Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-27
REVIVE THE DEBATE.


| editorially expressed. as to the most
practical method OF stimulating a
| greater interest In local affairs on
the part of the public.
Years ago when the present adult
| generation were children, the attrac,
ton that brought out regularly re
greatest number of people was re
weekly meeting OF the old fash.- Z d
debating society.
The members of the society would
select u subject to be discussed. both
affirma lively and negatively.
Then from their membership, By
vote they would select the speakers
Who were to arsua the pros and cons
Of the subject, two taking the af-
firmative and two the negative. 6i
course, time. limit was placed npap
each speech.
A jury OF five or seven people
would pc selected t0Srender a deci-
sion at the close OF the speaking. ana
the contestants would so to IL. their
partisans roofing with lavish APP
plause at every telling point made.
More vital issues would be brought
out in these public debates in one
night than would crop out in a year,
of the ordinary routine of life,
And incidentally the4smost erilliata
orators this country has ever pro.
duced received their early training
in public speaking in the old time
debating society.
pleasure to the older heads amone
us. and a blessing TO the younger
generation that is springing up.
How would a debating society an
swer the question OF Good Cit.
zen?'
FEDERAL 3"MOOCHING."
rRock Rapids Review.l
If you kept a grocery store or a
shoe Store or a clothing store and
Uncle Sam should walk into your
place and ask you to donate your
groceries, or your shoesor your cloth
ing. gratis. to him. would you feel in
clined to do so? OF course, Uncle
Sam does not do that. He pays for
his groceries and his shoes and his
clothes-of course.
But when he wants advertising,
practically the only thing a news
paper has to sell, he asks the news
paper man to donate it
Perhaps he proceeds on the theory
that the publisher is better able TO
do business for nothing than is the
average business man, and perhaps
the publisher ought tor appreciate the
compliment.
The Review is moved to these few
more or less well chosen remarks by
a call it had few days ago from @
fine looking, modest hammered soldier
who was in Rock Rapids looking for
recruits. Alphabetically, he produced
written statement which had been
prepared by his superior officer, and
asked the Review man if he would
publish it. 1t went into detail as to
the advantages of army life and the
benefits to be derived from joining
the army.
The statement was couched in the
most glowing terms, it's sole pur-
pose being to induce young men to
Join the army. 1t was, just the KIND
of matter that any merchant in Rock
Rapids would expect to pay for at
usual advertising rates-but the I'm
tied States government asks the
newspapers to print it for nothing.
The Review takes back seat for
no one when it comes to standing up
for the government. but it feels, along
with every other self respecting
newspaper, that is is pretty small
business for the United States gov
eminent to be trying to mooch It's
way thru at the expense OF the
newspapers?
Does it get it's flaringl posters for
nothing? 1t does not.
Does it get it's Victory loan buttons
for nothing? I'll does not, .
Do the railroads carry Uncle sam
soldiers free of charge? They do
not.
1t was bad enough for the govern
ment to wheedle the newspapers as
it did while we were engaged in war;
but it is about time to stop 1t now.