The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-02-16
1.-The Initiative
and Refere enil,rn''
THE SURJECT ON WHICH rrsIx,s
DEBATING QLUB rs PREPARING
FOR THE ANNUAL TRI-COI.-
LEGE DERAT'E WITH HrvyA IN
AND ATLANTA. =

nashville, Tenn, Feb. 14th.-This
Is the second year of the Tri-College
Debating Contests between the de-
batting societies of Fisk University.
Howard and Atlanta Universities.
--tttss year-was;a golden one for the
howard society,"! 1t won from Fisk
at washington and Atlanta sUniver-
sity IN the Gate City Of the South.
The boys from the National Canital
carried away the lions share of the
honors and the Atlanta University
boys attached no honors whatever,
FISK won from jthe sons OF A. U.
whom President Edward r. Ware
brought to Nashville. This was the
second successive victory of Fisk
university over Atlanta University.
The Fisk debaters have not been
chosen as yet. There sare several
contestants for the honors. Some Of
these are hold&3eers from those who
did not make either team last year
asd are among the strongest con-
tenders for places on the two teams
InOW. ',f .e,.' .".s . -. '' ':1.:|
The strongest possibilities for
making the teams are among the
Fisk Senior Glass. They are Stamps,
Wesley, Paine and Arthurtoh. THE
three first named represented the in
stitution in the debates last year.
Stamps Is perhaps the best dehatet
at Fisk although he does not surpass
! Wesley to a great extent. Both Of
these men are@fast thinkers and al
ways have their subjects we'll IN
hand. Wesley is perhaps the best
and most forceful orator among the
FISK student body now and will no
doubt be a leader Of one Of the
teams in the coming contests.
Young Booker Washington is q
contestant for a place on one Of the
teams but 1T is very doubtful -if he;
can make place as this is his first
attempt. He is turning out to be a
fine young fellow since coming to,
FISK and has strong place In the
hearts and activities Of the student
body. He Is winning on merit, too,
for Fisk Is the last place In the
world for a student to expect place
and position because Of his forebears.
1t IS an institution Of aristocrats in
some sense but It is the most demo-
cratic school in the country. Young
Washington, if all reports are true,
= settled down to real hard work
at Fisk and is proving his real
worth.
Atlanta University Is expected to
make better show this year and
Fisk likewise. Howard will not have
an easy time at all and perhaps the
boys who come all the way from
Washington to carry back the laurel
wreath will find surprise in wait
ing for them here. Fisk confidently
expects to win on all sides this year
and its graduates and friends will
perhaps be disappointed II the boys
do not
The debates are becoming an i'm
portant part Of the life Of our col
leges and are being literally patron
lied. The subjects discussed are
live ones and the debaters partici-
Dattng usually make such as ex-
haustive study Of them that the de-
bates are means Of real education.
1t speaks we'll for the faculties and
student bodies Of the colleges repre-
sented that so much real interest is
being created among the public and
that the debating societies in Negro
colleges have been at last furnished
with an incentive for real research