The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-07
DEBATE LAST NIGHT
A. & NJ. Students Clash
in Argument.
Question Was the Abolition OF POIili-
cal Parties, The Negative, Repre-
sented BY W. F. Brock and ]. P.
LOVilI Won.

LOVilI Won.
The annual Leazar Literary Society
debate, of A. & M. College. was held
last evening in the Raney Library
Hall. A large audience of ladies and
gentlemen greeted the speakers, and
the college band rendered delightful
music.
The query was: Resolved, That our
government would be more success
fully administered if instead of haV-
ing permanent political parties the
voters would decide at each election
on the issues of the year"
The affirmative was ably represent
ed by Messrs. j. p. AsbuIy and S. w.
Foster, and Messrs. w e. Brock and
j. +. LoVill strongly maintained the
negative. The judges We're Mr.. O..
Max Gardner, Rev. j. c. Massee and
Mr.. Josephus Daniels. Mr. f.. c..
Porter, president of the society, pre-
sided.
The debate was interesting. and
the labor expended in the preparation
of the arguments made them inter
esting and the young orators were
given excellent attention.
After the last speech the judges re-
tired and upon their return, Rev. Mr..
Massee, as spokesman announced
that the medal would be awarded TO
the gentleman making the best
speech. and the award to the side
making the best arguments Mr.. As
bury, he said, was the tWO-thirds
choice of the judges, and as he had
made the best Speech the medal was
presented to him. The negative, in
the opinion of two-thirds of the
judges, had delivered the more plaus-
ible and reasonable arguments, and
the award was given to them. Loud
and long applause was given the de-
cision.
Mr.. Asbury was the first speaker
for the affirmative, and said that the
main forces which have controlled
the country during the past generation
have been the Democratic and Re-
publican parties. Though still exist
ing they have changed, and there is
necessity for a change. The citizens
do not vote and this is because of the
lack of vital and decisive issues, and
the people have no no confidence in
party platforms and declarations, and
there should be a more effective way
for controlling the government, and
the voters should decide at each cleo
ton on the issues of the day. This
system would make the responsibility
of government rest upon the whole
people, not upon one man, but today
there is corruption i'm the politics of
every state. The choice of the whole
people is as good for the country as
the choice of a party. When a man
knows that prosperity depends upon
his decision, he will not sell his
vote Another reason, he said why
this system should be adopted is that
man in it would not be forced to
vote against his will, which cannot be
done in a permanent political party.
One of the results of this system
would be that the voter would cast
his vote with better judgment and
the political worker would cease to
exist, and the questions which would
then be settled that have Vexed the
eople for years. The problem of
labor and capital would be solved by
this system.
Mr.. Brock, the first speaker for the
negative. said that the first great po-
ltical debate was on the adoption
of the constitution of 1889. The for
nation of political parties is inevi-
table. Politics have turned the con-
stitution to new uses. The political
parties are creatures of the people,
and are controlled by the people.
There is much difference between
political parties and political factions.
L
main power of the state for the pur-
pose of doing that which is best for
the common good. 1t is seeking to
discover the best policies and adapt
them for the state. Where there are
parties there is competition, and they
are a part of the higher life of peo-
pie. The government will continue
to be administered by politics, and the
government must be administered
by either parties or factions, and If
the country We're placed under the
system proposed it could but result in
factions.
Mr. Foster the last speaker for the
affirmative, said that wherever there
was civilized man there was an Or
| ganiZed form of government. Democ-
racy means government by the will
| of the people. but this does not pre-
vail in this country. The American
people have what they desire-the
parties. A permanent political party
means that we must conviction
and march to the party music.
| Force of character and thought are
compelled to do the will of the party.
The parties are ineffective and do not
represent public interest They are
| a delusion and a snare. Party leaders
are corrupted beyond measure The
will of the people is set aside for the
welfare of the few. If the country
wants right, freedom and the integ-
| rity of the people, then give the land
| the system of the people by which the
whole American people can take part
| in the government of themselves
Mr.. LoVill was the last speaker for
| the negative. He said that England
and the United States have both
tried government without parties, but
| the system was not satisfactory, and
the two countries returned to parties
| Without permanent parties there must