River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-01-21
DEBATING SOCIETIES
ARE GIVEN AID
Questions Stated, Books and Articles
Lent and References Given
by University.

In order to aid debating societies
and to train the younger citizens to
an interest in, and ability to study,
important public questions to the best
advantage, the Wisconsin University
Extension department issues bulle-
tins stating moOted questions in the
best form for debate, and gives refer
enceS to books, articles and reports
which may be found in the public
libraries, or if not found in them,
loaned by the department to the so
cietieS.
The following extract from an edi-
torial which appeared in the Boston
Herald, the leading newspaper of New
England, September g. 1908, shows
something of the way in which this
method appeals to good citizens in
other states, and states very clearly
the methods and purposes of this de-
partment
POSSIBLY a Wisconsin voter may
have his doubts whether the initiative
and referendum are good or bad de-
vices of modern democracy. He
writes to the university, not for an
opinion representing its views, but for
information as to what is said for the
new device by those who believe in
it and by those who do not 1t costs
him but two cents to get his reply.
Serial No. 224, General Series No. 25,
comes back. In it the initiative and
the referendum are defined. The his
tory of the movement in Wisconsin is
briefly set forth. Then follow refer
ences, pro and con, to the material
in the legislative reference depart
ment, useful if the seeker be legis-
lator; or to pamphlets on the subject
issued by the states of Ohio and Ore
gon, which can be had through cores
pondence Supplementing these are
references, page and chapter, to books
of general circulation, to arguments
by critics and Ivy advocates, and to
the literature of propaganda on the
subject. Similar pamphlets are to be
had on the veXed issues of election of
senators by popular vote, the parcels
post, postal savings banks, woman
suffrage and proportional representa-
ton, and each pamphlet shows how
the matter may be still farther fol-
lowed up through correspondence
Study with the university.
"Such a system of relating uni
versity to the practical, exigent, poll
teal needs of the people, or training
IuClIl W lOOh " Tic CuuNCICO O<APSAC ~
sources of information seems to us
splendidly efficient, viewed from
peda gogical standpoint, and in very
truth democratic. The institution
thereby conceives of the whole cleo
torate as it's potential student class,
as well as it's donor of funds and its
sovereign in law"
1t is doubtful if there is any other
force now at work in Wisconsin which
promises so much in proportion to the
investment in contributing to an in
telligent interest in vital public ques'
tions among the young men and bust.
ness men of the state. In the first
place, it excites an interest iIS cues
lions that are worthy of study, and
which hold the mind from the CON
sideration of less worthy subjects
No other form of study stimulates the
thinking machine" as much as a
spirited debate between ambitious
young men, upon subject which
rightfulIy excites considerable public
interest. Debating is, therefore, OF
great value to the d&baters, but it is
also of great value to the auditors
There is no other way in which per.
son can become so well Informed in a
brief time, upon a new public ques'
ton as by hearing two debaters pre-
sent the opposing sides upon the same
platform at the same time.