The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-03-10
General College News
ORATORICAL CONTEST

The thirty-fourth annual contest of
the Kentucky intercollegiate Ora
torical Association was held in the
Berea College Chapel, Saturday
night. March 5. Five colleges we're
represented, and a high mark was
reached in the oratory and argument
Of every speaker. Each man exhibit
ed familiarity with and an interest
in his subject seldom seen even in
the defenders of national issues on
the floor Of Congress.
The first grafton, DIVISIONS and
Dreams" was delivered by Nolan
Carter of Georgetown College. His
production is what might be called
beautiful, but It lacked persuasive
qualities. It was an exalted and
glorified essay, arousing the emotions
and existing interest, but with no
argumentative appeal He recalled
the leading dreams and visions that
have moved the universe from the
early ages to the present time. The
beauty of Mr.. Carriers rhetoric and
his oratorical voice won for him sec
ond place.
The second grafton, From Wash
ington to Reno" by John Y. Brown
of Center College, was a very clever
production. Reno with its lax laws,
easy divorce. prize fights, bears the
same relation to Washington that
Nero bore to Romulus, the founder
of Rome. From Romulus to Nero the
dissolution of home life was wrought
and the fall of the Roman Empire
was the natural consequence. If we
continue to travel from the strength
of Washington, which is the Ameri-
can home, toward the modern spirit
of Reno, America will fall just as
truly as Rome fell
The third Grafton, "Shall We FAIL
by Richard C. Cummings of Wesley
an College, dealt with the after-war
crisis that we are facing. The
world is looking to us for lessons
in democracy and brotherhood and
national ethics. Shall we fall from
the high pinnacle of unselfishness
which we climbed during the war, or
shall we lead mankind to unreached
heights?
The fourth grafton, "The Anglo
Irish Controversy" by Patrick Vim
cent, of the University of Kentucky,
came from a thoroughly Irish soul.
Mr. Vincent went into the history of
Ireland's struggle for liberty and
ended with an appeal that moved his
audience. He declared the Irish to
be a subject race within their own
country, that the minority of the
Irish citizens were holding the ma
jority in bondage through the mill
tary power of England. Mr. Vincent
was awarded third place.
The last Grafton, "The japanese
Problem, by William o. Keller, of
Berea College, was the crown of the
contest. Mr.. Keller entered the con-
test with the least popular subject
of the lot, because the Japanese ques-
tion is not live one in Kentucky,
but before he had gone far it was
evident to everyone that a real race
war was in progress on the Pacific
coast. The seriousness of the prob
lem became more apparent as he pro.
ceeded, and by the time he reached
his remedy for this situation, the
audience was really face to face
with the gravest menace that TODAY
threatens our nation. Mr.. Keller did
not leave the audience in despair, but
offered a simple remedy that will
give permanent check to the in
creasing immigration of Japanese.
National legislation should be enact
ed to limit the number Of immigrants,
enforced among all foreigners. Mr..
Keller's appearance on the platform,
gestures, and voice were graded high
Guiding the statement, argument, APP
His presentation of the subject, in
peal and climax, met the require
ments of good oratory. And the
written manuscript that was sub
mitted to the judges before the con-
test received high marks because of
composition and construction. Judg
ing by all the rules of oratory, Mr..
Keller was an easy winner and will
be the man to represent Kentucky in
the Interstate Contest which will oc-