The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-06-05
COLUMBIA WINS
DEBATE HERE
BUT Loses IN CONTEST WITH
9. & \. AT SPRING
HILL.
fLECTIOi OF U. S. SENATOR'S
Subject Of interesting Discussion With
Battle Ground Academy.
Tire Speakers.

Iumbia Military Academy began most
aus iciously Thursday night with the
first Of the series of debates between
n ilumbia Military Academy and Bat
re Ground Academy of Franklin.
There was large audience of the
friends and patrons of the institution
present and the efforts of the youthful
orators were cheered very heartily.
The debaters for both of the teams
acquitted themselves most creditably,
although one of the speakers was
somewhat hampered in his delivery
by lack of familiarity with his lines.
While the four speakers showed
oratorical talent and thorough mas
terry of the arguments to be advanced
on both sides of the question debated,
it will be generally conceded that
Clagett for the locals and Armistead
for the visitors, carried off the honors.
Both showed the best evidences of
genuine oratorical talen, although Ar
instead has the best delivery. His
diction was almost faultless and his
closing peroration, an appeal to stand
by the constitution and ideals of the
fathers and tribute to the Anglo
Saxon institutions of popular govern
ment, was a gem.
The question debated was: Ere
solved, that United States Senators
should be elected by direct vote of
the people," After an invocation by
Rev A. E. Clement, pastor of the
First Methodist church, the band rem
dered two or three selections and the
rules Of the debate were stated by
Col. Edgerton who presided.
The first speaker for the affirmative
was Sam Davidson of Petersburg, for
the Columbia Military Academy. In
opening the debate he stated the sew
eral proposition which the Affirmative
would attempt to prove and made
strong argument for the change in the
method of electing Senators. He de-
clared that from the foundation of the
government the whole tendency had
been to confer greater powers upon
the people and that Senators were
about the only officers of importance
in the whole fabric of the government
who were not elected by direct vote.
He insisted that the people would
take more interest in the government
if they had larger share in the cleo
ton of its officials. He thought that
the change would check the tendency
to centralize the government.
The first speaker for the negative
was Henry Klyce, of Battle Ground
Academy who made strong argu-
ment against the proposed change
He declared that there was more cor
ruption in popular elections, and cited
numerous instances in proof Of this,
than there had ever been in the selec-
lion of United States Senators by vote
Of the Legislature, He declared that
the proposed change would disturb
that nice system of checks and bal
ances which had been the sheet an
Choir of the Republic.
Robert Clagett followed for the af-
frmative The picture that he drew
of the Senate under existing condi-
tons was anything but complimentary.
He charged that there were many
members who were disgrace to the
body: that corruption and graft dom
mated its legislation and that the po-
litical machines and special interests
were in control of many legislatures. |
He also cited instances where the
legislature had defed the popular will |
in the election of Senators. Mr.. |
Clagett made a forceful presentation
Of the question, but it must be adj
mited that the picture he drew OF the
Senate was a bit too dark and savored |
somewhat of the yellow journal at
lacks that have been made upon the I
greatest legislative body in all the
world"
Answering the charges that had
been made as to corruption in the
election of members Mr.. Armistead,
the last speaker for the negative in
srauced the history of elections OF
members of parliament IN England
Gully few wears ago when bribery
and corruption came to be considered
ID nacesaSN part of the system and he
lt,d the affirmative to show how
cw lions would be improved by the
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