The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-02
BARNES SCHOOL BOYS
LARGE AUDIENCE LISTENED TO IN-
 TERESTING DEBATE.
Panama Canal Was Subject of Discuss sion and the Affirmative Side W0n--MuSic Was q yTine
 Feature.

It was a great debate; That was the unanimous opinion of the hundreds of men and women who crowded the au- ditorium of the Barnes High School at the Church of Christ yesterday morn ing when they listened to the spirited debate of the six young men of the se- nior class whose subject was. "Kesolv- ed, That tho United States Government should let the contract for cutting the Panama Canal and not do the work di- rectly itself"
 The subject was a big one for the boys. all under 20 years of age, to han dle, but they handled 1t we'll. so well In fact that the judges found 1t a diff ficult matter to decide to which side the championship should be awarded and when the judges, l.. L. Gilbert, F. NJ Moseley and E. c. Fowler. rsturned from the room to which they retired to consider the award. MT. Gilbert. the chairman of the judges, said that the award had not been unanimous, but by vote of two to one. It was a dif- ficult matter to decide because the subject was one of such importance and of such Proportions that it admitted of two sides,' and both of those sides were worthy of the fine arguments that the young men made.
 When MT Gilbert announced that the aihi stut Hdu won III the contest. the wearers of the white and green ribbons rent the air with their wells. Professor Barnes, the umpire, was powerless to quell the storm of ap- plause.
 It was a happy moment for the bovs. The negative side. orange and black. accepted their defeat, but as their friends crowded about them they re- ceived congratulations as warm and ss GinNara q q did ha
 In the six speeches. consuming twelva minutes each. every phase of the great Panama Canal question, that Is now in teresttng men all over the world. was intelligently discussed by the young mon.
 Clint Davidson, son of Dr. Davidson of Reagan, Texas, led the affirmative sid eand Morgan Browder, son of F c. Browder of this city led the negative side. With Mir. Davidson were Arthur Mead and Taylor Jones. With Mir Rrowder were Claude Atkinson and James Browder.
 The boys showed in every speech nractical training They showed that, as Professor Barnes said in his few words of introduction, that the patrons and friends of the school were not in- vited there to attend a fRcy concert, hut in Justice to ';nny boys" to see the results of the years hard work. The showing of the boys in the debate, in their recitations and in their song was such A g to merit for themselves praise and reflect credit on the faculty of the school.
 Four boys representing the four grades oe the school delivered speeches in which they exhibited marked ability. warren Brown of the lower first reeited "Nathan Haie." by Finch. Tom Ray of inc lower second recited Land of the south." by Meek. "Spartacus to Glad Jators." by Kellogg, was the subject of the oratorical effort of Ainsley Cardinal and James Rrowder received the warm est applause of the audience in his rendering of The Closing Year" by Prentice.
 The singing of the boys was a spe- ciaI feature and a most enjoyable one of the class exercises. number of inc hoys from all the grades Of the school gang a Mother Goose" medIev that was one of the most enjoyable numbers on the program. The boys sang without plano sccompanimart keeping perfect time with their leader Professor Barnes.
 The entire school sang several songs Tn chorus that were well received.
 Next Friday morning the Barnes Hieh School for Boys will have tbA final closing exercises at which tiue