The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-04-10
RO8S VIRGINIA OF DECISION.
Packed OebatioQ 0oapd Reverses 0e.
cision IN Debdtiuq Contest.

|
cisioa IN De6dttsg Contest.
The decision won by the Virginia
debating team over the orators of
the North Side High of Minneapolis
was on Saturday night set aside by
the board of the state high school
debating league, after a session of
nearly four hours, the protests of
the North Side High being upheld
in every particular.
The decision is regarded by all
as bowling farce and as a shabby
covering for the stealing of the de-
cision from the Virginia team after
it had been awarded by three of the
most eminent members of the St.
Paul bar, but that the boys are not
afraid of their ability to again down
the Minneapolis team in their own
city is evidenced by the challenge
sent on Tuesday for another debate,
the teams to change sides on the
question.
To preserve it's self respect the
Virginia school cannot debate a
question with a team from which
it won in the enemy's country, be-
fore a hostile audience and in the
face of tactics which are not regard
ed in university circles as having
| been fair to the visitors, according
to superintendent Bliss of the Vir-
ginia schools, who represented Vir-
ginia before the board.
Virginia was to have debated the
question, whether the southern
states should be subsidized by the
government to educate the southern
negro" with the Montevideo high
school at the state university April
II for the state championship. 1t
is not known now whether or not
the debate will be held. 1t is be-
lieved, however, that the entangle-
ment will be so Strengthened out as
to permit the debate even if the
board is ignored and the two
schools debate for their own salts.
faction and the pleasure of their
friends.
The debating board was presided
over by Prof. Mariah Sandtord, OF
the state university. 1t issupposed
to comprise five of the faculty and
four from the student body. Some
of the faculty, however, were not
present and students favorable to
North high were pressed into ser.
vice, it is said. Some of the board
were alumni of North high and even
with every influence overwhelm.
ingly against Virginia the fight be-
fore the board was prolonged for
four hours before the decision was
rendered.
The judges at the debate were
Pierce Butler, George F. Edgerton
and w. D. Douglas, former at.
torney general. Prof. A. w. Ran.
kin, of the state university presid.
ed. The decision was given to Vir.
ginia by vote of z to1.
After ten days the North high
protests. 1t is alleged that Ger
tain charts used by Virginia could
not be read from the stage by the
North high debators; tina, a North
high orator who went into the
audience so he could read the
charts was called back by the chair.
man; that a Virginia debater in
troduced new material into speech
in rebuttal; that Pierce Butler, a
Judge, consulted with a friend in
making his decision in violation OF
the rules of the debating league.
The Virginia team claims. and
justly. according to the judges, tina,
the charts could be read from the
platform; that the North high de.
batter went into the audience in
violation of the rules of the league
that Mr.. Butler did not consult with
any one but had a man connected
with his law office add up his
figures for him.
The dean of the state university
and other educators state
that they regret the action oa
the debating board which several
said is without precedent and which
was taken without just reason O,
cause.
FINDINGS OF THE DEBATING BOARD
1nthe debate controversy between
the Virginia and North High Min
neapolis teams the findings of the
Debating Board and the answers
by the Virginia team will be of in
terest to manY readera.