The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-03-20
skOwhegan High Wins and Loses in
Debates

The Sko~hegan High School Debat-
ing team were both winners and los
ers in their debates as to the merits
of the League of Nations, held Fri
day evening. A team from Hartland
Academy defeated the team here and
the team that went from here to
Waterville defeated Waterville High
School. The topic was. Resolved
That The United States Should Enter
The League of Nations" The affirm
alive debaters here were Miss Mary
Merrill and Thomas Nichols, with
Kenneth Woodbury. as alternate, while
the negative speakers from Hartland
were Donald Newell. Joseph MCGEE,
with William Page as alternate. The
decision of the judges was two to one
In favor of Hartland Academy.
Thomas Nichols of Skowhegan High
school was announced as the best
speaker. The points made by the
negative side were that the League
of Nations is unconstitutional; that
the League is not a success; that the
League would not be beneficial to the
United States and that the world
court was a better method for obtain
ing world peace. The affirmative side
believed that the League is a most
effective means of world peace; that
II the United States joined the League,
1t would increase its effectiveness;
that it would give the United States
opportunity for world leadership,
that the League would enable us TO
extend American ideals and that our
present policy of isolation is both flu
tile and harmful. The young people
on both sides made a good appearance
and their rebuttals showed that they
were keenly alive to their topic. Su-
perintendent W. B. Woodbury. presid-
ed and the judges were Mrs 1yanella
S. Palmer of Hinckley, we'll known
club woman of this section. County
Attorney James II. Thorne and Attor-
ney w. B. Brown of Madison.
At Waterville Bradford Hutchins of
Waterville, opened the debate for the
affirmative. presenting the points that
his team would prove and discussing
the point that the league would pre-
vent war. Mr.. Hutchins declared
that the League of Nations was the
only body in existance that stood for
peace and was absolutely against war
of any kind. He brought out in his
discussion, some of the achievements
of the league and said that the whole
body had for one Of its aims, the pro-
motion of friendship and cooperation.
Miss Dorothy Nye of SkowhSgan
opened the debate for the negative
and presented several points which
her team would prove. She declar-
ed that the League was not the kind
of an organization that the United
States wanted to join; that 1t had fail-
ell miserably in what 1t had set out to
accomplish because 1t could not con-
troll the powerful nations and that the
League of Nations had received cred
1t for achievements which rightfully
belonged to this country.
A very strong argument that Miss
Nye presented was the fact that since
the League has been formed, IL ma
lions of Europe have been In trouble
and have had fighting, eight OF whom
are members, of the League. She de-
clared that this showed failure to
accomplish the main object.
Edmund Sweeney, the second speak
err for the affirmative declared that
the League has not failed to bring
some good to the world and stated
that if perfection would be wrought
when the United States entered. He
said that the past success of this ma
ton was due to the fact that 1t had
always taken a strong stand for the
right. He declared that the biggest
reason why this country should join
was because the founder of the
League was President Wilson who
gave his services and his life for his
country.
Walter Wilson of Skowhegan, the
second speaker on the negative, de-
clared that the advice of the United
States Government would weigh as
much with European nations In small
conferences as it would. given by
member of the League. He declared
that the League was a vehicle of pol
itics, which were corrupt and contrary
to the ideals of this nation.
In the rebuttal Miss Nye of tho neg
alive refuted a statement made by one
of the affirmative debaters that the
League would stop was, by asking the
question as to why 1t had not stopped
the inferior wars and trouble since
the war. Mr.. Sweeney brought out
several valuable points for his team.