Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-10
STUDENTS IN DEBATE.
Needham Society Wins From Column
bian in Discussion Last Night.

The second intersociety debate OF the sea-
son of the Columbian and Needham debat-
ing societies of the George Washington Uni
versity was held last night In University
Hall. 18th and H streets. The question
affirmed THAT the Panama canal should be
built by the contract system rather than by
the United States government directly" In
which the latter came off victorious
Those who argued in the affirmative were
Elmer j. Lundy of Arkansas, Adam NJ
Beeler of Indiana and John T. Kennedy of
Pennsylvania, representing the Needham
Society. The negative was taken care of
by the Columbian team, consisting of Eu-
gene Young of the District Of Columbia,
Montague S. Ross of Tenness and William
H Woodell of New Hampshire. The judges
were Mr.. William R. Vance, dean of the de-
partment of law and Jurisprudence of the
university; Chaplain Couden of the House
of Representatives, and Capt. William P.
Kent. associate editor of the Arena. Mr.
Herbert w. Meyers of the Columbian So
ciety presided.
The hall was comfortably filed with the
friends of the debaters of the university.
The applause given the speakers was about
evenly divided among the contestants.
though Mr.. Kennedy seemed to awaken
more enthusiasm than di6 the others, for
mis- address, aside from being strong con-
tanned a number of amusing turns which
had a good effect. The decision of the
judges was In favor OF the affirmative.
Mr. Lundy, who opened the debate and
Mr.. Young, who followed for the negative.
each made a strong presentation from his
standpoint. MessrS. Bee!er and Kennedy,
for the affirmative. both brought out
strongly the point of the best use of the
contract system in the canal building
Messrs. Ross and Woodell for the oppo-
sition. also put UP good argument on the
other side.
The supporters of the contract plan con-
tended that In every respect it is superior
10 having fha canal bllilt Inv the
ment directly. They contend that 1t can be
built In less time and more economically,
the labor employed would be superior and
the results would be better than the gov
eminent hope to achieve. They claimed
that politics would interfere with the work
under government control, as there would
De several changes of administration and
this would affect the conditions In the canal
zone, while the other hand II the work
were done by the contract system politics
would have no effect on it and the work
would be rushed. Extracts from several
papers by leading authorities were read.
The negative side contended that the time
consumed by the contractors in making
their bids. after careful consideration and
having the prospective work inspected
would amount to three or four years, while
In this time the government would have
the canal half completed. The failure of
the Pacific Mail Steamship Line TO get the
material TO the canal zone, they claimed,
is an instance of the contract failure.
In the summing up for the affirmative Mr..
Lundy claimed that II the contractors have
charge of the work the material will arrive
on time. He showed by little rapid call
culation that based on the negative side
that the canal would be half finished In
four years, 1t would take seventy-four years
to complete the canal by the government.
The officers of the societies present We're:
Columbian Debating Society-Montague s.
Ross, president; Herbert W. Meyers. vice
president; Paul A. Rehr. secretary; James
NJ Sheridan, treasurer; Leroy A. McGee
critic: Milo B. Goodall. Lloyd Birmingham
and F. d. Couden, executive committee.
Needham Debating Seciety--A. NJ. Beeler,
president: J. T. Kennedy, vice president; c.
w. Owens, secretary; l.. b. Perkins, treas
urer; j. b. Shommer, sergeant-at-aTms; ID.
c. Dobbins and Frank Fraser. critics;
Messrs J. A. Smith and E. ]. Lundy, ex-
ecutive committee.