French Broad hustler and Western Carolina Democrat. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1915-1916, 1916-04-20
GRAHAM winner
IN ANNUAL CONTEST
.IB
o MvRTLE COOPER AND BOYD
uARDEN TRIUMPH OVER 1900
CONTESTANTS.
lNION's BIGGEST CONTEST
nefeated Wade Gardner and David
Isear of WiIson.-Tremendous
Crowd Packed in Hall.

Chanel HilI.-The fourth annual con-
+ost of the High School Debating
T~nion characterized by President Ora,
bor as the biggest contest ever stag
ID in North Carolina, came to an end
whom the Graham High School, rep
rosenting the affirmative, defeated
wilson on the negative of the query:
"RosoIved, That the United States
should adopt the policy of greatly an
/ larging its Navy.
The speakers for Graham were Miss
MYRTLE Cooper and Boyd Harden, for
wilson. Wade Gardner and David
ISear.
Concentrated and vitalizing inter
est from "a North Carolina counties,
325 high schools and interested aud
fences of 10O, 900 citizens of the Com
monwealth centered on the final out
come of the comprehensive statewide
debate.
The winners triumphed over 1900
other debaters. The debate was de-
signated by President Graham as ''the
biggest influence today in North Car
olina in developing public opinion"
The tremendous crowd that packed
Memorial Hall was conclusive evil
dence of the success which has crown
ed Secretary E. r. Rankin's efforts.
Crowded automobiles came from all
parts of the entire state TO hear the
fnaIs1=s 5 = :
All four debaters spoke with strik-
ing composure and convincing style.
Miss Cooper spoke IN charming man
ner.
She was sustained on the affirma-
tive by Boyd Harden who frequent
ly brought rounds OF applause at his
sprightly sallies.
The speech of Wade Gardner for
Wilson was far bigger than he him
self was. His sister, Miss Ethel
Gardner, was on the winning Wilson
team last year Wilson having the
distinction of being in the finals two
years in succession. David 1sear like
wise he'd his facts carefully marshall
ed. All four of the speeches were
finished in style and delivery, and the
rebuttals were brilliant and pointed.
Miss Cooper said: I'VE do not ad
Vocate preparedness for war, but
preparedness against war. We also
believe that should war come this
reasonable preparedness will prevent
enormous sacrifice of human life
We are unprepared to defend ourselves
In case of attack. We have 2l,OOl
miles of coast line and a rapidly IN
creasing commerce to defend. Stand
ing by itself, q navy is not designeC
for military aggression, such as ths
invasion of another country. Its func
. ton on the contrary is to defend ouI
country and commerce against sucl
aggression"
The position Of the United State:
among the Powers makes a greatl!
enlarged navy imperative. We canno
tell what part we may have to taxi
in the European war. The Monro'
Doctrine upon which our Nationa
safety depends, can only be uphelt
by our power to control the sea II
the Western Hemisphere"
Wade Gardner of Wilson STRESSED
four things:
/. We already have navy SUI
passed only by England's; 2, we hav
no good reason to fear any other ma
tioDs; 8, the proposed policy woul'
destroy our world leadership TO
Righteousness and bring upon us wa
Itself; 4, other methods are within
our grasp by which we may ene(
lively and constructively promot
peace with honor