The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-05-12
DIXON WON MEDAL
Pullen Society Debate Goes
to Affirmative.
a Stirring D, bate Las Night Was the Attraction
Given BY The A. & N. Cadets in
Library Hall.

night.
This was in the Olivia Haney Library
Hall and the exercises of the evening were
most entertaining and enjoyable.
Theer was a splendid attendance, in view
of the fact that the Carnival was at its
height. No matter what may be other at
fractions, the A. and NJ. Literary Societies
always have a good attendance at their de-
bates.
The exercises Of the evening were enliv-
ened by splendid music given by the a.
and NJ. College band. The music was in
spring and it was greatly enjoyed by the
audience, which showed its appreciation
OF the pleasure given.
The debate of the evening was presided
over by Mr.. 0. Max Gardner, the presi-
dent of the society, who with the secre-
tary, Mr.. H. NJ. Foy occupied seats on the
stage with the debaters of the evening.
The query upon which the debate was
held was, Resolved, That the passage by
our National Congress of a Compulsory
Arbitration Act is necessary to the high
est industrial development Of our coun-
try In the presentation of the argu-
ment both affirmative and negative showed
0Iidt CdIclul COISiucI Nv Ia utCp SIuuy
had been given to the subject, and the con-
test for superiority was wageu with great
zeal and fervor.
As the judges of the debate the selections
We're Judge Robert NJ. Douglas, of the
Supreme Court of North Carolina, Dr.. w.
l. Register, and Mr. ALI A. Thompson. 1t
was in their province not alone to award
the palm of victory to the side which in
| fhnJr IND y, nY,t u-on h11f also 10 n M tho
debater who was the best Of the four and
to present to him the handsome gold medal,
the prize which went to the winner.
The seating of the visitors was most
carefully looked after by the Chief Mar
shall and his able assistants. These wore
the handsome badges Of marshals of the
society and were most accommodating.
The Chief Marshal was Mr.. Edward E.
Etheridge, Jr., and his assistants were
Messrs. Foy Robertson, A. w. Gregory,
Joseph P. Gulley, w. L. knight.
Following a we'll rendered selection by
the band, Mr.. H. M. Foy, the secretary,
read the query Of the debate and named
Mr. Julian M. Howard as the first to pre-
sent the views of the affirmative.
Mr.. Howard spoke most ably in uphold
ing the necessity for the passage Of an ar
bitration act. He reviewed the features
of strikes and pointed out how these and
all their attendant evils could be remedied
by legislation which would make arbitra-
ton compulsory and throw about it the
protection of the laws of the country. He
dwelt with much emphasis upon the state
of affairs in New Zealand, where such a
law is in force, and pointed out that it was
generally accepted by both labor and cap
ital. It's happy effects, he held, could be
duplicated in this country If Congress
would pass a law which would be effective
and which could be used in the interests
of the whole country, a law that would
make possible the agreement of la bor and
capital upon the points of difference which
arose between them, and which without
arbitration would tend to bring on strikes.
He urged the opposition of large organlza-
ton to arbitration was in It's favor.
The first speaker for the negative was
Mr.. w. M. Chambers. He spoke forclbly
upon the question and IN a cOgent argu-
ment presented his views in opposition to
arbitration and showed that the difference
between employer and employed could best
be settled without the interference OF the
government. The view was taken that diff
~ferences could be settled without the gov
eminent taking a hand between the con-
testing parties, and it was urged that such
a law would be undemocratic in its results,
basing this upon the idea that national
legislation was not necessary to settle at
fairs between labor and capital, but that
these could be settled without a law upon
the subject, and that labor had the right
to act as it thought best when differences
arose between it and capital.
Then came the second speaker for the
affirmative. Mr.. Arthur McDixon. In
presenting his views MI. Dixon anticipated
the argument of the negative and replied
to it in his able argument, this evidently
making a deep impression upon the judges,
as the awards later Indicated. He dwelt
upon the trouble caused by strikes and
upon their cost, this falling not alone upon
the parties engaged, but upon all who
were in any way dependent upon them.
He showed that the evils of strikes went
far beyond the actual strike, but that the
result of these was an inconvenience to the
entire world, that the wheels of
and trade were stopped, and that every
where there was trouble. Arbitration, en-
forced by national legislation, he declared,
was the panacea for all the annoyances and
losses hat came from them.
The final debater was Mr.. J.. Houston
Squires. Who spoke for the negative. His
argument ran along the same lines as that
tof his colleague. He urged that arbitration
by the government meant the invasion of
individual rights and In strong terms
showed that it would interfere with the
free use Of private property. He said that
it was a matter that would be found to be
impracticable, and with great earnestness
insisted that it was opposed by both labor
and capital, and that these two colaborers
could best settle all differences without ar
bitration as a national law.
Following the %rejoinders made, in which
the counter arguments of the contestants
were met and refuted as the views of the
speakers differed, the judges retired for
consideration. In their absence there was
music and the debaters inspected and en-
joyed the beautiful flowers sent to them
by friends.
Then came the decision so anxiously
awaited. The. judges returned and for
their spokesman they presented Mr.. ALT
A. Thompson, who was to say what the