The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-17
Debate in the Forum.

DEBATE in the Forum.
Question, Resolved: That Legisla-
tive Bodies be Chosen by Proportional
Representation" President Williams
introduced Mr.. Deter as the first
speaker of the affirmative who showed
that under the present system large
part of the people are not fairly rep
resented. He took for his illustration
our own state, where the democrats
OF the state are not represented be-
cause of the overshadowing majority
OF the republicans. The democratic
vote is really wasted. He cited how
Cleveland for the presidency was de-
feated, although he received majority
of the popular vote.
Mr.. Small was the first speaker of
the negative. He showed our con-
servatism as a race, and maintained
that this was the principle which has
made this nation truly great The sec
ond fundamental principle is the
spirit of Cancellation. He then showed
what a radical step it would be and
how contrary to these principles, to
Introduce proportional representation.
No country of any Importance or size
has tried the proposed system. Our
present system is not intrinsically
bad, it has some bad features, but it
is not so bad as to warrant such a
radical reform.
Mr.. Samson continued for the af-
firmative. The speaker, by figures and
Illustrations showed how the two sys-
TENS would work out He tried to
make it evident that under the present
system we have not got representative
government. He contended that the
debate did not turn on present condi-
tions, but upon the principle of the
REFORM 1t is whether proportional
representation is preferable if it We're
in effect to the present system. He
closed by saying that demagogues
could by playing upon the passion
or ignorance of the few change the
entire result of the election.
Mr.. Shubeck in humorous way
showed how the proposed system if
followed out to it's logical conclusion
may be absolutely farsical. He Show
ed how safe it was to follow the ma
fjority and drew as an illustration the
method pursued by the Japanese army,
who vote upon a particular plan and
: the plan is followed and always ends
!, in success.
The rebuttal was more spirited than
the ordinary and finally settled down
as to whether the reform was practi-
I cal or not. The negative contended
/ that the reform was not practical be-
. cause every little minor sect would
} ask for representation and the result
t would be that the people could not
i unite upon any policy or plan. The
c Affirmative contended that the mega
) tive had been inconsistent in that they
8 asked fairness in politics, but did not
show how we got it under our present
system.
i The decision Of the judges stood
/ swo to one in favor Of the affirmative.
q Mr.. Ware gave a cornet solo that
), )rought out loud applause. The For
i I'm society is fortunate in having
4 ,ome very good musicians in the per-
ions of Messrs. Foot, Knutson, Nose
s,y Skulstad and Ware.
q President Williams called on sew
t.ral speakers to speak extemporan-
/. sously. Mr.. Rudolph said he would be
:. clad to speak On the subject, Should
I he University Participate in Municipal
Politics" next Wednesday night.
7 Mr.. Husband said that many of the
University students were like the little
doodle dogs, "that could bark. but not
lite But since those living in the
yity could vote It was proper that they
,ahould participate and vote their con-
u