The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1916-04-13
DEVILS LAKE
WINS DEBATE

UUv~
The Devils Lake debating team,
consisting of Herbert Ryan, Elizabeth
Dodge and Samson Sprung, won a un-
animous decision in their debate with
Lakota on the evening of April z. The
debate was held in the Lakota opera
house and was attended by large
crowd of which Devils Lake contribut-
ed big delegation. Among the re-
presentatives of Devils Lake were Mrs.
Sauvain, Principal Kittrell, Mr.. How
de and large members of students.
The team with the coach left in the
afteroon on train No. 10 while the
others followed in the evening ON No.
80.
The Devils Lake team upheld the
negative of the question: "Resolved,
that immigration should be further
restricted by a literary test" Mr..
Ryan, who opened the debate for the
negative, stated the points along
which he and his colleagues proposed
to argue the question. His arguments
were that a literary test for immig
rants was a test Of opportunity and
not test of quality; that such a
measure would be an attempt to Sec
ure by indirect means what ought to
and that, at the present rate of
growth Of popular education in the
southern countries of Europe, such a
test would, within few years, have
40 effect. Miss Dodge followed Mr..
Ryan with the arguments that the IL
literate foreign assimilates with our
people even more readily than the
'lterate; that the percentage of litter
:acy is the lowest in the states with
the highest percentage of immigra-
ton; that the percentage Of school at
tendance in our country is shown by
statistics to be higher among the chill
dren of foreign-born parents than
among the children of America par
entage which indicates that illiteracy
is more self -propagating among the
native-born of American parentage
than among the native born of foreign
parentage. She produced chart
which received considerable comment
from many persons in the audience,
and which showed certain facts that
the opposing side could not refute.
Mr.. Sprung was the third speaker on
the negative. He opened his speech
with an appeal to the injustice of such
a test if enacted into law, and showed
how it would be departure from our
historic principles. In the place Of
such test he proposed the substitu-
tion Of biological, an economic and
a characteristic as the "American
test" for aliens.
The opposing speakers presented
their arguments in an effective way
and brought on a spirited rebuttal in
which the Devils Lake speakers did
splendidly. The team on the affrma-
tive side deserve much praise for the
work they did and for the excellent
fight which they put up. They need
feel no disgrace in defeat, and the
winning team can have only the high
est respect for their efforts.
The visitors from Devils Lake are
also midful of the very kind hospita-
lity and courtesy shown them by the
people of Lakota. The representa-
tives Of Devils Lake were most royalty
entertained during their visit by the
members Of the high school faculty
the students and other citizens of La
kota.
Professor Taylor, head of the Eng.
lish department of the state univer-
sity, Superintendent Reineold of Lari-
more and Superintendent Olson, Peter
sburg acted as judges of the debate.
Devils Lake ought to be proud Of
these young people who not only won
honors for themselves, but have
brought distinction to our schools and
city as we'll. And the interest which
so many Of our citizens have shown
in the work of these people goes to
show that their efforts are appreciat.
ed.Next year we may look for still
more powerful debating team. We
can have a team that will make Devils
Lake claimant to the first honors in
debate in the state.
We are pleased to announce that
Frank Honett, one of the prominent
farmers living near Webster, is get.
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