Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-22
NEGATIVE SIDE WINS
Decision Given in Merrick Prize
Contest at Georgetown.
UNIVERSITY SOCIETY DEBATE
Restriction of Powers of States, In
crease of Federal Supervision.
TROPHY A MASSIVE GOLD MEDAL
Selection Of Best Individual Debater
to Be Announced at An
nual Commencement.

Secretary Root was wrong about enlarg-
ing the powers of the central government
at the expense of the states, according to
the decision arrived at by Georgetown Col
lege students in the Merrick debate at Gas
ton Hall last evening. ','s- .-.. ..
The debate Is the great annual feature
of the Philodemic Society and the question
at issue was: IS
Resolved, That the powers vested by the
Constitution in the federal government
should be enlarged by a restriction of the
powers vested in the individual states
The negative side won, the announcement
being made by Gen. John C. Black Of the
civil service commission. who was the
chairman Of the judges committee. The
other judges were Representative j. War
rem Keifer of Ohio and Representative
Washington Gardiner of Michigan.
The audience, as always at the Merr!ck
debates, was a large one. Both the floor
crowded by the friends Of the debaters and
the alumni of the university. There were
present some of the former winners of the
debate, which has been an institution OF
the Philodenlic Society since established by
Judge Merrick in 1876. The trophy Of the
debate Is a massive gold medal and recog-
milton as the foremost orator and 1oSictan
Of the university. The hall was decorated
ington at the end of the hall was a large
engraving Of Judge Merrick, the founder Of
the Merrick prize. - -.-. -zA~...-:-..
The winning side was announced after the
contest last night, but the winner Of the
medal as the best individual debater will
not be announced till the commencement
exercises of the university the coming sum-
mer.
The Speeches.
The first speaker for the affirmative was
Thomas Aloysius Mccain Of the class of
1907. He took the position that the growth
OF the United States, its rise in wealth and
Importance as world power, have SO
Changed the relation Of the FEDERAL to the
state governments and the relation of the
United States to the rest Of the world that
a change in the Constitution had become
imperative. He said the stronger the CEN
trail government Is the more 1t can do for
its people. and he instanced the warnings
OF both Root and Bryan that the time had
come when the central government needs
more power in shaping national legislation
for the benefit OF the whole people.
Certain evils have arisen, he said, that
can be COPIED with only by the national gov
eminent. Mr.. Mccain named them briefly
saying he need do little more than refer to
them as instances where the arm of the
national government needs Strengthening
The first Of these. he said, is the trust
evil. With these gigantic combinations of
private capital, he said, the government will
have to deal, for If we do not call them to
account now we will leave a larger task on
the hands Of God at the day of judgment
In showing how the power of the states
Is inefficient to deal with the trust evil the
speaker instanced New York and New Jer-
sey. New York. he said, is the operating
ground Of the greatest trusts Of the coun-
try. but though the laws Of the state are
against them. they get around it very easily
by having their legal residence in New
Jersey, just across the river. The individual
states he said. can not or will not frame
uniform laws dealing with such a subject
while the national government can regulate
it for all the states If given the chance.
Uniform divorce laws, railroad regulation.
uniform insurance laws and the regulation
of child labor are among the other press
ing necessities Of the present situation, the
speaker said. And he said that If the neces-