New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-06-11
THE TRIBUNE'S GAVEL.
RETIEW OF DEBATES.
Successful Season Closing IN Pubic
School and Other Leagues.

The story of the development of The Tribune de-
batting leagues Is interesting one Inc secoha
season has just closed with the defamation
contest on June in the great auditorium Oh the
Girls High School of Brooklyn. where representa-
tives of six high schools in three borougns. WHOSE
pupjIs number from seven to eight thousand, dehV"
cred prose selections in competition for tiireo
prizes. amounting $50 in books.
Dr. William H. Maxwell. City superintendent Oh
Schools presided and ]. Edward Swanstrom, eX-
Borough President of Brooklyn, announced the oe
cision of the board of seven judges. H. N. hel-
Iogg business manager of The Tribune, awarded
the prizes.
Ralph Dyval Robinson, of the Boys High School
who won the first prize. has expressed mmsen as
delighted with the set of ten illustrated 'oiunio
of Harper's Encyclopaedia of United STATES iii9
tory which he received. Samuel Gurlan, OF the
Commercial High School of Brooklyn received sec
ond prize six volumes. illustrated. Lydekkers Ma.
rral History and Vincent Gilroy, OF tie 70
Clinton High School, Manhattan. received tne tniu
prize, copy of Websters Encyeiopse''' nv
tionary. h..
Music both vocal and instrumental was Iur
ntshed by three of the high schools representa-
superintendent Maxwell expressed hii a.
greatly pleased with the undertaking. =.
The defamation contest was the outgro"th %
,ba c.rastar Naw-york Interscholastic DEBATING
League organized three years ago oy Juasoh ~
Swift a student of the Eastern DlS'IiN'
School of Brooklyn. He was encouraseu nu 80.
vised by Dr. Charles II. j. Douglas Oh .iio ne -
RuIIetn" an organ which for five years Irieu 10
brine together in various useful relations the hikh
schools of Network City. IT,. :.
Mr.. Swift displayed great energy anu 90 80
the organization of the league ana " nm s
credit is due for its instantaneous success
+atod lost week in one Of the Brooklyn papei''
,1av+ IN Mr. Swift credit should be given 10 An
thony P Hodgins another student VI ~ 80 tho
District High School, who, as secte'ais -, -,
league brought 1t to high state OF eliiei ~
Both of these young men al INV
York University. ena5 IA
A. arst the work of the league was conilieu :,
debating. About year ana a nan "s 81 no+,pv
me which has taken a deep interest IN pio.io 'e
the cause of oral expression oleleu sase..od IN
competed for by, the eight buildings represeh'e ~ -.
chic 1eapus The 13th-st. branch of the Ne WI.
clinton High School and the Boys Hleh ochooi VI
rzroopIvn each of which had defeated In Succession
rs three rivals the same slde OIL the f4o9'
came together on June T. l''f' " mo
ponship debate. 49,,
DR. Maxwell presided. Judge Rawsen' OF fHcli-
mond gave the decision for himself ana ms COZ
leagues and Mr.. Swanstrom. of Brookiyn' LEAN
Ashley of New-York University Law School' anu
w D prvant for The Tribune awarded the gavel
FOR one wear to the Boys High School of Brooklyn
The success of the Boys High School fired the
ambition of it's competitors. and in the iast year
there has been tremendous struggle to prevent
the gavel from becoming its permanent possession
AZ Rovs High School was defeated by the COM
1nerciaI High School of Brooklyn In the opening
round it seemed certain that the winner "ouia
prove the champion of the year. The Manual
Training High School mad applied for admission 10
the successful league and because of the consoli-
daton of the three De Witt Clinton branches. had
been assigned to the western section.
In the championship debate between the Conn
mercial High School and the Manual Training
High School, on May q. the latter won by vote
of Q to l. Associate Superintendent Edward l.. Ste
vens presided. Controller Grout gave the decision
for the judges. comprising himself William Hank
ness, a prominent member Of the Board of Educa-
ton and District Superintendent BardweH. of
Richmond Borough.
In two years four different high schools each OF
which had clean record of victories. appeared in
the final championship debate.
Judges who have had experience learn 1t is In
dispensable to the of the winner till
the END of the speech for, swept by their intense
interest, the sehoolrnates OF the winners do not
wait for further details before expressing in vocf
erous ways their preferences.
But work has gone further than this. En-
couraged by the way Ia which its first gavel
received. The Tribune has awarded three more this
year. On May the Henry Street Settlement
from Gordon House. at No 1853 West 17th-st., Man
haitian. received another of these ebony. gold
mounted gavels. A. C. Pearson. of the Western
Electric Company. presided, and the judges were
Assistant Corporation Counsels E. Crosby Kiendle-
berger and William H. King and Edward P. Shat
tuck, of Davies, Stone & Auerbach. The president
of the Greater New-York Intersettlement Debat-
ing League is William A. Clark, head worker at
Gordon House
On May TO- in the auditorium Of the Young Mems
Christian Association, in West 25d-st Congress-
man William s. Bennett awarded a third Tribune
savel to the team representing the Central Young
Mems Christian Association. of Brooklyn In what
year. The six speakers from The 23d-st. branch
and from the Central were all young lawyers, and
ests of civiliza ton would be by the United
States establishing protectorate over the Central
on May q, at Public School No. 1873, East Hous-
atyie nd Of SfS thp Larry niIb In
school in the world occurred perhaps the unique
debate of the year. Three young women, repre-
sentng the Recreation Centre at Public School No.
from Public School No lO5. and received from City
Superintendent Maxwell the fourth gavel so far
awarded District Superintendent Evangeline Z.
whitney is in charge of this league ssSn: 10, hoo.
in this city. The schools presided over by Prin-
n1' Harlem have held two interesting contests, and
those Of PTncipS1l Paine in Bro9k PLY and Prin
ei Pstrct superntendent Matthew ]. Elgas. in
charge of evening schools, is in hearty sympathy
promised provide fifth gavel for a new league
to be formed next year There are rumors of new
cities and other evidences of healthy interest
in these forms Of oral expression In These leagues
the winter lyceum in the old red sehroihouse: .,
ing matches in these Leagues and starting new
fashioned matches in pronunciation.
ha 66n% OF ana nde god GAVE offered by The NeWYor
Tribune To become permanent possessioa a gawei
aWarded in the Greater New-York Interscholastc
DEBATING League in June 1904 .,o rs,+-a nabs+-
ing League comprises twelve selected clubs for mon
boys at 4 ssntTes S @ %9 20 PP
md ISIS in Mania tan and at Public School III
aa aha ers az ube Nos Is M 49,
16S no.. ia and III in nm. Manhattan and at Public
Se He tf N Intersettement Debating
League includes senior and junior sections in fifteen