The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-22
In HISTORIC DEBATE
Georgetown Students Hold
0ratOrical Contest.
NEGATIVE SIDE IS VICTOR
No Decision Rendered Yet on the
Best Individual Participanf-AP-
peal Headed by Alumni. Who Turn
Out in Large Numbers-FOur of the
Speakers Closely Matched.

In historic CASTOR Hall, at Georgetown
College, the Merrick debaters furnished a
spirited contest last night. and aroused
much speculation among the audience as
to the, victorious student
The four debaters. chosen from the
PhiIodemic Society as its best representa-
tives. argued and reasoned for two hours
on the question that the powers vested
by the Constitution in the Federal gov
eminent should be enlarged by "A further
restriction Of the sovereignty of the in
dividual States.
In answer 10 the recent appeal by Rev.
David Buel, rector Of the university, that
the alumni come in numbers to such
academic occasions, a great number Of old
students were in the audience last night.
and Joined with the Judges and the de-
batcrs in 8 banquet which followed.
The affirmative Of the question was
presented by Thomas AIoysus Mccain.
o. and Edward Joseph Crummey 'OS.
while j. Addison Lusk. 0S, and Hughes
Spalding. '0S upheld the negative The
latter two were awarded the decision by
the judges. Gen. John G. Black, United
States Civil Service Commissioner; Hon.
Warren Keifer, and Hon Washington
Gardiner, but the choice OF the best in
dividual debated was not given out and
viii be announced on commencement DAY
according to a time-honored custom.
Are Closely Matched.
In the opinion of the audience there was
little 70 choose between the participants
Close argument, which evidenced the
logical training Of the institution. made
the stTictest attention necessary in order
that the finer parts of the contest might
not be missed. Mccain opened the de-
bate, after the Introductory remarks Of
the chairman. John McHugh Stuart, who
gave a brief history OF the Merrick con
test and the donor Of the medal The
first affirmative held that the general
government should act when the c0ndl-
tons demand it and that our forefathers
foresaw this when they framed the Con
sutution. which. he said, was by no means
immutable.
He traced directly TO the unrestricted
State governments the trust evil, with
its rebates and illegal practices, the
elasticity Of the divorce law, the necessity
for the pure-food law. and for insur-
dnCe and railroad regulation.
Lusk. the first speaker on the negative,
termed the Capitalization OF government
pernicious and destructive OF liberty
From the articles Of confederation he
quoted The clause Each State maintains
It's Sovereignty and with this as a basis
he wove many strong arguments.
An Aid to Trusts.
lie explained the meaning Of the Con-
stitution and made a plea that il be lived
up TO. and that the government should
continue TO be OF the people for the peo-
pie, and by the people and not one
man government. In answer TO the ar
gument Of the preceding speaker he said
that Capitalization did not destroy. but
increased the opportunity for illegal
trusts.
The second affirmative. Speaker Crum-
mey. contended that Federal control of
commerce makes Capitalization necessary.
and that, although 40 one could deny
the greatness Of the Constitution as a
governing document. circumstances had
arisen which even the trainers of IL could
not fCreseC. He said that changes were
necessary. and that the trainers had left
provisions for amendments. although they
We're not prophets nor was the Constitu-
.ion an inspired document In concur
SION $50 itif+ Lllt IAtAEte lt.ilAtlilitL Lllnt
the Constitution WIS for the people, not
the people for the Constitution.
Sp5ldiug, the last speaker, began by
stating that the Constitution was the out
growth of centuries of experience in law
making He then explained the limited
government. and said that only the re-
dictionary school Of politicians favored
Capitalization. He claimed that the rights
OF citizen and of a State are threat
ened now, as is evidenced 10y the usurps-
ton Of State privileges in the san Fran
cisco school question. and that If the
articles Of the Constitution are 10 be
preserved as "a whole We must head in
violabie even the least of them.
Popularity Menace.
He mentioned the Presidents message.
and said that the immense popularity and
strength Of Roosevelt would make cen
tralizatiOn even more dangerous
In awarding the decision. Gen Black
complimented the debaters and spoke in
glowing terms Of the practice of debating
The Needham Debating Society of
George Washington University elected the
following officers last night: George 3.
Jones president; A. Christensen. vice
President; J. W. Phillips, secretary: Frank
Gil pert, treasurer. John ~ Smith. inter
collegiate debating council; J. T. Kennedy,
sergeant-at-arms; John Jensen and L. J.
Lundy. critics. and II. c. Cook and w. L.
Thompson. executive committee.