The log cabin Democrat., 1911-05-13
HENDRIX VICTOR
IN FIRST DEBATE
MILLSAPS WAS DEFEATED
PARKER AND HARRISON WIN
DECISION OVER VISITING
COLLEGIANS.

The first annual debate between
Hendrix College and Millsaps College
of Jackson, Miss, held at Hendrix au-
ditorium last night, resulted in a de-
cision for Hendrix. The victory for
the representatives of the local col
lege, w. w. Parker and j. j. Harri-
son, was decisive one, there being no
question in the minds of the audience
as to the result, after all the speeches
had been made.
r. b. Poets, however, the first
speaker for Mllsaps, made a splendid
address and was heartily applauded.
But the compact and logical argu-
ments of the Hendrix men fitted so
nicely together and answered so con-
clusively the arguments of their OPP
ponents, that it was doubtless easy for
the judges to make up their decision.
By peculiar coincidence, Senator
Lee Miles of Little Rock, selected at
the last moment to serve as one of the
judges in place of Hon. Charles G.
Reid, who was called to Oklahoma by
the death of his brother, is himself a
Millsaps alumnus. A mild sensation
was sprung among the Hendrix sup
porters when Senator Miles, who an
nounced the decision of the judges,
preceded his announcement with this
statement, but any possible feeling
that he might have been swayed by
the love for his alma mater was for
gotten a moment later when he said
that Hendrix had won.
The question for debate was Re
solved, That the initiative and refer
enrum principle is a valuable addition
to the legislatative systems of Ameri-
can states" Mr.. Poets and his col
spoke in the affirmative, and urged the
imperative need of the initiative and
referendum on account of the modern
legislatures not being responsive to
the peoples demands and the graft
that characterized many legislatures.
They contended that it is succeeding
in a majority of the states which have
adopted 1t; Uhat it is practical, demo-
cratic in spirit and, instead of de-
stroying the republican form of gov
eminent, only strengthens the pres
ent system and makes the people the
real Sovereigns.
w. w. Parker of Hendrix, the first
speaker for the negative, said that the
burden of proof was on the affirmative
and the speaker who preceded him had
neither shifted nor assumed it. Mr..
Parker contended that the people are
not capable of such wholesale partici-
patton in governmental affairs; that
the educational value of the initiative
and referendum is not as great as is
claimed for it; that it lowers the char
acter of legislatures, and does not Sc
cure laws which could not be more
easily secure through representation.
He also urged that it destroys the dis
tinction between statutory and conStl-
tutional law, thereby rendering state
governments more unstable.
The last speaker was J. j. Harrison
of Hendrix for the negative Mr.. Har-
Iison, in granting that the initiative
and referendum had been successful
ly operated in Oregon, offered argu-
ment to prove that it could not be so
we'll applied to all other states. He
made a strong defense of the repre-
sentative system of government, and
stated that the new system would not
eliminate graft. The speaker closed
| ny Jul NUMEROUS IJoSlNiNC hS-
| fects in the initiative and referendum
principle, among which were the con-
tention that the people are too easily
swayed by the demagogue; that laws
voted on must be accepted or rejected
in their entirety; that it diffuses legis-
! lative responsibility among many and
| centers it on none, and that it destoys
the equilibrium of the three depart
ments of government.
G.. c. Harrison of Hendrix, chair
man of the executive committee of the
two colleges, presided over the meet
ing and introduced the speakers. The
occasion was rendered more enjoyable
| ly delightful music by Miss Arnett
and Miss Salie Harton, who rendered
solos on the piano and the violin, re-
spectively.
The judges were Senator Miles, DR..
w. w. Richardson, pastor of the First
| Methodist church of Little Rock, and
| DR.. H. w. Wheeler, pastor of rfie
Methodist church at Arkadelphia. The
| Judges were requested not to grade
the speakers, but only to vote for the
college making the best argument.
The judges declined to state whether
the decision was two to one or unani-
NOUS for Hendrix.