The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-03-18
POTTER WINS
THIRD. PLACE
AT ST. LOUIS
Oklahoma Wins Missouri Valley
Oratorical Contest-Kan-
sas Aggies Second
Washington Fourth.
PERSTEIN HEARS MEET
M. U. Delegate Makes Strong
Talk Against Cancellation
of the War Debt
of Allies.

i'"ie ~. oitti. VII
yersity Of Missouri, placed third in tht
Missouri Valley 0ratorical contest held
yesterday at Washington University. His
oraiion dealt with the cancellation of the
Allied war debt. Oklahoma won the
contest; Kansas Aggies were second, and
Washington fourth. The first three prize
winners received gold medals.
The contest was very close" said
Arnold Perstein, instructor in the Eng
Iish department. The final rating
showed only one point difference
between second and third places. Pot
ter performed admirably"
The oraiion, when Honor Precedes
Necessity" as given by M. Potter, fol-
lows:
about a year ago | was standing in
a market place Of a representative Am
erican city waiting for an opportunity to
make a nominal purchase. While waiting
my turn a man whom | had never seen
before, "a diminuiive person, with fur
rowed brow, slightly worn features, wor-
ried, evidently out of work, or out Of
luck somewhere, walked up to the pro-
prietor, and the conversation despite its
brevity, made a lasting impression on me,
Smith, he said, rather reluctantly,
i have been out of work some weeks now.
] am worried about the money owe you.
But if you will only bear with me until
| can get back on my feet, Ill pay you
every penny. | don't want charity or
sympathy. This is a debt Of honor with
me and ! give you my word that as soon
as | am able shall make il good
SIZE OF DEBT STAGGERING
Here it seemed to me was an out.
cropping Of true Americanism. This man
turned out to be a typical American
workman desirous only of an opportunity
to wipe out a legitimate debt in legiti-
mate way.
The scene changes. 1t is March, 1922.
Another debtor stands before his credi-
tor. The nations Of Europe stand before
the court Of international public opinion
with debt to the greatest nation in the
world, in magnitude enough to stagger
the most facile imagination. The Ameri-
can people. before definitely stating their
position before this court are trying to
determine whether the nations Of Europe
are Ike the American workingman in the
business place and really want an op.
portuniiy to pay that debt or whether on
the other hand they would welcome char.
ity or sympathy in the form Of cancella.
tion.
I'VE have taken upon ourselves task
which accrues TO any court investigator
and have determined to discover all the |
facts, all the national tendencies, and
that will throw light upon the |
solution Of this problem. What, then, are
some Of these basic considerations? What |
is the attitude of honor Of the European
nations? What would be the effect upon
Europe and America were these debts
cancelled; what would be the effect upon
Europe and America were they not can
celled? What may we, in America, the
nation most untouched by the horrors Of
that gigantic cataclysm, possessing
wealth almost unbounded, do in bring.
ing about rehabilitation of devastated and
wrctched Europe; what may we do to
further the establishment Of saner and ]
more stable economic, political and so.
;ial world order?
THE BRITISH VIEW
I'VE approach first consideration Of
what must be the dictates of British hon.
IT. Imagine, if you will, Britain repu.
liating her debt or asking for its can.
,ellation and then standing full statur.
ID and equal among the peoples Of the
'arth and proclaiming with traditional
British pride that America is the only
lation she has failed to conquer; that she
S mistress Of the seas, unvanquished
till; that her people have known many
vars, successfully paid their stupendous
Iebts. but adding at this time, despite all
{ this and in contradiction to the entire
pirit Of her history, she believes that
he is justified in asking for the cancel. 4
alton Of her debt. With the dictates Of .
onor, even Of common decency, as the !
triton understands them, permit Of such
dual stand?
History shows that in 1870 France
to the last penny-the indem- y
ities exacted by the then imperial Ger. I
iany. And it is well to remember that, q
by the dictates of French hon. i
:, she wanted to pay. Fifty years have t
asscd and France and Germany have G
gain emerged from a death-like struggle, n
My today the indemnities are coming n
rom the German side Of the Rhine. a
rance is insisting that the newborn Ger. 4
ian Republic pay her debt to the last
emmy; even as France did half cen b
Iry ago. '
Can France insist on a payment Of n
ne debt due her and then with consist. 4
ncy and honor turn to those who came b
, her aid in her hour Of distress and ask q
nat they, her allies, cancel the just obi a
atoms Of France? To do this France il
'ould have to stand a charge Of being f
uilty Of possibly a gross inconsistency in q
relationship. IN
ITALY's POSITION EXPLAINED b
Across the Alps to Italy. In this in v
lance we find the spirit of the freedom.
wing Caribaldi-a spirit that has well
nown hardship and suffering and sacri. e