The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1920-04-22
Leon Contestant Wins and Also
Loses at District Contest.

from the District DeclamatOry con-
test held at Tabor on March 26th he
thought his representative had lost.
Two weeks later, after some investi-
ed that the markings of the three
Estes first place il the dramatic
class, but that the ''judgts of time"
had decided that her selection was.
little overtime. This last fact dis
therefore awarded first place and
no way dissatisfied with the award
made by the executive committee
from their perusal of the various re-
ports of the judges, but he does feel
that this COMMITTEES did not handle
s tns fentssi ns4ti. II ss yays Yaa II mamSar fair
of the committee was not present
so the two other members, Supt
Delzell of Shenandoah and Supt. Ire
land. of Tabor, performed the duties
devolving upon this body.
After all of the selections had
been given, the separate reports OF
the three judges were handed to
port of the Judges on time. Then
Supts. Delzell and Ireland tabulated
the results and determined the
awards. Mr.. Delzell read the decis-
ions to the audience. He made no
mention of the disqualification of
Miss Estes on account of exceeding
the time limit.
1t is customary after the contest
to allow the representatives of the
schools to see the markings of the
judges. In the contest in oratory
nelu in the afternoon the markings
Of the judges were handed freely
about even to the contestants. But
Wy I,0v In nj Nyo nc n r
Gass and Mrs. Estes asked, at the
close of the part of the contest
held in the evening, to see the re-
ports Of the judges Mr.. Ireland
withheld the markings of one judge
saying that he had them in his
pocket but thought it best. not to
let them see it.. No mention was
the fact that Miss Estes had exceed
ed the time limit. For two weeks,
or until after the state contest, Leon
folks were not aware OF, nor did
they in the least suspect, the facts
in the case.
on their way to Denison to the state
contest when Mrs. Estes called up
the judge whose report. had been
withheld and found that he had CIV
en- Miss Estes first place. Since
this rank with what the other judges
gave would have given Leon first
place in the dramatic class, at the
Estes to enter the state contest it
caused quite a little excitement in
the Leon camp. Mrs. Estes fail
ing in her attempt to reach Supt.
Ireland by telephone, sent a telegram
asking him to wire the official re-
port of the dramatic class to Deni-
s ~. Mr.. Gass had also previously
tn Ny Tra1an1 for. tho sNffir-
ial report of the judges. (To date,
more than ten days after the state
contest, no official report has been
received in Leon.) After consider
able telephoning, telegraphing and
writing to some of the judges and
Mr. Gass is convinced by this unof-
fcial means that his representative
was not entitled to first place at the
district contest. But he does feel
that the two officials by their unus-
ual procedure caused him and his
contestant a great deal OF unneces-
sary annoyance The only reason
on their part is that Mr.. Delzell did
not want all the facts made known
as it would detract somewhat from
the honor won by his contestant.
The error charged against Miss Estes
was only a technical one: 1t was
not anything tnaC WOuld QelTact
from the excellence of the rendering
of her selection. Why shouldn't
she have been given credit for. her
work although she would not have
received a medal, nCr have been en-
titled to represent the southwest
district at the state contest?
Mr. Coe, formerly superintendent
of schools at Emerson, was the alb
sent member of the committee. He
had discontinued work in the
schools at Emerson about a month
previous to the district contest. The
district constitution provides that in
such a case the place shall be de-
clared vacant, and a new member
appointed to the executive commit
tee. Had Mr.. Delzell. much inter
ested member of this committee,
been assisted in his duties by two
neutraIs instead Of one it is quite
possible that the affair would have
been handled in a most satisfactory
manner At any rate a lltlie more
thoughtful care on the part OF this
committee would have placed them
in a better light before the south
west district of the Iowa Declama-
tory Association. =
Freel-Koger.