The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-26
JACK TURNER IS
STATE CHAMPION
(ContInssd from Page One,

."
Continued from Page One,
been more worthy. Better citizenship
is bound to result
DIR. Glenn welcomed the contestants
to the city, wished each of them good
luck and told them the whole state
was proud of them"
Data On. Constitution
If there were persons in the visible"
or invisible" audience not thoroughly
conversant with the constitution of their
country, the crack orators gave them an
ear full Friday night.
The great bedrock on which the gov
eminent rests was approached from
every conceivable angle and discussed
in a way that would have done high
credit to the ablest of lawyers or the
most astute students of government.
The first speakers opening words
| were, Our glorious constitution" They
gave the audience a thrill, and after
that thrills were numerous.
The constitution was called the 'po-
litical religion of the United; States"
by one speaker. Another said it was
such bnlwark because its trainers I'M
derstood human nature, Still another
| lOuCuSu Uu .lue teapot. l(OIuS- .eApUSc
and denounced the high officials in
volved for their failure to respect the
constitution
No.less than four of the speakers re-
ferred to Woodrow Wilson and declared
the late President did much towards
/ pointing the way to permanent world
peace
Again, one of the youthful orators
I sounded call to the United States to
renew the movement for peace and; har.
mony among the nations. $500
G.. NJ. Stanley, managing, editor of
The Age-Herald, before awarding the
scholarships to the winners, warmly
thanked the judges. e fttT1sf5
Their task was indeed difficult, !"
he said. "All of these splendid orationsi
have impressed us and l feel that all
of us have learned something. We are
proud of each of the contestants and
their contributions"
During intermissions, an orchestra
from Birmingham Southern college fur
nished music. The orations were limited
to II minutes each.
|. The 10 contestants lined up for the
state meet after day of lavish en-
tertainment, climaxed Friday afternoon
by a spectacular parade through the
downtown streets.
|
was cheered to the echo when he took
the stage during the preliminaries and
announced. that Birmingham, by fight
ing hard, had snatched the all-southern
meet from Atlanta, when the Georgia
capital had it almost cinched.
Contestants Arrive
The contestants, all of whom were
accompanied by formidable delegations
of ''rooters," began arriving in the city
early Friday. BY noon all were pres
ent at The Age-Herald building.
A trip to the roof of the worlds,
tallest newspaper building gave the dis
trict champions their first thrill After
that, they enjoyed an automobile tour
of the city and surrounding territory.
At 3 o'clock Friday afternoon, the
youthful orators became the central
figures in 1colorful parade which
moved through the downtown streets;
as thousands lined the curb and cheer
ed. Each orator rode in a private car
and huge banners streaming from each
side identified him.
Band Heads Parade
Heading the parade was the Bir-
mingham high school band. The youths,
attired in their snappy uniforms, were
given remarkable ovation as they
blared their way through the downtown
thoroughfares, Leading educators here
for the contest pronounced the band
one of the south's foremost high school
musical organizations.
Civic organizations of the city made
the parade still more notable by enter
ing automobiles carrying their officers,
thus lending their Endorsement to the
epOchal contest, which for weeks had
stirred interest in 200 schools of the
state to point never before reached.
At 5 80 o'clock the orators were
guests at a banquet given for them
selves and friends in the private dining
room of the Tutwilef hotel as guests
of The Age-Herald. Perhaps the most
enjoyable feature Of the affair was a
recital by the contestants of their ex-
periences in reaching the honor of the
state finals, and those permitted to lis
ten to these little talks had no diff
Guilty in deciding why it was they were
on hand. Each speaker knew how to
conduct himself on his feet and this in
cluded also the lady contestant. who
made delightful little talk ON her ex-
periences. in the various contests in
which she had taken part to reach the
finals.
Rivalry Shown
The speakers by their recitals show
ed that the rivalry had been kt IN and
all were highly appreciative of the
/ honor that had come to them in being
able to represent their Congressional
districts in the final in Birmingham.
Each had praise for The Age-Herald for
making. the contest noSsihIe The
dominant note was that each would do
his best at the night contest, but, that
even though he lost he would feel
honored to have been on the list of
Alabamas ten best high school speak
ers.
MAnHArnn N- .