The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-14
FRIENDS TEAM
WON DEBATE
Cooper College Defeated in
Discussion of Labor Question.
AGAINST LABOR UNIONS
Was Argument of Friends and
They Had Strongest Case.

With the unpopular side Of the CUES
ton. Resolved. That Labor Organiza-
tons are Detrimental 10 the Public Wei
fare" the Friends University debating
team composed Of Wilbur Thomas. John
Charles and W. L. Dunbar, secured the
decision over the team from Cooper col
lege OF Sterling. at the university last
night The Cooper team was composed Of
Ed Wells. VIM. Irvine ana Ralph VII
liams The Friends had the affirmative
OF the question.
Although the Affirmative OF the question
is rather the unpopular side. according 10
the ideas Of q great many people and
many economists claim that The trend OF
events 1T the present time necessitates
the organization of the laboTing man. the
Elienls team argued the oLner way III
most convincing manner. Their argu-
ments followed one after the other
through the speeches OF each man and
At the close thei: points were clearly out
lined The arrangements OF points could
POSSIBLY have been made stronger and
with The exception OF one man, the de-
livery OF the Friends speeches was eX-
ccilent.
Mr. Dunbar who opened the debate
with wei written and logical speech,
outlining 70 some extent. the trend OF
argument of himself and colleagues. He
did not try to speak extempore. lie forgot
in number % places. which caused an
awkward pause. His argument was good.
Charles and Thomas. Of the Friends
team. spoke almost entirely extempOr-
aneously. They have had years of ex-
perience in literary societies and were
perfectly at ease on the platform. They
Spoke earnestly. and brought out their
points in a clear and concise manner
Their points were unmstakeabe TO the
minds of the most care.ess listener. The
rebuttal speech Of Mr. Thomas closing
the debate. was without doubt the best
speech II the evening. His thought. his
acumen and strength were great factors
in winning the debate for the Friends
During the entire time Of the debate he
was studying the points of his opponents.
and in his rebuttal everything seemed 20
turn 10 his advantage for much of his
opponents argument was used for his
own. His summary of his own and col
leagues arguments was strong and clear
and his entire rebuttal speech was de-
lvered in most excellent manner.
In TWO former years Cooper College has
carried off the laurels in debate with the
Friends. They came 10 Wichita this year
fully determined to carry off the honors
for the third time Cooper College is well
known throughout the state in debate.
Their speakers this year came UP to the
high standard set in former years. Each
Of the speakers had received good elocu-
tionaTy training. and their delivery was
excellent and their arrangement Of argu-
ments in a logical manner, was fairly
well executed. But the debaters seemed to
miss the stronger points Of the queS-
tfon. and they failed to answer the strong
points OF their opponents. They were not
So free on the platform. Their speeches
were written and committed to memory.
Mr. J. Irvine was the best speaker of the
Cooper team. He is = natural orator. per
foctly at ease before an audience.
The Cooper arguments were along the
line that the labor organizations We're
q benefit in some lines and il a benefit
10 their members they could not be Il
detriment TO the general public. The
Friends team took the ground that the
labor organizations We're Il benefit to the
members of the organization only. and
that they were a detriment to the general
public. in that strikes We're precipitated
and the unions refused TO consider the
interests of the public in matters relat-
ing to laboring men.
Russell hall was well filed with stud
ents OF both schools and goodly number
of spectators. The Friends supporters.
wearing scarlet and grey ribbons. We're
seated on the north of the hall. while
the Cooper delegation was seated in q
body to the south of the main aisle The
hall was decorated with the Colors of
the two schools and palms.
Before the audience was called to order
the members of both schools had a whole
lot Of fun yelling and singing songs. The
Cooper delegation came IN over the Mis-
souri, Pacific shortly before noon and
spent the day seeing Wichita. Most of
them viii remain until this evening in
order To see the bah game this after
noon.
Representative John Adams presided
The judges were Prof Iden. of the State
Normal school. Prof. Busby Of Peabody.
and Prof Young. OF Great Bend.
II ever hedlam was turned loose in a
college III Wichita it was at the Friends
last night. when the decision of the
Judges announced the decision giving
them The victory. Ii was as if 4 bomb
had been exploded under them and raised
them up with a great and glorious yell
Hats. canes and handkerchiefs appeared
as If by magic They surrounded the de-