Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-18
DEBATE WITH GEORGETOWN
Arbitration Between Capital and
Labor Under Discussion.
STATISTICS CITED IN ARGUMENT
Visitors Call at the White House In
Company with Representa-
tive Brick.

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bate with the Georgetown University Law
School in CASTOR Hall last evening But
the cha9rin OF defeat suffered by the stand
ara bearers OF Georgetown was greatly
softened by the praise which they received
from the judges. After warmly compli-
menting both sides at the close of the de-
bate Senator T. II. Carter of Montana, who
announced the award. turned to the group
OF unsuccessful orators. all of whom are of
youthful appearance and said: mo doubt.
gentlemen. when you have become older you
will be able to meet your more matured and
experienced opponents Of this evening on
equal terms. Your effort has reflected
credit upon your college"
The question over which the chosen rep
resentatives of the two institutions contend
ed with SO much force eloquence and spirit
for two hours was: Resolved, that labor
and capital be compelled to settle their dis
arbitration" The affirmative was upheld
for Notre Dame by Patrick M. Malloy, Ter
renee B. Cosgrove and Galitxine A. Fara-
baueh The Georgetown orators who at
p. McHenry Gallaher and Charles NJ Mat
tingiy. Each debater was allowed fifteen
minutes for his main speech and five min
utes for rebuttal A slight latitude was
permitted in the principal presentations,
and In nearly every instance the zeal and
enthusiasm of the contestants led them so
deeply into their subject that the presiding
officer was compelled to give repeated sig
nals OF the expiration of the allotted time.
Witnessed by Large Crowd.
CASTOR Hall was well filled with a fash
ionable audience whose favors in applaud
ing the points scored by the contestants
were bountifully bestowed in apparently
equal measure upon the representatives
of the two institutions. From time to
time during the evening the Georgetown
students in body encouraged their team
by resounding college yells. Music for
the occasion was furnished by the college
orchestra
Senator John M. Gearin of Indiana, who
presided in his Introductory remarks as
sured the young men Of both debating
teams that they need have no fears Of
doing worse than older debaters had done
sion to the Senates struggle with the rate
bill there was general laugh. Getting
down to particulars Senator Gearin said:
1.-THE greatest legislative body on earth
has taken four months to debate the diff
ference between broad and narrow, and
finally decides that broad means narrow
and narrow means broad, ana that
whether the rate bill follows the Consti-
men, you can't do any worse than that
Opening Address.
Mr.. Ma1loy opened for Notre Dame, lay
ing QOWn IH6 pTOpOSitlOu tudt q ACSdhy
constituted arbitration board is necessary
in this country today. This he supported
by reciting the disastrous effects of the nu-
merous strikes in the United States in the
past twenty years and by declaring that
all the present systems for the adjustment
of labor difficulties had proved totally In
adequate. The speaker quoted statistics
showing that in the time mentioned there
had been "a 600 strikes in this country. He
drew vivid picture OF the terrible results
OF the notable clashes between organized
labor and capital In recent years. The sys-
tenn Of trade agreements, he asserted,
stands condemned in the light of expert
ence, while voluntary arbitration Is only Ell
fective, II at all, after the damage has
actually been DONE The same objection was
offered to the method of compulsory tnvesu-
CATION. All Of the present conditions, in the
speakers opinion, point to the necessity OF
establishing board for the final adjudica-
ton of disagreements between labor and
capital. The decisions Of this board. he ex-
planned, would be enforced by public opin-
ion. plus law.
Georgetown's Champion.
Mr. Igoe, the first speaker for George
town. opposed the plan advocated by the
affirmative on the ground that 1t is I'M
necessary and unwise. Admitting all that
had been said about the damaging charac-
ter Of strikes, he differed from the aff1rma-
organized labor is a great step toward the
solution of the problem, which is, he ex-
planned. to secure peaceful solution Of la
Dor difficulties without infringing the rights
of either Of the contending parties. Mr..
Igoe urged that no one has yet evolved such
a plan. He next attempted to show from
statistics that strikes are decreasing In
number while industry and population are
on the upward trend. The plan advocated,
he argued, would be unwise because 1t
would be complex and would disturb the
present growing disposition on the part of
both labor and capital to peacefully adju-
board, he said, would greatly interfere with
interstate commerce laws. Labor unions
have come to stay, he said, and added that
strikes are not unlawful but constitute q
legitimate means Of reaching agreement.
Concluding Arguments.
Mr. Cosgrove, the next speaker for the
affirmative, declared that strikes are now OF
greater magnitude than ever before. He
contended that an arbitration board should
be established since the public welfare is
involved in labor difficulties and as there
Reviewing the history Of labor disorders.
he said that when such things are possible
1t is the duty of the government to inter-
pose and provide remedy.
In taking up the line of argument for
Georgetown MFR. Gallaher set himself to the
task of showing that the proposed system
would be unjust and unconstitutional. He
commended that 1t would destroy freedom of
contract and thereby prove unjust to the
employer; that 1t would sink the laborer
Into practical servitude. and finally that 1t
would be unjust to the public by forcing
the trusts to more oppressive combinations
and the labor unions to more radical meas
ures. He presented the point that the de-
cisions of such a board would be uncon-
stitutional even though the body were
legally constituted.
Mr.. Farabaugh for the affirmative denied
that the plan would compel men to work
when they do not want to or would force
employers to operate their plants against
their will II would eimply compel them to
do whatever they chose to do Ia q peace
full and proper manner. BY settling griev-
ances the principal cause OF strikes, It
would remove the strikes. he asserted. He
thought that court appointed with the
greatest care and including In its men1-
bership intelligent and competent students
OF both sides Of the labor question would
be far better qualified to adjudicate labor
differences than an Infatuated mob.
The whole plan Was treated by Mr.. Mat
tingly, the next speaker for the negative,
a. being highly impracticabie and vicious
In its possible operations The record Of
the systen In New Zealand seemed to the
apsaker to be fuIl Of oznlnoue suggestions