Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-02
State University of Iowa Debaters

desire to do forensic work. The cause OF
the expulsion of fraternity men from the
Zetagathian society in early days was their
tendency to vote too closely together in the
elections.
"SOcks, ms n Condition Precedent.
A larger element Of the zetagathian So
ciety than Of Irving institute are said to
have been from the farms and poorer homes
and less sympathy with fraternity men ex-
listed in the Zetagathian society on that
account. One of the names that still clings
to the Zetagathian society members is that
of "Sockless Zets." Its origin was some
what the same as the history of the adop-
ton CT yankee Doodle" as the American
song in the days of the revolution. The
Zetagathians were, as a rule, poorer than
the Irvings and some of their members
were currently reported to be not so much
inclined to observe all the usages OF po-
lite society as they were to cheat the
clothier and the washerwoman. The taunt
"Sockless Zets" was applied in a ecornful
speech by an Irving president and taken
up at once by the Zetagathians. To this
day the feet of all candidates for member
ship to the Zetagathian society are exam
ined by a specially appointed committee to
ascertain whether the candidates wear
SOChS, anu no man mas yet Detu lullldl6u
into the Zetagathian society who has not
been cleared of the odium of belonging to
the sock-wearing class by the unanimous
vote of the investigating committee. Hon.
John N. Baldwin of Council Bluffs was about
to join the Zetagathian society when at the
university, when he heard the rumor that
the Zets wore no Socks" Baldwin in
dignantly affirmed that he did wear the
articles tabooed and turned aside to the
camp of the Irvings.
Giving the Girls n Chance
Each of the mems forensic societies has
a sister society which shares it's hall, cheers
it's debating teams at the regular contests
and votes for it's candidates at the class
elections. In return the mems societies &C
cord their sister society boundless admira-
ton and respect and a semi-occasional ban
quet, sociable or dance. The sister society
of the Zetagathians is the Hesperian So
ciety, while the Erodelphian society clings
to Irving institute. The society halls have
been the scene of many courtships and each
society has enshrined in its photograph
gallery the portraits of members who have
ordered their lives as they should order
them by marrying a fair member of the
sister society. Two questions of about the
same trend are in the initiation ritual of
the two mems societies..
"DO you solemnly promise to admire, re-
spect, love and adore the members of the
Erodelphian society, individually and col
lectively?" asks the Irving chaplain who is
initiating a candidate.
II do" the candidate must respond.
d you further announce that it is your
present intention and future purpose to
follow the noble examples of Smith and
Jones and Brown and all that grand galaxy
Of Irvings who have attained bliss and hap
piness by marrying Erodelphians?
When the candidate has said, Il do" the
air is rent with cheers of the society mem
bers and loud hee-hawings from all about
the hall and caresses of the goat behind
the candidate bind the mystic compact OF
the initiate.
The Iowa system of debating has been
evolved by more than fifteen generations
of students. For thirty years past the
annual debates between the Zetagathian and
Irving societies have been held and places
upon these debates accounted one of the
highest honors that can come to a senior
after three years Of hard preparatory work
on the regular Friday night programs of
the societies and on the class debates.