
entertain the judges and in hundred
ways bring influence to bear without max
ing themselves in any way culpable. The
advocates answer that although this is
true, the orators start without handi-
cap and have fairer show than they
would by the other method. =
The feeling that some reform is neces-
sary is very general throughout the coun-
try but there is no very definite idea as
to just what particular method shall be
adODted.