Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-05-15
Dartm outh- -MiddIebury Debate.


freshman classes of Dartmouth and
Middlebury colleges upon the subject,
"Resolved that U. S. Senators should be
elected by direct vote of the people"
occurred last Friday night, resulting in
victory for Middebury. Too much
cannot be said in praise of the mastery
and manly way in which both sides
handled their arguments, but the men
of the local college had better COM
prehension of the constitutional law
involved and were much better informed
in regard to the facts bearing upon the
subject. This was particularly noticeable
in the rebuttal, Middlebury scoring some
of its most telling points in tearing down
the arguments of their opponents and in
strengthening their own. 1t was very
evident that they were brim full of their
subject.
The debate was presided over by
Professor Wright. The judges were H.
Charles Royce of st. Albans, Professor
Emerson aud Professor Tupper, both of
L. V. NJ. The house was called to order
by Professor Wright at $50, who in a
very happy speech introduced the first
speaker for the affirmative r. NJ. Pickard.
After very short introduction Mr..
Pickard plunged at once into the midst
of his arguments, admitting the burden
of proof and at once assuming the
offensive. He presented his points with
ease, rapidity and telling earnestness,
clearly showing that many evils exist in
the L. S. Senate today which are
directly traceable to the mode of election
and which would be removed by a
change in the manner of election, at the
same time without the substitution of
evils equally great
Mr.. Pickard was followed by B. E.
Spencer for the negative, who clearly
stated their position and the points
which they intended to prove: first, that
the Senate, as now elected. has been,
eminently satisfactory; second that the
proposed change would be futile as a
remedy for existing evils; and third,
that the change would be nexpedient as
a method of practical politics. Mr..
Sponsor confined his remarks to the
demonstration of the first proposition.
The second debater for the affirmative
was David c. Caldwell. He continued
the argument as started by Mr.. Pickard,
attempting no defense or rebuttal in
advance. but making his whole argu-
ment aggressive.
7. NJ. Gordon spoke second for Dart
mouth developing their second point:
eg. that the proposed change would be
futile as a remedy for existing evils.
A. ID. Wetherell spent the first half of
his time in rebuttal, and in the last half
made more points in favor of the change
at the same time fortifying the position
taken by his predecessors.
A. b. Meservey gave his attention to
their third point That the proposed
change would be inexpedient as a
method of practical politics, and finished
by giving fine summary of all their
points.
Each speaker was then allowed five
minutes for rebuttal, where the Middle
bury men were clearly superior to the
men from the college of Webster. The
judges rendered their decision almost
Immediately and without consultation.
There was absolute silence in the room
when Professor Wright opened the en-
velopes, which was broken by mighty
shout from the audience when the vic
tory was announced. One of the most
gratifying things in regard to this vic
tory is the fact that the same subject has
been debated by Dartmouth and Brown,
and Columbia and Cornell, the negative
side winning each time
| After the debate the speakers on each
side We're rendered very pleasant re-
ception by the freshmen class at the
home of Professor Wright