The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-08
TALK FOR 4 fine CUP
FORSENIC CONTEST AT HIGH
SCHOOL LAST EVENING.
Philomathian. Society Team Won the
Debate, Defeating the Zetama-
thians BY Vote of Two to One;
Herman Hayward and Raymond
Cowgirl Awarded Prize for Using
the Best English; Interesting Dis
cussiOn.
from Saturdays Daily.

from Saturdays Daily.
If enthusiasm and loyal support
were the deciding factors in a debate
the result of the inter society forensic
contest at the high school last night
would have been tie. The judges,
however, decided with a vote of Two
to one that the affirmative which was
presented by the Philomathian team
had the best of the argument. The
question was, Resolved, that the
present federal net earnings corporation
tax is justifable."
Raymond Cowgirl, Lois Mills and Ed
win Goldenstar represented the Philo-
nathan society and Willard Washburn.
Harry johnson, and Herman Hayward
the Zetamathans. According to Gus
tom Mr.. Mcconnell, who is president
of the social science club, presided.
This club is the donor OF the fine
silver cup which is the object Of tie
annual strife.
Previous to the debate there was
every indication oi the keen rivalry
between the societies, and as an ex
hibtion of an ideal high school spirit
the half hour before the contest could
not be surpassed. The Zetamathians
intrcnched between their banners on
one side of the room made as much
noise as five artillery divisions in ac
ton, and the Philomathian roofing
capacity was voluminous beyond meas
ure.
Selections by Orchestra.
The first numbers on the program
were selections by the orchestra and
the Boys Glee club, both of which din
themselves proud and received hearty
encores. Then the debaters took the
platform and Mr.. Mcconnell announced
the rules of the debate.
Raymond Cowgirl. who was the frst
speaker of the affirmative, explained
the question clearly and maintained
that the net earnings tax was just
in principle. 1t was form of income
tax which all prominent men today be-
lieve to be the most equitable. But
whereas general income tax is i'm
practical because OF tie pas ;: .'!v If
evasion, the corporation tax is easy
of access through the required reports
and public nature of corporations. The
tax gave the government means OF
control over corporate business. Cow
! gill was very convincing. He has a
conversational style which he used to
| good effect.
Outlined the Objections.
+ Willard Washburn outlined the oh
/ icctions to the tax and argued thai it
upon the consumer. He showed by
charts that our annual deficits are
small, that wiser expenditure will elm
mate them and that the new tax will
bring an unnecessary surplus. He also
maintained that the large corporations
can shift the tax by raising prices
and that the small business corpora
lions will bear the greatest burdens.
Lois Mills FLASHED with the fir.
/ speaker in the matter of financial need,
claiming y larger deficit during the
past two years and larger deficit IN
the future owing to several govern
ment projects now under way. Tho
exemption of five thousand dollars will
take the burden from the small cor
/ porations. The tax was one of the
privileges which corporations enjoy.
Harry Johnson maintained that the
tax could not effect the corporations
for which it was intended. The hold
ing companies Were exempt. The cor
porations enjoyed no great privileges
from the government and were re-
/ strcted in number of ways. The
publicity feature of the law was un-
Just and the law would breed dislon-
csty. .)onnson's is eloquent and has
large possibilities.
Edwin GOldenstar concluded the ar
gument for the negative by showing
the advantages certain large corpora
tions have possessed and by declaring
that some control such as a corpora
ton tax was necessary.
j Herman Hayward, after stating three
propositions-frst, that there should
be one taxing authority over one class
of property, second, that regulation and
taxing should be exercised by one jur-
isdiction, and third that the authority
creating the corporation should con-
troll it, went on to show that the tax
was usurpation of state jurisdiction
in the matter.
Z. For the Rebuttal.
4 The rebuttal speeches were keen and
with enough clashing of opinion to he
lively and interesting
On the whole, the debate was of n
very high order. 1t showed careful
preparation and good knowledge of
an extensive and intricate subject
which was made persuasive and con-
vincing by excellent presentation.
Though both sides could not win there
is great satisfaction in close con.
test the issue of which was extremely
doubtful. The prize of $40 offered by
MIR. Scherer to the two speakers. one
from each team, using the best Eng
] fish went to Herman Hayward and