The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-14
ANNUAL DEBATE
Held in PuIIen Hall AT
A. & M. College Last
Night.

The annual debate of Pullen, Liter
airy Society of the A. and nj. College,
was held last night in Pullen Hall.
The young debaters acquitted them
selves well, and their speeches were
highly creditable. The subject for de-
bate was: Resolved. That co-opera-
ton should be practiced in agricultur-
al and commercial industries"
The affirmative was represented by
Messrs. j. Clarence Myrick and b. b.
Egerton,. and Messrs. James Il. Moore
and G. c. Clardy spoke on the mega
tive The judges were President
Winston and Professors Kienholtz and
Summey The award was decided on
the general issue of which side car
ried it's points best, without consider
alton of gesture, manner of delivery
or articulation, merely as to which
side more forcibly proved its argu-
ments. The judges spent considera-
BILE time in retirement, and the award
was decided by ballotting, being won
by the negative. The medal was
awarded to Mr.. b. B. Egerton, of the
affirmative.
Mr. Joel NJ. Bullock, president of
the society, presided. There was
splendid audience, liberal with hearty
applause anu IluSlC Was ulSpGIlSCA Wy
the college band.
Mr.. Myrick was the first speaker for
the affirmative. He said that cooper
alton had met with marked success in
Scotland and England-both distrib-
utive and productive cooperation. lie
Illustrated the success that had at
tended the methods of cooperation
adopted by the Standard Oil Company
and the telephone and telegraph COM
panies In commerce it is pracuced
with graeter success than in the in
dustries, but all over the country 1t Is
in active practice, from family stores
to large combines and peoples banks.
Collective cooperation is indispensa-
BILE Agriculture is the planet around
which all other industries circulate.
Where one industry is dependent upon
another cooperation is necessary, he
said, and it is the peoples salvation
from the power of the trusts, and the
greatest blessing to the masses.
Mr.. Moore, the first speak
er for the negative, said every attempt
to put cooperation into practice al
ways reveals the difficulties of rain
bow scheme. The American CONNER
cial system is fixed and it would be
dangerous to NEEDLE with it. In dis
tributive cooperation the laborer en-
deayors to get his dollar, and in con-
sumptive cooperation he tries TO
spend it. Productive cooperation mas
had little success. There is but one
co-operatfVe mill being worked ian
America The difficulties of COOP
Grafton are directly antagonistic to its
advantages, and are destructive.
Mr.. Egerton, the last speaker for
the affirmative, urged that the one
agency which produced universal
satisfaction, although there were ad-
verse conditions which must be re-
moved was cooperation, when must
be acquired in the agricultural me-
chanical and mercantile industries.
If farmers form cooperative So
ciety. with their property as collat-
eral. can command the mastery OF
prices for their products, and its sue
cess has been demonstrated IN ONO.
The success of the Truckers AssOcla-
ton of Eastern North Carolina was
also cited as an undeniable argument
for the cooperative system. Inc
English cooperative concerns have
reduced the cost of products to con-
sumers from 33 IL per cent to 90
per cent The reason why labor
unions do not prevent strikes is be-
cause the unions do not include the
employers, and with cooperation,
having community of interests,
there is a work in real union and
harmony, and thus great economic
problems can be solved. Co-opera-
ton is fraternalism, except on eco
nomic plans.
Mr. Clardy spoke last for the affir-
native. He declared that the great
est question to settle before the
American people is that of labor and
capital. Cooperation opens the
wedge for socialism, and this would
ho ~ American society,".
Tho trust evil is not to be remedied
by cooperation but by competitions
Cooperation is strongest in Great
Britain, but less than 4 per cent of
the Industries of England are OPP
Grated under the cooperative system.
| The Farmers Alliance is a strong ex-
lample of cooperation. 1t was form
ed in Texas and dropped politics. and
working upon cooperative principles
pure and simple, it had a monument
| tai failure.