Evening star., 1904-03-17
DECIDED IN THE NEGATIVE.
Result of Debate With President:
Panama Policy as Subject.

Debating teams representing the Lyceum
of the Young Mems Christian Association
of this city and Carroll Institute, argued
at the Y. NJ. c. A. parlors last evening the
question: Should Congress support the
President in his Panama policy?" The de-
bate was won for the negative by the Car
roll Institute debaters Arthur J. May and
Joseph D. Sullivan. the opinion being unani-
nous in their favor from a committee of
judges. consisting of Representative Joseph
Crowley. Jackson H. Ralston and Louis A.
Dent.
The Y. NJ. c. A. team consisted of Sylvan
Kronheim and Edwin F. Brown. The meet
Ing was the regular weekly gathering of the
Lyceum. and was presided over by Joseph
F. Smith of that organization.
In opening for the affirmative Sylvan
Kronheim declared that President Roose-
velts act in recognizing the independence
of Panama met the approval of the entire
world and should therefore receive the ap-
proval of Congress. He argued that the
Presidents act was the best specimen of
diplomacy known to mankind.
For the negative Arthur j. May said he
did not doubt that the President had a clear
conscience when he acted as he did toward
Panama. but 1t could not be denied that he
departed from every principal of interna-
tional law. He held that the Presidents s
acts were uniustifable from both a legal
and moral standpoint. He was not willing
to believe that the United States had insti-
gated the rebellion. but he said the rebellion
came along very opportunely. He declared
that this country held too high a place
among the nations of the earth to stoop to
land gluttony and commercial aggression
without moral restraint.
Edwin F. Brown speaking for the affirma-
tive took the position that Congress had
right to go back of the actions of the
President in a matter of this kind con-
fining the question under debate to the
statement as made. whether Congress
should uphold Roosevelt In what he had
done. He argued that it would have been
manifestly wrong to have not supported him
whether or not his action was entirely jus
ufable in recognizing SO soon the indie
pendence of Panama.
The argument of the negative side was
supplemented by Joseph ID. Sullivan, in
answer to arguments advanced by the
affirmative He was of the opinion that this
country had meddled with somebody else's s
business in the Panama matter and without
any right to do so.
The rebuttal speech for the affirmative
was made by Mr.. Kronheim, who caused a
little amusement when he stated that
though he was a democrat he had to sup
port the President in a policy that would
rebound to the glory of the nation.
AT the conclusion of the debate and while
the speakers and audience were awaiting
the return of the judges Mr.. Smith invited
any person present to add to the discussion
stating that, of course, anything that might
be said then would have no effect on the
decision. No one accepted. but President
Shea of Carroll Institute. made a few re-
marks thanking the Iyceum for it's mani
festation of fellow feeling toward the In
stitute and expressing the hope that the
friendly rivalry might be continued.
John j. Nolan, president of the Institutes
Literary Society. also made brief speech
to the same effect