Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-01
TIE KANSAS MEN Won
Iowa College Debaters Defeated
by the Students From Wash.
burn College.
Grinnell Contestants Labored
Under a Series Of Depress-
ing Influences.
Summary OF the Arguments On
Either Side..List OF
JUICES.
Special to Times Republican.

Congregational church Iowa College
and Washburn College, of Topeka.
kas., met in joint debate and after a
well-fought contest Washburn was ac-
corded the victory by a decision of two
to one. This is the second time that
Grinnell has met Washburn College
and the sixth consecutive time that the
college has suffered defeat in intercol-
legiate debate.
There were those in the audience
OF superstitious turn of mind who
said that Grinnelrs defeat was decreed
by Fate. AS the Washburn giants APP
peared upon the platform the beautiful
silk pennant of Scarlet and Black
which had been used as a chief decora-
ton fell from its fastenngs to the plat
form and during the course of the de-
bate as Grinnell was presenting her
closing arguments the electric lights
burned dimly and yellow until the
house was in semi darkness.
There must be some cause for the
displeasure of the Fates with Grinnell,
Possibly this cause is to be found in
the fact that the Grinnell Debating
Union is in debt nearly hundred dol
lars as the result of heartless backing
Grinnell presents one side of her col
lege spirit when she organizes to sup
port winning athletic team. The 9th
er side was presented last evening
when she failed to organize for the
support of a strong and faithful team
representing the scarlet and black in
debate.
The program was opened by selec-.
ton by the Iowa College Glee Club.
Following this Hon. j. p Lyman in q
few graceful remarks introduced E. f.
Denison, the first speaker of the Grin
nell team. The question for discussion
was. Resolved That all executive
duties in our American cities should be
vested in the mayor and that his APP
pointments should not require con-
firmation" Grinnell sustained this
proposition. The debate was well joined
and consistent in almost all instances.
Mr.. Denison in his opening argument
followed an Interpretation of the ques-
ton by the statement that the mayor
not be looked to as panacea for all
municipal ills. Corruption may exist in
any system of government. The train
ing of the American people. however,
has fitted them to hold one single exec
utive head responsible for administra-
ton of public duties. The system pro-
posed would In accord with this
principle fix all responsibility In the
mayor, who should thus be the eXecu-
tive head and responsible directly to
the people The council should be made
strong and efficient and have all power
of legislation. The tendency of past
years has been more and more toward
this system New York in l1er charter
of 1887 made long step in this line
and this was followed in the charter of
last year, which has placed nearly all
power of administration in the hands
of the mayor Other cities have fol-
lowed the example of New York and
have found the results pleasing. Before
the present tendency toward the prin-
ciple Of concentra tinon the state legis-
Iature was given power in executive
matters and that change proved wholly
The council system is very complex
and has intrinsic weaknesses which can
not be overcome. 1t has failed after
long years of trial.
r. C. Dougherty followed, introduce
ing the argument for the negative.
They agreed that the old system had
many defects. The whole process of
city government has been one of evo-
luton, which has aimed to develop a
~;nl, CHI L.
ditions. The vesting Of powers in the
boards and commissions appointed by
the governors of states was in the effort
toward reform and when this failed TO
produce results the pendulum swung In
the opposite direction and the powers
of administration are vested In the
mayor. But the mayor system fails, for
it does not punish man when he
proves disloyal to his constituents and
fails city. They have no recourse
save to refuse to re-elect him. During
his term of Office absolute secrecy OF
policy is maintained and no one knows
nor can know whether the servants OF
the public are faithful or not. All de-
ponds upon one man and If he is ras-
cal the people have no recourse.
The election of Seth Low In New
York City under the mayor system was
followed by the election of half dozen
corrupt and inefficient
mayors.
Following up the argument for the
c. r. Barnard stated that
the New York and Brooklyn systems
were not perfected as model tystems of
government and that only on the
first of last January has the power been
placed largely in the mayors hands.
The mayor must have all power of APP
pointment of executive heads and the
council must be purely legislative. The
results of the system so far as tried,
however have been thoroughly salts
factory and it is agreed by the best au-
thorities in political and municipal
science that the present tendency of re-
form is the right one. The simplicity OF
the mayor system keeps the people
aroused and they can effect reform
when they desire 1t. The continuous
feature of the legislative body the
council, will secure permanency of poll
cy. The civil service system in munici-
pal affairs must be developed for all
minor administrative positions. There
should be no interference of party poli-
tics in municipal affairs.
H. G. Tit was the second speaker for
the negative. He showed that the civil
service board in this system would in
evitably be in the control of the mayor
and that the heads of all departments
would be changed with each admins
tration. This would prevent all efficient
civil service and continuity of munici-