River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-04-20
week.
Alex Ramberg is here from Gable
Wis.
RIVER FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
STATE DEBATE CHAMPIONS


The final debate was held last Sat-
urday night at which River Falls
won the state championship. This is
the first time the High School de-
batting teams have ever gone so far.
The teams have taken part in four
debates. In the local debate which
was held on February IL, the affirm
alive team debated with New Rich
mond in the high school auditorium.
The judges were Mr.. Ehrman, the
principal of the E. Side High School
in Minneapolis, Mr.. Simons, from
Central High in Minneapolis, and DR..
Hazard, of Manchester College.
Their decision was 2 to / in our ia
vor. The negative team went to Els
worth and debated their affirmative
team. Miss Mcmillan and Prof. May
of the Normal School and Miss Ryan
of Eau Claire were the judges. Their
decision was to / victory for us.
Both teams debated against the two
Ladysmith teams in the league de-
bate on March 10. The affirmative
team went to Ladysnnith; the other
debate was held here. Mr.. Lindsey,
of the Debate Department of the U.
of Minnesota, gave his decision in our
favor, 95- 80, while Mr.. Ford of APP
pleton, Vocational School, gave the
affirmative team the victory by 81
80 decision.
The next debate was the semi-final
which was held March %. The ne
gative team went to Portage. Mr..
Haake of Wis. gu" was the judge.
His decision was 1920 in our favor.
The negative team from Augusta
met our affirmative team with Prof.
Young of the L. of Mimi, as the
judge. He decided for River Falls.
The victory of this debate was award
ed because of the rebuttals given by
the local teams.
The fourth debate was the final one
and was Of great Importance because
it was the contest for state champion
ship. The affirmative team went to
Appleton where Mr.. Lardner from
Evanston, Ill. gave the decision as
90-88 for our team. The negative
team debated Brillion in the Normal
Auditorium. Mr.. Sanford of the La
Crosse Normal gave his decision in
favor of River Falls, 95-88. These
victories gave US State Championship.
Four of the six students on the two
teams have represented the school in
debate previous to this year. VIM
| fred Bird made the team in his Fresh
man year and has taken part in seven
inter-school debates. He has proved
| to be one of the best debaters that
has ever represented this school. Ro-
nald Baker also has splendid record,
having made the team in three out of
his four years in high school. This
year his ability to clinch the argu-
ments by his final rebuttal has wrest-
ed victory from what might easily
have been defeat. PROFESSIONALLY
these two people have stood out as
the big men of the team.
Clyde Taylor is one of those who
represented the school in debating
last year. His ability to think clear
ly when the debate was close, enabled
| him to give some of the most convinc-
ing rebuttals. He is one of the clear
est thinkers of any debater that we
| have met. His consistent thinking
and ability to put his thoughts a.
cross has enabled him to become a
finished debater.
This also is the second year which
Richard Smith has been on the de-
batting squad. In addition to being
well trained debater, he has the adj
vantage Of a personality that wins
his audience as soon as he steps on
the platform.
Two members of this years team
came into the fray with very little
experience to back them. Douglas
Corson's natural ability as debater
made it Enthusiastically easier for him
to put up the fine work that he did.
Although it was Margaret Bailey's
first year on debating team she act
ed like a veteran. Her previous con-
test work and natural speaking abili-
| ty has undoubtedly aided her in be-
coming the best girl debater the
scnool has turned out.
The writeup of the debate teams
would not be complete without some
mention of the alternates. For al
though they receive little of the hon
or, they do the same work assthe regu-
| lar team. Carroll Brown as the al
ternate for the negative team and
Catherine Chapman as alternate for
the affirmative team kept in readi-
ness to take anyone's place and also
accompanied the teams on their
| trips.
Of course these people could not
have won the State Championship
without having had the best of coach
ing, Mr.. Mason exactly fills the re-
quirements for debate coach.
Coupled with his previous personal
experience along debating lines is his