The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-08
GOT UNANIMOUS DECISION
Mitchell Debaters Were Given the
Unanimous Decision in Debate
With Carleton College.

1t was a great victory which Sid
ney Graham, Guy Cook and James
Dobson brought to Dakota Wesleyan
University Thursday evening when
they we're given the unanimous de-
cision by the judges in the debate
with Carleton college.
The debate was held in the city
a auditorium and there was a
large and enthusiastic crowd present,
although the enthusiasm was not
allowed to break Out until the decis-
ion was rendered, When 1T knew no
bounds and the cheers and yells re-
sounded through the building. The
scene was one of wild pandemonium.
The victors we're placed on the
shoulders of the students and carried
to the platform and then the cheers
and yells were given times without
number.
The debate was presided over by
DR.. Samuel Weir and the invocation
was given by DIR. j. l.. Seaton.
The question under debate was,
"l-esolved that the railroads doing an
Interstate business should be requir-
ed to incorporate under federal char
ters, constitutionality granted"
Carleton had the affirmative side OF
the question and was represented by
10. Raymond Plumb, Albert T. Lar
son and Ned S. Dickinson. They
opened the debate and each side was
followed in succession, each mar be-
ing allowed twelve minutes in which
TO present the argument. In the re-
buttal four speakers were allowed
five minutes each and the closing
speakers We're given seven minutes.
The Carleton men argued for the
federal charter proposition on the
ground that railroads could not be
successfully controlled in the dual
capacity by the state and by the gov
eminent; that the state control per-
mitted over capitalization and that
1t did not meet with the necessities
which confronted the people for the
better control of the railroads; that
dual control permitted ov~er-capitali-
zation and covered up the stockhold-
ers and promoters of corporations;
that incorporation under a federal
placed the railroads under
the same control and subject to the
same examination as the national
banks of this country, which guaran-
teed safety to the depositors. The
states, Carleton claimed, would never
be able to exert the proper control
over the roads from the fact that no
two of the 46 could agree on a uni
form purpose.
The Wesleyan men, with the g
tive side of the question, presented q
long array of argument backed up by
splendid authorities, which they
quoted without reference to books
In most instances. They took the po-
sition that for the railroads to In.
corporate under federal charters
would place them too far from the
people, and further that it would de-
prive the states of the large amount
of taxation which is now secured, the
corporations thus being placed be-
yond the power of the state to impose
a tax. The negative held further
that with the railroads incorporated
under federal charters would result
In the railroad section of the east ar
raging itself against the agricultural
section of the west, and would lead
to great strife and competition. They
opposed the federal charter idea for
the reason that 1t was too great a
leap into the future with nothing to
fall back upon. The present system,
they maintained was meeting with
good success, and that the states
showed a greater interest in manag-
Ing the railroads than did the gov
.crnment. The Wesleyans held that,
federal control by charters would
furnish but one system for manag-
Ing the corporations, while with the
states and the government working
in conjunction much better success
would obtained.
In the rebuttals that followed the
presentation Of the argument, much
OF the same ground was gone over,
but the Wesleyan men showed a
clearer and stronger development of
facts and they made exceedingly
good. James Dobson was especially
in his closing argument, pre-
senting the facts with a rapid flow
of language in which he never falter-
ed for one moment. Graham and
Cook laid good foundation for Dob
son to follow up. The Carleton men
did not make as good a showing in
the rebuttal and weakened their
case.
The winning of this contest by Da-
kota Wesleyan was all the more APP
preciated when they learned from the
Carleton men that they have been