River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-04-06
River Falls Wins
State Championship


Cured a series Of debates which
brought the State Debating Cham
pionship to the River Falls Normal
School.
At River Falls the debate was be-
tween the Milwaukee Normal School
and team representing River Falls.
The question was Resolved, that the
Kansas Industrial Court should be ex-
tended to the United States by nation
al law" Milwaukee supporting the
affirmative, River Falls the negative.
The debate was well attended and the
debaters on both sides were given the
closest attention. The Milwaukee de-
baters showed both experience and
training and tried by all arts of per-
s1asion to convince the judges that
the Kansas experiment was success.
They We're unable, however, to over
come the weight of evidence produc-
ed by the River Falls boys, and the de-
cision of the judges was unanimous
for River Falls. The judges were
Professor Gray of Carleton College,
President Brown OF the st. Cloud Nor
NAL School, and High School Inspec-
tor Thompson of the State Depart
rnent. Professor Gray, who judges a
great many college and university de-
bates, said afterward that the quality
of the debate here Friday night was
fully up to that of any university de-
bate he had ever heard.
While the negative team was con-
vincing the judges at River Falls that
the Kansas Industrial Court should
not be extended over the nation, the
affirmative team convinced different
set of judges at Stevens Point that
such system was eminenely desir-
able. River Falls won the debate at
Stevens Point by a decision of two to
one. In the debate at Milwaukee on
the same question, Milwaukee won a
unanimous decision over Stevens
Point. In these final debates Stevens
Point represented the central section
Of the state, having previously defeat
ed Oshkosh and La Crosse; by de-
feating Whitewater and Platteville,
Milwaukee had won the right to rep
resent the southern section; while the
victories of River Falls put the local
teams into the finals. While debat-
ing has been an activity of major i'm
portance at the Normal Schools for a
good many years, this is the first
time that an arrangement has ever
been made by which the winners of
the sectional debates came together
for the finals. The quality of the
work done by the debaters Friday
evening showed that such an arrange
p1ent is eminently desirable.
The debaters on the River Falls af-
firmative team were Melvin Thomson,
Alvin Howalt and Rex Liebenberg.
On the negative team were Edward
Casey, Frank Allbee and Landon
Chapman. Mr.. Thomson is an old
and experienced River Falls High
School debater and orator, While Mr..
Casey and Mr.. Allbee came to us as
experienced and skillful debaters from
New Richmond. The home of Mr..
Liebenberg is at Alma, Wisconsin.
Though Mr.. Liebenberg had no pre-
vious experience, he showed wonder
full facility and development during
the season. Mr.. Howalt as well as
Messrs. Thomson and Casey, was a
member of last years debating team.
Mr.. Chapman has done good deal of
public speaking work, both in Normal
and before coming here. The alter
mates were Everett Smith, John Ger
retson and Philip Mitchell. All of
these men have worked tremendously
and diligently since the Christmas
holidays in order to bring this cham
pionship to River Falls.
Much of the credit for this victory
should go to Professor Mit,,hell, the
debating Coach. Professor Mitchell
came here two years ago as an ex-
perienced debater from Lawrence Col
lege, when the debating work at the
Normal was at very low ebb. Mr..
Mitchell has shown not only great aDll-
ity and superb strategy as coach,
but has built up the public speaking
interest of the school on firm foun-
dation. The debating society has new
er Keen so active, and encouragement
is given to all the school societies by
contests in extemporaneous speaking.
With the number of excellent debat-
ers who tried out this year and those
developing their ability in the society
work, prospects are bright for con-
tinued success under Mr.. Mitchell's
leadership. One factor which should
contribute to the success is the mar
velous interest developed in debating
at the River Falls High School. Nor
NAL students are looking forward
hopefully to the time when the mem
hers of the Championship High School