The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-25
.STILLWELL Wins
= FIRST CONTEST
FARGO COLLEGE ORATOR CAP
TuREs FIRST PLACE AND PRIZE
IN BIG EVENT LAST NIeHT-ALL
or THE CITATIONS ABOVE THE
ORDINARY.

The North Dakota state oratorica
contest which was held at the Pres.
byterian church last evening, was Z
success In every particular. and wai
pronounced by many to have been thu
best oratorical contest ever held ii
the state.
The A. C. was represented by Edgar
Olson, the University of North Dakota
fy Lester M. Smith, the State Science
school ny Clarence Croker. and Fargo
college by Fred E. StiIlweli. The Sec
one place was won by Mr.. Smith. while
mrs. honors were awarded to the FAR
go college representative. Mr.. still-
Well by the unanimous vote of the
judges.
Mr.. Olson of the A. @. ably handled
ms subject, The Citizen of Tomorrow.
he pointed out that in spite of Aneri-
cas- splendid advantages as a great
civilization, and in spite OF the fact
tcat II Is christian nation, it is mora
careless than some Of the ancient pa
gan nations with regard to the welfare
o. It's children. He gave a graphic
picture Of the evils OF the child labor
system A representative OF one of
the races which America considers
backward, was once asked during =
visit to New York, what had most inn
pressed him. He replied, Little chill
dren working"
The fate of the children of today
Is In our hands," said Mr.. Olson. ana
as they are to be the citizens OF to-
morrow IT oehooyes us to bestir our
selves and crush out child labor"
Mr.. Smith of the university. who
WOE second place. showed renarkabIe
ability as speaker for so young a
man. He Is freshman. His oratton
was characterized by a smoothnaSs
and ease of delivery which showed tha
speaker to be at home on the platform
Mr. Smith took as his subject The
Young Man In Politics. and outlined
the Place that he has taken in dIefar.
Ont ages and more especially the nIaca
ne Is taking In the great forward
movements of this day of prograss
1t remained for the Representatives
OF Fargo college, however. to STRIKE
the key note of the evening with his
Grafton on Individuality. Tha snirlt
OF his subject was ably reflected IN ~.
character, both of his thought ana bta
delivery. He worked up his sneacb IN
way which was distinctly original
uennlng the message of the west Ia
the east as the call of indIvidualitv
and showing how all the great move
ments and institutions OF history rest.
ed fundamentally on personality. HIS
application OF the thought to modern
pontlcal life was especially apt and
telling. anu
In delivery Mr.. StiIIwelI addea 90
an easy and natural manner all the
smoothness Of careful practice and Aha
force Of intense earnestness as be
presented what was in a verv raoI
sense message for his audience A.
every stage in his speech. IT was at,I
dent that the man was equal 10 his
task and that he did not have "a AZ
pend on mere mechanical effeo+s Tor
his power. In many respects his ora
llon was high water mark FOR s4,,
dent oratory in North Dakota.
Mr.. Croker of the science scboo,
was at nome In his subject, and 1t was
evldent that MS Grafton was the pro-
uuct OF much careful thought. TAX
ing as MS subject, War and Peace. he
outllned the place that war has had in
history pointing out the incalcuable
losses Or every kind with which II had
always been fraught Then he turned
TO the brighter phase OF the matter.
ana discussed at some length the pres
emf day movements for peace. some
zoo questions have been settled
through the hague tribunal alone. anv
one OF which might. at an earlier date
IN the history Of the world, have been
thought a sufficient cause for war
The presiding officer OF the evening
was the president of the North Dakota
state Oratorical association, Mr.. Towle
or the A. G. The musical numbers
were furnished by Fargo college, Miss
Becknan rendering a pleasing vocal
solo, and the college octette a beauti-
full selection.
After the decision Of the judges was
the Frank Jared Thomn-
son memorial prize for the encourag a-
ment of oratory was presented bv
former Superintendent of Public IN
struction Stockwell He congratulated
the speakers on the splendid efforts
made by all. and especially on the fact
that they had all taken vital subjects.
He said that the nation was safe when
the colleges produce such men as
these who had spoken. The prize.
beautiful solid gold watch, was pre-
sented to Mr.. StiIIwell who responded
with few words of thanks.
Mr.. Stillwell will represent the state
in the interstate oratorical contest. Bv
winning this contest, Mr.. StlIIwelt has
the honor Of bringing this contest to
Fargo, for when 1t Is held in North
Dakota 1t goes to the college town of
the winner of the North Dakota con-
test.
The announcement of the victory was
hailed with delight, and vigorous yells
by the Fargo college delegation, who
occupied seats in the middle of the
church. This morning In chapel
jubiiation mass meeting was held, in
which several of the students and
faculty spoke briefly. Great appre-
citation was shown for the excellent
work done by Professor Brown in
training the orator. After chapel there
was another strenuous time on the
campus, In which both MIR. Stillweli
and Professor Brown were affection
ately If somewhat roughly treated BY
the enthusiastic students