Evening star., 1925-05-11

With nearly 1900, 600 American
schoolboyS and schoolgirls studying
and debating the Constitution Of the
United States, it is q rational prophecy
TO say that the future of the Republic
is not in danger. This observer has
participated in many thrilling events
at home and abroad, but he recalls
none more impressive or more stimu-
lating TO patriotic pride than the
'hnalS' of the National Oratorical Con
test in Washington. The occasion was
tremendous in itself. yet inconsequen-
tial compared with the greater thing
1t represented. For those seven
youngsters from the four quarters OF
the national compass We're the pick
of a million and half, roundly, of
their comrades in 1926 high schools
throughout the land. Reflect upon
that-l.5 500, 600 American youths. at
the threshold of maturity and char
acter forming. burning the midnight
incandescent over the charter of our
liberties, and all and sundry that it
means. Reflect, too, that this has
occurred in the midst of the much
maligned jazz and bobbedhair age.
The contest proves that the young
sters of America have not all gone
to the dogs.
Ala, 10 years old, youngest of all the
finals competitors, was crowned
winner by the United States Supreme
Court justices. who comprised the
jury of awards. 1t was a popular
verdict. II the audience that packed
Washington Auditorium could have
decided the contest, there would have
been mighty shout reminiscent of
certain episodes in Madison Square
a a OF -
its tumult would have been: 10000
votes for Robert Sessions of Ala
bama!" That brilliant young lad of
Dixie has a future as an orator as
surely as the stars twinkle in the
Southern heavens. 1t would be a
sorry day for Senator Tom Hefin
or any other Alabama spellbinder to
be compelled to match wits and elo-
quence with Robert Sessions of
Birmingham. The boy is as at home
on the platform as the most hardened
public speaker. His gestures. his de-
livery his English, his poise and
general manner were altogether nat
ural and captivating. The two girl
contestants preceded him. Their
chances for the $4,000 first prize
vanished before Sessions had spoken
2 of his 10 minutes. 1t became ap-
parent that his four boy rivals, who
were to follow, had their work cut
out for them.
x X x x
Everybody was interested in the
grafton of Max n. kroloff of Sioux
City, Iowa, because he was the rep
resentative of the melting pot in the
contest. This 17-year-old offspring of
| Russian immigrant parents pushed
Sessions hard for first honors, though
Il oynfy o,1x It'd
stocky youth, Krolon poured all the
fire and spirit of his Semitic soul into
his glorification of the Constitution.
His peroration plunged the auditorium
into a maelstrom of enthusiasm. Hun
dreds of pencils which had placed "1'
opposite Sessions name were put to
the program and elevated Kroloff to
first place. Had the Iowan won the
contest his victory would have been
almost as popular as the Alabaman' s..
Cabinet officers and members of
Congress are in receipt of incessant
evidence that our schoolchildren are
deeply interested in national affairs.
Even the Dawes plan for Senate re-
form appeals to them. A United
States Senator from a New England
State has just received a letter from
a. high school girl asking for both
sides of the controversy over Senate
rules. She says she wants the ma.
terial for a graduation thesis in June.
X X
At a recent press conference in the
White House offices, a newspaper man
| who expects to cover" the President
during the latter's Summer vacation
piped up and said:
''Mr. President. I want a room and
bath at Plymouth, While you're visit