The Washington times., 1906-02-22
DEBATE FOR MEDAL
At GEORGETOWN
PhilOdemicS Ill Forensic
Contest Tonight.
TOPIC, "PUBLlC UTILITIES"
Strong Speakers Will Discuss Munlel-
pal ownership-SOciety's Note
worthy History.
TOPIC, "PUBLlC UTILITIES"

washington's Birthday will be eele-
brated tonight by the Phliodenlc 80
cie+v, of Georgetown University with
sah.,e ON whether or Not Public
Irtuitfes Should Be Owned by the Mu-
inequalities
according TO custom. the winner OF the
debate is given the Merrick gold medal,
which remains in possession of the win
ner for one year, or until II has been
won from him in joint debate
II is unllesitatingly said that this
wears debate promises TO be sharply
contested The subject includes muni-
cipal ownership Of street railways. which
Is being agitated this year in Chicago.
an issue which bids fair to become a
question OF national importance.
History of Society.
The Pbilo, suaic Society was organized
+, 1850. From the archives OF the col
zoe II is found that in tEA early 80 5
II was the custom of the society to at
t.nd the debates held in Congress The
yUahsrer-FIavne controversy was enacted
under its very eyes. The adv antages OF
5b5s cannot be underrated- 1t gave the
society q strong impetus for healthy
growth that has borne fruit IA IateI
years. So much so that practically eV-
srv nrominent graduate of Georgetown
ras at one time taken prominent part
in the Phrodemic-
Gold Medal Given.
Rnf in order to further this growth
of the society and TO encourage ioISiiS'o
ability, at a meeting of the old anu
new members of the society IN h,o' a
s~oId medal was given by Richard L.
on Ia ana nlu4-
self at one time an eminent Phhodeinlc
dahater. This medal has been named
a. honor of the donor, the Merrck
,-,AdaI and since its donation has oeen
considered one of the highest honors 10
be won 1t Georgetown
This Years Debaters.
The debaters fsr this year are Albert
Rrtscoe Ridgway, 'W, first a1IlrIh4 liNe'
Georee Rex Frye, '06, second aIllrInA''Ne'
Gerald Maurice Egan, 90, hrst mega
tive and John McHugh stuart. w. sec
ond negative. r,,u.uso+
Mr. nsdgway was born in the DISTRICT
Of C,,,-,.rbia. in 1885 He attended schooi
At ~ lohn's College and Georgetown pre-
naratorv and then entered the college.
He Is now a Junior In 1894 he roWed
on tbs second crew at Annapolis He
- AZ present assistant editor OF the
College Journal, and treasurer OF the
Philodemic Debating Society. IN IsVt
he won the Dixon elocution mccall anu
in the year previous he was winner OF
the Pbilononnonan debating medal He
&c q member Of the Delta Tau fraternity.
He "a generally considered as the best
alocutionist In the college, and has un-
doubtedlv the best delivery Of any or
the contestants in this years debate.
The second affirmative, Mr.. Frye was
horn in Parsons, Kan, but has been
most of his life in the National Capital
He Drepared at Gonzaga. While there
he took an active part in debating, and
was the winner of two medals OF last
wear at Georgetown he captured the
eIocution medal. He is the youngest Of
the debateTs.
The first negative IS Mr., Egan, of the
class Of 1906. He was born in Brooklyn,
y. Y. 1855 He prepared al Georgetown
and entered the college IN the fail OF
1902 In his freshman year he won the
highly-prized honor, the Father Murphy
Horace medal. He has held several
orfices IN his class. He is the man
ager of the varsity baseball team Tor
1906. During this year he has been the
editor of the College Journal. he has
quite a reputation for literary ability.
The second negative is Mr. Stuart.
born IN AlDAnN IN 16oD- ne ~ iCbLiA tI a.
Albany Academy and entered George
town in l903. In 1904 and 1905 he rOwed
on the second crew at Annapolis and on
he varsity last year He is the assist
ant manager of the crew. He has been
a member of the Mandolin Club the last
two years and belongs TO the Delta Tau
fraternity His STYLE of debate is the
straightforward. earnest manner OF
true Scotchman.
Famous Members Of Society.
Among some PhilCdemic deDaters of
past years is the name of John Lee
Carroll ex-governor of Maryland, and
who, while at Georgetown. held prom
iuent place in the society. Perhaps the
greatest orator turned out by the so
ciety was Augustin y. Iturbide, the
son of the Emperor of Mexico. who
left a great reputation at Georgetown.
Another famous man was Bous Bodisco,
son Of the ambassador to Russia. Then
there are the names Of Thomas Herran.
late minister 10 the United States from
Colombia: Justice White. of the Su-
preme Court OF the United States;
stephen Mallory. Senator from Florida;
Robert Collier. editor OF Golfers Week