Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-09
Pmrley Rinker Will Not Repre-
sent IowaState University In
Hamilton Oratory Contest
AFFAIR CREATES SENSATION
Rinker's Grafton Was Considered Very
Strong, and Iowa Had High Hopes of
Securing the First PIace-Has Left
School, But Whether He Was Ex-
PEELED or Suspended, is Not Known.
to Times-Republicah.

Special to Times Republican.
Iowa City, Jan. 9.-With but five
days intervening before the time of the
Hamilton oratorical contest, Purley
Rinker, of Seymour. representative OF
the State University of Iowa in the
contest, has been found guilty of plag-
iarism, and will not be allowed to COM
pete. The case has created a profound
sensation in university circles, being
the first in the history of Iowa oratori-
cal contests. The young man found
guilty of the charge has left the in
stitution. The authorities refuse to
state whether he has been expelled or
suspended.
The Hamilton oratorical contest is an
annual event in the oratorical life of
the western conference universities. 1t
was established by the Hamilton Club
of Chicago and the nine universities
are invited to compete. Their orations
are about Hamilton, his life and works,
or about the men and events of his
period. The orations are first submit
ted to judges selected by the Hamilton
Club. From the nine orations that are
sent in by the representatives of the
nine conference universities. the four
determined by the judges to be the best
are chosen, and their authors are invit-
ed to attend the contest in Chicago,
where they deliver their orations be-
fore the Hamilton Club. The success
full orator receives 500 in gold, and
the man securing the second place $50
in gold. This year there was a tie for
the four positions. and five men in
stead Of four were invited to attend the
contest All of their expenses from the
time they leave the university city UNI
til their return are paid by the Ham
ilton Club. Rinkers GRAFTON on Ham
ilton, the Champion of National Lib
erty," was considered to be very strong
and Iowa had high hopes of securing
the coveted first place.
The invitations for the event, which
is to be held January II, had been
printed and sent out Rinker was pre-
pairing to spend the week in Chicago.
On Friday, January 6, word was re-
ceived by the university authorities
from the committee of the Hamilton
Club that 1t was believed that part OF
Rinker's Grafton had been copied. The
sentences were pointed out, and the
place 1t was believed they had been
scured from given. All authority in
the matter of discipline or in the recog-
milton Of the charge. was left in the
hands of the university. The sentences
quoted are as follows: From age to
age heroes have arisen with eyes to see
who dare to lead the people from dark
ness into light" Michigan Grafton, in
n. O. L., 1899. "The last half of the
eighteenth century was period Of rev.
olution." Michigan grafton, in N. O..
L., 1899. "-is waited from every
breeze and sounds from every anvil
forge. In '61 that principle recruited
armies; blazed from the hot Threats Of
union cannon; stormed Vicksburg;;
swept up Lookout Mountain; lowered
over Gettysburg and went with Sher-
man to the sea-" Michigan grafton, in
N. O. L., 1900. Action was Immediately
taken by the university faculty. Rin-5
ker. confronted by the charge, said
that he did not consider such an act
plagiarism That had be known IN