Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-07-17
The Proposed
Debate
A Story For College Com.
mencement


aeges within few miles of each other,
the one founded by Ebenezer Black for
young men, the other by Arietta White
for women. the former being known as
Black and the latter as White college.
At the approach Of the June gradua-
tion exercises. in view Of the interest
taken In Europe and America In the
votes for women question, some one
proposed that debate upon the topic,
Resolved. that the vote be given to
women" take place as one Of the fea-
lures of commencement, the Black stu
dents to defend the negative and the
Whites the affirmative. A challenge
was forwarded by the students Of
White to the students of Black. II
was accepted. and committees were ap-
pointed In each college to select its rep
resentative disputants and to arrange
the terms.
1t was feared that men judges would
award the victory to men and women
to women. Therefore a compromise
was effected by leaving the decision to
the audience, no student being allowed
to vote. This was point gained by
the women. for the majority of those
attending such exhibitions are usually
OF that sex. Recognizing this advan-
tage Of their opponents. the men stu
dents selected their handsomest and
most winning speakers instead of those
capable OF bringing forward the best
arguments. The committee of White
students, hearing Of this, relegated to
the background any candidate who was
not attractive. The consequence was
that the most engaging men and wom-
en- In either college were appointed dis
putants, while those whose recommen-
dations were intellect alone were pass
ed over as unavailable.
In this wicked world when a Ques-
tion of Importance comes up for set
tement, instead Of each side making an
honest endeavor to decide Alright. CHI
canery is resorted to in order to secure
an advantage. John Markley, a senior,
was made manager of the Black debat-
ing team and Drucilla Spanker man.
ager Of the White team. Markley had
a sister in White. and Miss Spanker
had brother in Black. Markley laid
out the campaign in this wise: He
would instruct his debaters to contrive
to exhibit the unfitness of women to
vote by bringing into the debate polit-
deal questions upon which they must
necessarily show their ignorance. The
tariff, the initiative, the referendum,
the recall, were to be fred at the girls
with confusing rapidity. II this did
not produce a panic the Reasonable
ness" Of recent decision Of the Unit
ed States supreme court was to be sent
In like charge Of cavalry to turn the
enemy's right.
Possibly victory might have been
gained in this way had not the man.
Ager Of the women's team induced
Miss Emma Markley to make foray
into her brothers room when the two
were at home for the spring recess in
search Of information of the enemy's
plans. She discovered list of those
brain splitting questions in his pocket.
The result was that copy was given
to the debaters for the purpose Of
"boning up" on the problems.
Meanwhile Ned Spanker was spying
on his sister with a view to securing
points in the program of the wom-
ems team. Unfortunately for him, his
talent for spying was not up to his
sisters, and he made poor headway.
He asked her leading questions, the
only reply to which was a wry face
and Don't you wish you knew?" John
Markley, who had suggested the move.
received Ned's report with misgivings.
He recognized the fact Of woman's
superiority in a game of duplicity. He
called a conference Of his team, and
an all night discussion as to what was
to be done took place, which resulted
In proposal for q conference between
the teams with view to establishing
certain rules by which both should be
guided during the debate
The two teams met on the campus
OF White college on the first Saturday
afternoon in May. The spring had
come on. the day was delightful, and
both men and women, especially the
latter, were dressed becomingly. From
their Immaculate appearance and the
deferential bearing of the men they
would never have been taken for those
about to engage in hostilities Of any
kind Rules were proposed and dis
cussed. the men calamity giving way
to the women on ali points.
Unfortunately bit Of an affair had
been going on between one of the girl
debaters, Miss Maud Jennings, and
MIR. Dick Turner. Miss Jennings said
that she had proposition to make
which she preferred to sound one of
the men upon and invited Mr.. Turner
to stroll Off toward the chapel for the
purpose. Mr.. Fred Howard declared
chat he wished to consult Miss Belle
Upton upon an important matter con-
corning the coming debate, and they
took the path toward the astronomical
observatory. Mr.. Edward Parker and
Miss Della Storms departed In the d.
Motion af fho Hhro rv uh;lo Toa Win.