Evening star., 1904-03-17
DEBATE FOR A PRIZE
MERRICK MEDAL COMPETED FOR
BY YOUNG STUDENTS.
Annual Event Under Auspices Of
Georgetown University Debating
Society-Decision Withheld.

In the presence of three judges composed
of learned men of political and legal cir
cles. four young members of the Philodemie
Debating Society of the Georgetown Uni
versity engaged in a forensic battle last
evening in CASTOR Han. the university
building, for the much priced Merr.ck med
al The occasion was the annual debate
for the trophy. and. Ike all previous similar
contests attracted to CASTOR Hall a large
assemblage comprising representatives of
the business world, the students of the law
departments OF the local educational insti-
tutions and host of ladies'.
The topic of debate was the question af-
firm,ng THAT the true theory of economics
is that the machinery of production must
belong to the people in common" The sub
ject was handled in a way that evidenced
a great amount of research on the part of
the young orators and 1t was apparent
that each had expended considerable en-
ergy in preparation. The contentious were
reinforced with citations of events and sta
tistics The decision of the judges will
be rendered in June, at the annual COM
mencement exercises of the university.
The judges of the contest were: Senator
Stephen r. Mallory of Florida. Represent
ative j. E. Ransdell of Louisiana and Mr..
C. C. Cole of this city. The affirmative
view of the topic was presented by Messrs
Stephen Hayes Desmond, o. Massichu-
sets, and Jozach Miller Sd. '04. Texas.
while the negative was sustained by
Mess-s Don Carlos Ellis, OF Distr ct OF
Columbia and Alfred Grima. '04. Lo lis ana.
President Hall Stoner Lusk, '0i. District
OF Columbia. presided.
The Opening Address.
Following the opening address of Presi-
dent Lusk. in which he explained that the
Merrck medal is provided yearly by
fund set aside for that purpose by the
late Richard T. Merrick, in the interest
of oratory and eloquence. and that the
award is reserved until the annual gradua-
ton exercises, Mr.. Desmond. the first ar
firmative speaker of the evening was MIRO
duced He characterized the top as one
of the hour and clearly defined the prlnci-
pies upon which his argument had been
based The young orator exercised much
care in giving his definition. in several In
stances picturing the contrast between So
cialism and his theory of gove!n nnent,
which he termed "collectivism.
Mr. Desmond maintained that under col
lectivism the government would De sus-
tanned by fraternal ADMINISTRATOR one
that would benefit the entire people in lieu
of a select few. under the present or
ganization of municipal affairs. The So
cialistic idea. the speaker contended, Is 10
abolish all capital. while that or the col.
lectivists is to effect the abolition of
moneys not in use. with the ultimate ef-
feet of keeping a large amount of money
in circulation: Ihe Wealth ~ouiu tnei1pS
be distributed 10 the st,,tad -
10 the ndtefldi ae9i''aO0
its creation.
Mr. Desmond closed with brief review
or the cohuiuohS VI INC nI ne - T.
men ne declared 10 ue ait,, uepV -, ~ bauds
to the CONTAMINATION VI "e"i'i Al 't'e i-'
of few men.
The Negative View.
A.. - .;.o
Mr.. Ellis OF thlS CITY, the hist hes"'iNo
speaker. combated the contentious or the
speaker in the affirmative in a way that
frequent applause He spoke very
rapidly' put every sSiiaDie "a' -.
Ellis poiil'eu out "ha' he 'ei ineo .,e i"
cies U! tIie am ann iilt. a. Snsrnrsi go
To socialism and he characterized the argu-
ments of the affirmative speaker as the
foundation principles of sociallstic- govern
ment: he admitted that ne uiu hol eont.U, Ltr,
vert the advantage oI INC Puo,e Wv 9..p ,t
oi the rai,roaus anu .he s, ~,
-, .Iie e,,, ~ s'o 70 - 49, @ 10
ol an inuus'llvs ooisni say a,.ia, % a.
Do, DoI 81 an "ea, "a - .t 80 -
.ne Iuli harses ol i's toiit Uioea s,ie aoi
-, 81 ~ slao,.o @ ,oIara, @ n,,,rars 80 nS &C.
$1,000, the spedkeI ueciiieu' o"heIs VI
'e'o.ioiiihe".S ~ , 20 WI m .t - 49, a. - soiS
,,, t TIC. a.. e0 ~ -, IL - e. ~
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.nI % Iet1n 20 81, 'a - IL i ~ ,r,a',ons
....f u0' -, g.. 49, - ;t - -
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~, iS +h Is S nha-io " ~ ossis,s ;r ,,s O. 80
s,,ct;or 'e Cai,ac.i,,;sr, ba Said n,,id stiSa
1900. - .i,. .5,i, ne SCI i. "Ga' 60
,lltitiS ~ r.,;,ataS h,;ne,s 80 ~
,t,s - i tha lie - ,rodae witho,,+ -
s.e,,,s,r,, 60 r,-r,,id 80 ha aor,aant cd ea,;,s
srontbayoa Wa,.s s,,ccass an ,ifa Tss S,ith;n
himsaIf -rbe ahnsa OF rights and onnortu-
,,itiaS e hy, irdi,.idusIs end the systen, Of
go,.ar,n,an+ carnot be raasonah,,, baId 70
Snonsihie for social condit;ons ensn;na
'P0i'' ioi '