Evening star., 1925-05-08

Seven youthful orators. picked from
l 1000 scholastic competitors, were
girding themselves this afternoon for
tonight's big battle of words and wits
before distinguished audience at the
Washington Auditorium, to decide the
students oratorical ampionship of
the United States.
Outwardly reserved. but inwardly
bubbling over with excitement, the
five boys and two girls who will
match their oratorical abilities be-
fore the President of the United
States, justices of the Supreme Court.
members of the cabinet and more than
-eseoe other citizens, were resting up
this afternoon. after attending two
preliminary functions in their honor
earlier in the day.
With the complement of contestants
completed with the arrival last night
of Philip Glatfelter of Columbia, Pa,
the Eastern champion, the entertain
ment program began this morning
with visit to the studio of II. h.
Bush-Brown, sculptor, to view his new
work, Memorial to Constitutional
Government"
ID. c. Winner is Hostess.
Immediately following this inspec-
tion the group was escorted to East
ern High School, where the contest
ants lunched as guests of the school
and of Miss Asenath Graves. Wash
ington's champion, who is a senior
there.
Both affairs We're informal in char
acter. the contest officials desiring
to make the final hours as agreeable
and unrestrained as possible. 1t was
ho la
were allowed to spend the entire after
noon and evening to themselves.
Young Glatfelter will occupy part of
the afternoon, a S his competitors did
yesterday. in looking over the scene
of tonight's engagement and in test
ing the acoustics and observing the
broadcasting facilities. He was par
ticularly desirous of noting the ar
rangement of the microphones.
Others Rest for Event.
The other contestants. Miss Graves,
Miss Flora Longenecker, Northeast
ern champion; Robert Sessions. South.
ern champion; Eugene F. McElmeel,
Pacific champion; George Stansell,
Central States champion, and Max n.
kroloft, Midwestern champion, ex-
pected to devote the pre-contest period
entirely to rest, eleventh. hour re-
y,
to sartorial duties.
John Hays Hammond. who will
make the Introductory address
promptly at s o'clock tonight, greeted
Glatfelter today at the headquarters
of the National Oratorical Contest in
The Star Building.
Are you nervous" Mr.. Hammond
inquired.
Not yet." Philip replied, laughing.
Recalls Choate Remark.
We'll, don't let nervousness before
hand worry you" Mr.. Hammond ad.
vised. Joseph Choate once told me
that he always was nervous before he
made a speech, but he soon forgot 1t
when he once got started. It'll be
the same with you"
Mr.. Hammond expressed gratifica-
tion as Philip left the room that a
17.year-old boy should take enough in
terest in the Constitution and in ora
tory to fit himself for so difficult a con.
test as that scheduled for tonight.
|, Maybe this contest will develop an
other Webster or Patrick Henry" Mr..
Hammond remarked.
Following Mr.. Hammond's welcome
tonight, President Coolidge will make
an address. There will then be short
musical selection by the United States
Marine Band Orchestra, followed I'M
mediately by the oratorical battle.
Miss Graves First Speaker.
Miss Graves. the 16-year-old District
champion, will be the first orator.
When her 10 minutes is up. Miss
Longenecker will step forward for her
turn. She will be followed by Sessions.
At this juncture the orchestra will
play another selection, after which the
four remaining young men will dis.
play their oratorical powers.
The judges will be none other than
four justices of the Supreme Court
and the Attorney General. The JUS
tices are Chief Justice Taft, Justice
Van Devanter, Justice Butler and JUS
tice Sanford.
On their decision rests the distribu-
ton of 81, 900 in prizes, of which 81, 900
will go to the winner, $1,000 to the
second best orator, $500 to the third
best, $450 to the fourth best, s400 to
the fifth best, $3.50 to the sixth best
and $500 to the seventh best.
The general subject of the orations
will be THE Constitution" although
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