The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-26

8tty OratOrical association. j. F. +.
O'Connor was the winner of first place
by narrow margin over William C.
Husband.
BY a ruling the Oratorical Board Of
Control, made this year, new system
of judging was used by which the
orations we're graded by the total eff
feet as units and not on the double
basis Of composition and delivery as
has been the custom heretofore.
Mr.. O'Connor, the winner of first
place will receive the Merrifield prize
of $50, and Mr.. Husband, the
the Merrifeld prize of $40. It will be
recalled that last year Mr.. Husband
won first place and Mr.. John Ander-
son second.
The music furnished tended to
agreeably vary the program. Immed-
lately following the opening remarks
by Mr.. Brennan, the president Of the
Oratorical association, the University
Glee club sang "Midshipmite," and ut
the close of the program Mr.. Smell
sang, "A Son Of the Desert Am L."
and also responded with an encore.
The contest follows:
Universal Peace.
Thomas johnson, the first speaker
of the evening, spoke on the subject
of Universal Peace" His Grafton
was excellent from the stand
point of composition. Its central
thought was the contrasting of war
and peace. He depicted the horrors
and wastefulness of the former; the
attractiveness and desirability of the
latter. Europe" he declared, spends
one billion five hundred thousand dol
lars annually for purposes of war.
The desire for peace is universal in
mankind. The young man is to be
commended for his effort. He Eek
celled HIMSELF: that is, he excelled
all his own former efforts. The con-
seriousness of this fact should be OF
more value than any material prize.
Passing Peril.
LIFT. O'Connor, who came second
in the evenings program, spoke ON
"The Passing Peril" Mr.. O'Connor
seemed to be completely at home upon
the platform, at all times perfectly
selfpossessed and master of the sit
uation. The evil of swollen fortunes
and the idle rich, who possess such
fortunes, was the passing peril OF
our time. The speaker referred to
conditions in Russia. In that land a
complete reorganization of society is
necessary and is now taking place.
This land, too, witnesses the incon-
gruous spectacle of enormously
wealthy and schockingly poor and de-
graded classes. But 1t is a distinctly
American characteristic" said Mr..
OConnor, Ito discover an American
evil and unassisted to apply the rem
edy." Here lies our hope for the
future. The remedies are already be-
ing applied but much remains to be
done. The speaker recommended the
graduated inheritance tax as one OF
the means Of keeping smaller fortunes
within reasonable bounds.
As q nation we are already ceasing
to worship wealth. For instance, the
dignity of labor is being upheld and
is assuming the place it deserves IN
the public mind. Thus conditions are
improving, and, as the speaker said,
"The crimson horizon gives every In
dication of a brighter tomorrow"
Mr.. O'Connor's grafton showed evil
: dence of the practiced and accomplish
ed speaker and was we'll received.
Spirit Of Anarchy.
Arthur Netcher of the A. D. T., the
third speaker, spoke on "The Spirit
of Anarchy" His plea, and 1t was a
sound one, was for greater respect
for law in our American land. He
dealt ably with a question that Is vital
In our body polite. "Our most prec-
ious heritage, love Of law, has been
cast aside" He depicted the various
forms of lawlessness prevalent, dwell
Ing especially on the horrors Of
lyuching. The responsibility for Pres
ident McKinley's assassination rests
primarily upon the American people,
who permit themselves to look ask
ance at lawlessness and anarchy. Mr..
Netcher pleaded for an improved pub
lie sentiment. His closing words
were, Respect the law, in that we
conquer" Mr.. Netcher held the at
tention Of his audience every moment
and his production was truly credit
able and left 9 deep impression upon
his hearers.
Lee on ToIstoi.
Herman Lee of the Philomathian IN
discussing 1.-THE Peasant Count" de-
scribed wildly and in a natural, earn
est manner the boyhood, the early
struggles and the later work of Count
Tolstoi. He showed how this friend
of the people had found inspiration
in the simple virtues of the common
people. and how their deplorable con-
dition and hopeless indifference goad-
ed him on to still greater efforts for
the uplifting of the peasantry.
The speaker was natural and earn
est, speaking in well-modulated tone
of voice. He was not quite as for
tunate in his gestures, but taken as
whole his work was good.
Democracy.
]. X. Murray of the Forum took up
the topic, "The Greed of Democracy.
His grafton showed much work but
lacked somewhat in conference. The
delivery was spirited and in general,
good.
William c. Husband of the Al Alti-
ora, sixth speaker, who had chosen
for his theme 1.-The Independent Amer
lean" made strong impression upon
his audience. From the standpoint Of