Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-01-13
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL
wins THE DEBATE
Webster Ciy-Boone Debate at Lin
coin High School Won by
Our Boys.

Happy? No, those five letters
can't spell it. Jubilant comes nearer
being descriptive of the way oul
high school feels, since the unani'
nous decision of the judges awarded
them the victory in the debate be-
tween Webster City and Boone, held
here Friday night.
Our people felt great trepidat1on
in going out to meet the team from
a school, which had won the state
championship in this species of for
ensic honors, for two years IN
succession. However, they made up
their minds to do their utmost, and
see if hard work could produce fav-
orable results, and Friday nights
decision justified more than their
fondest hopes.
Boone chose the affirmative side
of the question, and adduced many
potent arguments in support of the
theory that corporations doing inter
state business should take out fed
eral charter.
Their first speaker, Henry Fried
ly, spoke very convincingly and
clearly in favor of this plan.
Dennis Kelly, the first speaker of
the negative, entered the arena
with all his fighting gear on, and
proceeded to put up such monu-
mental defense of his position, that
one wondered what else was left to
be said! Not only his argument,
but his enthusiasm and splendid de-
livery, carried the audience.
Allen Hicks, the second speaker of
the affirmative, came out with some
very definite and logical points and
had he enthused more and shown
some fire, he would have given our
boys far less chance for winning.
Harry Miller, the second negative
speaker, has been reading all the
papers, pamphlets and stories of the
archives for months. Wherever he
found point usuable, that point
has been stored up for reference, and
when he appeared on the rostrum
Friday night, he seemed to have
millions for defense" of his side.
James Whitaker, the concluding
speaker of the affirmative, summed
up the arguments of his colleagues
and marshalled in numerous new
ones of his own, but Donald Mckee,
our last speaker. ruthlessly jumped
onto every one of them and fairly
slaughtered the last remnants of a
hope Boone might have had for vic
tory. Donald has put his whole soul
into debate work for two years and
the exceptionally fine results of his
efforts surprised those who heard
him for the first time. His argu-
ments were clear and plentiful and
his voice and ease upon the stage
lent great force to his speech.
On the whole, the Webster City
team showed up a fine and quite
original line of arguments, and it
seems Boone had expected them to
follow closely the points used by the
University of Iowa debaters, in con-
sequence of which, many of the neg
alive points were not successfully
answered.
In the matter of rebuttal speeches
the Boone team came out strong and
delivered some pertinent questions,
to which Webster City found very
pat rejoinders.
The judges were L. G. Focht, of
Eagle Grove; c. c. Minard of Ack-
ley and F. A Welch of Hampton.
While the decisions were being
collected, Miss Ruby Whitman sang
a beautiful solo, after which Attor-
ney I. J. Sayrs, who presided, an
nounced the decision unanimous
for the negative and shouts of vic
tory rent the air; but our young peo-
pie did not forget the courtesy due
their guests, and good yell for
Boone followed.
The visitors were met at the noon
train by large delegation from the
high school, and escorted to the
Wilson House. In the afternoon they
were given an auto ride around the
city and they departed for Boone re-
GREETING only that both sides could
not have won.
IAN Hour Before Dawn"
AS happy relief from the stereo- |