Evening journal., 1911-12-27
BELIEVE AUTO
A DETRIMENT
ChurChmen as judges In De-
bate Decide Against
"Whiz" Cars
LOSERS WOULD APPEAL
TO THE SUPREME COURT

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del, Dec. 27-"Is the auto
mobile an advantage or a detriment
to the country" was the subject OF
the most sparkling debate yet held
before the Brotherhood of The Peo-
pies Church, last night, and large
audience came through the rain to
hear the two well-known lawyers and
the two laymen participate in the dis
cussion.
Outpointed at the close of the de-
bate the Affirmative lost, the audience
voting, twenty-three to six, that the
automobile is a detriment. Lawyer
Thomas c. Frame, for the Affirmative,
noting the large number not voting
asked that, under the ruling of Speak
or Reed, those present and not voting
be counted for the affirmative.
DR.. James e. Carroll, for the mega
tive. threw the laugh on Mr.. Frame
as he arose with his objections. Let
him frame an appeal to the Supreme
Court" shouted Dr. Carroll, and the
audience roared.
Mr.. Frame moved then, that the
jury be polled DR.. Carroll came
back with a demand for an apology
for the reflection on the intelligence
Of the auditors.
Il being suggested that the decision
might hold up several million dollars
worth of automobile contracts, Mr..
Frame moved that there be a re-argu-
ment at a very early date. but Chair
man Wharton ruled that the negative
had won.
The debate was opened by Walter
Morris with a fine paper on the autos
advantages, showing the operations
in rubber. iron, valadium, steel. oil,
wood and glass-the men employed,
the opportunities It was giving TO
young men, the housee that had Oaen
built and the wonderful prospects for
the future.
Dr. Carroll opened for the negative.
"The people are becoming a nation of
law-defers, due TO the automobile" he
said He never believed the American
people loved to disobey law until he
saw IT I'm the use of the self-mov-
ing or "hying' carriage. People
bought automobiles who could not af-
ford them because they desired TO
make a false show, he said. The ex-
pense, the upkeep, the loss Of time. the
damage done TO the property. lives
and right OF others were cited.
Thomas G. Frame. an enthusiastic
autoist, took the Affirmative, second
ing the effort of Mr. Morris, and spoke
of the pleasure, the physical and COM
mercial benefits coming from the use
Of the automobile.
J. Hall Anderson came I'm with the
argument concluding the negative and
also the debate. He opposed the au-
tomobile because
"lt is making a Nation of spend
thrifts.
1T is running the prospects of young
men and making them prohgates.
over half the machines represen
mortgages, bills, notes.
Several thousand dollars more
have been spent in Dover for auto
mobiles IN ten years than is nov
represented in the cash value of al
the churches of the town, some o.
which have been here $50 years.
mot only does the value represen
more money than do the churches o
the living God, but the cash outla.
would alleviate poverty and wipe dis
tress from the town.
"Over half the young people, start
ing out with inheritances, who inves
in automobiles and keep It up, viii
I find their capital wiped out in a de
cade.
"If a horse were driven through tn
streets Of Dover as are automobiles. b,
prominent citizens, the drivers wouli
be arretsed every day.
"New York has a fire house ever
three blocks and a horse can get tn
! engine to the fire as quickly as an au
r tomobile and without half the liabil
| ity to break
Morally. the automobile had nc
only become the toy of the Sabbath
breaker, but Of the criminal"