Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-03
won BY AFFIRMATIVE SIDE
DEBATE By GEORGETOWN LAW
SCHOOL STUDENTS.
Undesirability Of Material Increase
in the Navy Successfully
Maintained.

Tie third term debate OF the George
town University school Of law. held in
CASTOR Hall last evening, was won by
the affirmative. represented by Thomas
F. oMara and NJ L. Igoe. The 800
| faculty prize went to NJ l.. Igoe
John I. Buckley of the senior class
presided. The Judges were Daniel w.
Baker. United States district attorney Of
the District OF Columbia Mr. William L.
Tenlield former solicitor OF the state De-
partment. and George ". Scott. librarian
OF the United States Supreme Court.
The question was Resolved. That
further material increases in the United
states Navy are undesirable 1t was
"pposnd by Z. McHenry Caliaher and Er-
win +. Effier.
The Affirmative.
Tie opening argument for the at.irma-
tive was presented by Thomas +. OMara.
who pointed oue tlle improbability OF war.
and declared that anyway the navy was
. capat," OF meeting any war that might
come within the next few years.
There are four nations which we may
consider acknowledgements. France
Englana and Japan AR. OAIara said
With France We have had peaceful re-
. lations always except for a three months
difference. Ou- relations with Germany
have always been peaceful. and Germany
has to fear the English and French ALI
ance. SO that country is ALPHABETICALLY
isolated. With England We lave a long
series OF peaceable arrangements. and All
arbitration treaty has just been concluded
which 'nsures future settlements OF diff
ferences by the most amicable means.
With Japan we have also concluded an
arbitration treaty"
Mr.. O'Nrara. submitted figures showing
exactly how dependent upon the United
States other countries are for the necessi-
ties o. life. He closed his arguments
with tie. words:
1T IS preposterous to scc,ihce the
United States TO the grim god of war,
when the possibilities OF var are SO re-
mote.
The Negative.
Nh. G:.llaher for the negative said that
il war is impossible then every cent spent
for navy is absolute folly: and then
went on to show how nations had become
involved in inextricable difficulties within
a very short time. He cited the Ven
eznelan trouble as an instance where this
country had been placed on the brink OF Il
conflict in few hours. He described the
great length of sea coast the United
Sta ties had to guard. the value OF property
and the great population. IF unpro-
tected wealth invites depreciation, then
We ought to have the greatest navy In the
world he maintained.
Mr.. 1soe. second speaker for the afiirma-
tive, Ield that the ma ;.lrcady ade-
quate for oir needs. lie gave Navy De
partment figures showing that this coun
try has greater tonnage OF hattles,lips
than other navies and more large guns
than any navy. except the English. lie
declared that Japan has not d single IT,
inch gun. He closed with the contention
that too. great navy would place too
much power in the hands OF the executive
branch Of the government.
The second speaker FOR the negative
Erwin r. Eff1er. asserted that internat,on-
al peace is not assured. Oar duties dc
not stop at mere coast defenses and gu,
coasts are VIGOROUSLY unprotected" he
said. Shall we confront our enemy with
+, mass of statistics as to our resources
and with speeches to our patriotism
or shall We meet them gun for gum"
The Hague conference h, said, does no.
touch on affairs OF interest hut on minor
| matters: war still is the final arbiter In
matters of moment