Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-03-26
HENDERSONVILLE LOSES DEBATE
WITH ASHEVILLE; WINS MARION,
Triangular Debate Between AsheviIIe,
Marion and HendersOnVille
Proves Interesting Event.
(By Roy c. Bennett

One of the most instructive as we'll
as interesting debates ever held in
this city was that of last Friday e
ing. The debate between Asheville
and Hendersonville was holly contest
ed and was witnessed by a large and
~appreciative audience. The subject
was Resolved, That the constitution
of North Carolina should be so amend
ed as to allow the Initiative and Ref
erendum in Statewide Legislation.
Messrs. ]. Eugene Taylor and j. Bur-
gin Pencil of Asheville upholding the
negative while Messrs. Oswald P.
Smith and William T. Crane of this
city contended for the affirmative.
The debate began about $50 with
Prof. W. H. Gale, city superintendent,
presiding, and Prof. Franks of Ashe=-
vile as time keeper. After a few re-
marks by Prof. Gale, Mr.: o. P. Smith
Tas introduced to the audience and
amid applause opened the discussion.
As this was Mr.. Smiths second ap-
pearance in public, everybody was
aereeably surprised at the way IL
which he spelled FORTH" Following
him, came Mr.. j. E. Taylor of the
negative, who made a good speech
Then Mr.. VIM. T. Crane with his flow
of oratorY and logic. When the peo-
pie finished applauding for him Mr..
]. P. Pencil of the negative took the
stand let some Asheville oratory float
around, which caused considerable
applause.
After the main speeches the boys
were allowed five minutes in which to
prepare their replies. While they
were out it was whispered around that
our boys had it" but when the replies
were heard the audience was willing
to listen to the decision of the judges
as it was SO close that it took a we'll
educated person to judge. When it
was announced that the negative won
by a vote of two to one a yell went up
by r. C. Bennett for the Henderson
vile boys than one for the Asheville
boys.
Among the visitors present for this
occasion were Prof. Franks, Messrs.
Nolon, Harris, Beans, Posey and Miss
Harris of Asheville, also ten or twelve
CT the Fruitland boys. The Asheville
representatives were met at the depot
and escorted to the residence of Mr..
D. S. Pace where they were delight
fully entertained until they left for
home Sunday morning.
After the debate on Friday evening
the senior class gave a nice little So
cial in honor of the Asheville debaters
which all expressed as being very en-
joyable. On Saturday morning the
young ladies of the High school pre-
vailed on the Asheville boys to stay
over until Sunday and what should
they do but arrange for a big social
in honor of all the debaters for Satur-
day evening. Misses Hall and Hill,
together with Messrs. Pace and
Shrieve, arrived from Marion On the
6:35 train and were present. Messrs.
Carter and Claton, representatives of
Christ school, being in town over
night accepted an invitation and were
present. Messrs, Taylor, Tennel,
Harris, Nolon, Beans, and Miss Har-
ris of AshevilIe together with the
High school boys and girls made up a
large gathering. Several games were
played, also quite a little music was
rendered, after which refreshments
were served.
In closing all joined in the High
School song and a yell for Henderson
Vile then one for Asheville. Miss
Hudgins, president of the H. H. s. /.
s. acted as hostess of the occasion n
to her and all those who assisted her
the entertained wish to express their
thanks through The Democrat for the
event.
The debate at Marion was well at
tended and was worth listening to, the