Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1908-04-02
Til Fort Dodge Debate.

Til Fort Dodge Debate.
If Cherokee led Fort Dodge
a merry chase, Missouri Valley
led the fine high school debat-
ers, anything but a merry"
one, and will go down on re
cord as the best team that has
ever met with the Fort Dodge
high school. Fort Dodge can
crow this morning, however,
because in spite of the close
ness of the contest, the deci-
sion of the judges was two to
one, in favor of the negative,
which Fort Dodge supported,
and as far as the Iowa League
is concerned, the armies and
navies Of the world will con-
tinue to maintain their present
proportions and to increase at
will.
Fort Dodge, with it's three
splendid debaters, now goes to
Iowa City for the final contest
for state championship with
the winner Of the Cedar Falls
Burlington debate which was
Cedar Falls.
Missouri Valley has good
and has had good
coaching in its preparation and
for its previous debates. That
she was able to stay in the con-
test until the semi finals, speaks
remarkably we'll for the ability
of the debaters, as this is the
first year Of her existence in
the league, and the high school
of that town in western Iowa,
which has supported its star
team should feel justly proud
in spite of this defeat. 1t was
not ignominious defeat but a
defeat by one vote, and the
most loyal Fort Dodger was
doubtful as to which way that
one vote would go until the
very moment the decision was
announced.
Every debater for Missouri
Valley displayed self possession
good delivery, and a wealth of
facts upon VIII, to base his
theory" E 'abater took
his stand armed with such a
formidable array of authorities
to cite as advocates of disarm-
ament, or as proof that disarm-
ament has been of actual bene-
fit, that the negative was COM
PEELED to take notice and pre-
pare for spirited rebuttal.
Because they were not on
home ground, the opposing de-
baters exhibited a self posses
sion and ease, all the more to
their credit and an indication
of their confidence, surety and
familiarity with the subject.
Charles Kennedy opened the
debate with a good construc-
tive speech that at once gave
Fort Dodge the impression that
she must really work. Ralph
Erixson was the next affirma-
tive speaker and gave a force
full, lo< | headed address his
reaso ag being close and evid-
encil depth of thought and
preparation. Wooster Warren,
the fad representative of the
affit;1a tive was fortified with
all of Erixon's wealth of con-
vincing logic, his confidence,
and perhaps more surety and
more finished delivery.
In their rebuttals they stood
up like men and tried to down
the glaring challenges made by
the negative, and displayed as
much confidence as previously.
The delegation of thirty
people that accompanied the
Missouri Valley team was evil
dence of great loyalty and fine
school spirit. The entire school
board, the high school faculty,
a large number Of students and
friends made up the accom-
party and cheered their
debaters loyalty and with res-
SOD. Fort Dodge also accord I'd
Missouri Valley some systema-
tic roofing recognizing the fact
that so far away from home,
they were handicapped as to
Fort Dodge people felt all
through that her team was just
a little better from every point
of judgement, but such close
seconds, were the opponents
that Fort Dodge loyalists were
inclined to fear their sympa-
thies made them think so, I'M
til the judges decision backed