Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1910-01-27
.LAGRANDE HIGH
WINS THE DEBATE
BOTH ITS TEAMS GAIN DEcIS.
loN-W. C. n. S. NEGATIVE
VICTOR AT ELGIN.


Wallowa County high school affirma-
tive in the debate Friday night by a
unanimous vote of the three jllges.
AT the same time the Wallowa
County negative team composed of
Irl and Aaron Olmsted and Miss
Julia Marvin met Elgin affirmative
in the latter city, and were success.
full by vote of to /.
La Grande won from Elgin at La
Grande and is thus the winner in
this triangle.
The question was "Resolved that
tue Galveston plan of government
applied to New York City would cor
rect the prevelant political vices of
that city,
Assembly hall of Wallowa County
high school, mSle gay with pennants
and streamers in which were inter-
mingled the blue and white of La
Grande and the garnet and grey -
Wallowa, was filled with a responsive
and enthusiastic audience.
Miss Amy Olmsted presiding grace
fully and gave an opening address
explaining the working of the debat-
ing league. The program was pune
tuata1 throughout by the school yells.
Miss Nellie Stubblefield was the first
speaker on the affirmative. In a
clear, distinct voice and unaffected
manner Miss Stubblefield presented
the advantages of the Galveston plan,
and told of the boodlhg and corrupt
ion of New York politicians. The
solution of the problem of their eradi
cation must lie in undivided RESPONSE
bility THE people are not grafters,
said the speaker
Joe mgles, the leader for the affir-
native, had such frank pleasing mar
ner that the judges couldn't be blamed
for agreeing to every proposition he
made. He said that the Galveston
plan was un-American; to place the
government of city like New York
in the hands of five men would be
step in the direction of dictatorial
government; no referendum, no re-
call, no veto power for the mayor.
He showed that reform must come not
in change of form but in change of
men. A great disaster always brings
forth the best men to meet the crisis.
1t was SO in Galveston, and to this
may be attributed the success of her
government.
Asa Craig for the affirmative told
of the growth OF New York, and her
present system. He was clear and
direct in his argument, showing how
the commission would be responsible
for the expenditures and improve
ments.
Will Hamilton, La Grande's second
speaker, said the Galveston plan was
tried Is years in Sacramento and ~
years in New Orleans and was a
dismal failure in both cities. No
better plan had ever been tried than
the present system in New York.
To be rightly governed the people
must know what they need they are
not getting, and what the officials
are doing. His speech showed good
thought and carried weight.
Fred Holmes made the closing argu-
ment for the home team. He said
Sacramento discon tinued the Calves
ton plan by legislative action of the
state and not by vote of the people.
Mr.. Holmes has very easy delivery
and is especially good at rebuttal.
He put up fine argument inter
spersed with considerable humor.
Arlo Myers, third speaker for La
Grande, said the per cent of crime
is greater proportionately in Calves
ton than in New York. He ridiculed
the idea Of attempting to govern New
York with her $4,000 people in the
same manner as Galveston's 10000.
Mr.. Myres has well modulated voice
and uesis it effectively.
The judges were o. C. Maxwell
principal of the Imbler school, Orlie
Hampton Of Pendleton high school,
and A. G. Smith of the Lostine school.
large number of high school
pupils from LOstine, Wallowa and
Joseph were present. Prof. Stout,
Drincinal of the hlph school ACCOM-