The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-17
FERGUS WINS With The NEGATIVE
Long Victories the Affirmative in the High School Debating
Contest stemmed BY the Plucky Team From
f. r*& Otter Tail

special to Inc journal sa.-r E'4.- 'l.-s ~
Fergus Falls, Mimi, Jan. 1.-THE Fer
gus Falls high school debating team won
another victory last evening, defeating
the representatives of the Crookston high
school in one of the noteworthy debates
of the year The contest took place at
the Lyceum theater in this city. Pres1-
dent Void of the Moorhead Normal pre-
siding The debaters were Charles Bay
ley Caleb Hogan and Hans A. Hanson
for Fergus Falls, and Christian Hagen,
Leslie Fargo and Wayne Richardson for
Crookston. The Judges were Dean rat
tee of the state university. President
Shoemaker of the ST. Cloud Normal and
President Morley Of Fargo college. The
timekeepers were Principal Burger Of the
Crookston high scholar Professor Bur
rell of the Fergus Falls faculty. The
audience was large and the enthusiasm
unbounded
The subject of the debate was. Re
solved. That United States senator's
should be elected by direct vote of the
people Crookston had won the choice
of sides ana chose the affirmative, which
is un"'" ionably the popular side. On
the O. hand. the Fergus Falls team
had the advantage of home surroundings
? and the applause of a home audience.
Each speaker was given ten minutes
Tor his opening argument and five min
utes for rebuttal. and Mr.. Hagen of
: Cropkston was the first speaker intro
: duced. He spoke fluently and logically
, and made an excellent impression ~ He
! touched at some length on the reas ons
7 for instituting the present system of
, electing senator's. one of the most impor-
tant Of which was that the people were
not sufficiently informed to vote for men
who we're to fill the highest offices in
the land--a reason which, while it might
have held good In the days when rail-
ways, telegraph lines and newspapers
were unknown, had long since lost it's
force and validity
Mr.. Bayley was the first speaker for
Fergus Falls and dwelt strongly on the
importance Of having conservative ball
ance wheel, such the senate, in a
democratic government like that of the
United States. MIR: Fargo was the third
)! speaker, Mr.. Morgan the fourth, Mr.. Han
son the fifth and Mr. Richardson the last.
j Mr.. Hanson was a member of the Fer
= gus team, which came within one contest
of winning, the state trophy last year,
and he was unques tionaby the strongest
speaker of the evening, although Mr..
). Richardson for the Crookston side. APP
! peared to excellent advantage in rebuttal
!, In general way, the CrOokston de-
;heters reverted to. the claim that the
Matted States senate had deteriorated
9Eoatly In the course of the last thirty
years an increasing number Of senators
being elected by the corrupt use OF
4 LlOHey uey argued ludI 1IlOuSy might
buy the legislatures, al least ma
jority of the members Of one party in the
legislatures which was all that was nee
essary to insure, senator's election but
that 1t would be impossible to influence
a majority of the people Of an entire state
This point was neatly turned by the Fer
gus boys, who pointed out that if the
people electing corrupt Legislatures
by direct vote, they would not be likely
to do much better In the case of United
States senators. The debate became some
what personal at times, the election O.
such men as Quay, Clarke, Payne anc
81 others furnishing arguments which were
not all on one side.
The debate was enliVened by class. yell!
and occasional Outbursts Of song, such a.
Good evening. Crookston, ~
How do YOU do THIS evening?
= Been talking about you
/. The whole day long:
=. Though we may defeat you,
% It's we'll we'll treat you
Well be glad to meet you. ..--...
THO the times not long.
In the good debating time
In the good del ating time,
Thinking of victories,
=. Makes us feel sublime.
... We fear defeat will come TO you. .. ..
And that's very good sign.
That you're not up to the standard
In the good debating time
Other hymes applied to the various de
debaters as, for instance:
Cheer, boys. cheer, for Bayley has the floor.
When he gets through, Crookston will be Il
g more.
s~r Sweet or sour,