The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-06-06
Oratory in Indiana.

4
The Indiana newspapers are rejoic-
ing in the fact ths. the prize orator
of that commonwealth has just won
the first place in the annual intercol-
legiate oratorical association This
body is composed of representatives
from the states of Colorado, Kansas,
Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, illinois, In
diana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and
Minnesota. In each of these states
the colleges hold an annual oratorical
contest, the winner in which becomes
the representative to the interstate
meeting. There is an earlier sitting
in each college in order to pick the
best men to send to the state contest
By such process of elimination only
the best are selected for the inter-
state contest, SO that the winner at
that meeting is justly entitled to be
considered the forensic champion of
the central west
But Indiana has further reason for
pride because IN the contests which
have taken place since the organiza-
ton of the interstate association in
1881 its representative has been sue
cessful eight times, six of the victor
les coming in the first eleven years,
the other two in the last three years.
No other state can point to such a
distinguished record. incidentally it
is worth noting that six of the win
ners came from DePauw university
at Greencastle, among them being
Senator Albert ]. Beveridge
1t is an interesting query why In
diana has been so successful. The
state has been famous for its spell
binders" for many years. The fervid
oratory immortalized by George Ade
in THE County Chairman" no doubt
typifes in way the interest felt by
the average Hoosier in speechmaking
as well fas the ease and freedom of
the Indiana platform The tall syc-
amores of the Wabash" have been
many But it would be better guess
that the Indiana college student sue
ceeds in winning prizes in oratory be-
cause he is trained in that art If
an institution has connected with it
a school of expression and makes it
point to see that its students are
able to absorb some of the knowledge
gained in the classroom the results
are bound to tell in competition with
students from other schools where
less attention is paid to this desirable
feature of education.
In other states there are schools of
expression. In some of them work
in public speaking is reuired as
prerequisite to degree. But there is
a vast deal of difference between TAX
ing a minimum amount of required
work in order to satisfy the demands
of curriculum and taking the inter
est in public speaking which is mark
ed in college where oratory and or
atoriosl triumphs are esteemed. There
may be a sociological reason for In
diana's prominence in oratory con-
nected with the political and religious
history Of the state The more prob
able reason is found in the long con-
tinued attention to the Importance Of
skill in public speaking which its col
leges have encouraged.
The value of training of this sort
cannot be overestimated. The ordi-
nary student fails to appreciate it un-
til it is too late. The opportunities
for training in this line are numerous
both in .he high school and college,
The great majority pay little atten-
ton to this element of education and
often are forced to show their lack of
skill under circumstances distinctly
to college bred people
II the Indiana colleges emphasize
this feature of instruction they de-
serve praise for it. If they win the
larger number of prizes in compe-
tition it is only just reward for
their pains