Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-03
CAPITAL ORATOR
TO SPEAK ABROAD
Miss Myrtle PoSey Chosen
With Wenig-Party Sails
Late Today.

By Staff Correspondent.
NEW YORK, July 3.-Miss Myrtle
Posey, 17year-old Eastern High
graduate, who won second honors in
the third annual national oratorical
contest, held in Washington on June
d as The Stars entrant, today was
designated as one of the two official
speakers for the group of seven young
orators on their two -and-one-half-
month tour of 10 foreign countries.
which starts this afternoon at S
o'clock. Herbert Z. Wenig of Holly
wood, Calf, who was selected as the
national champion, will be the other
speaker.
In announcing the selection of Miss
Posey for this outstanding honor of
international significance Randolph
Leigh, contest director, who will ac
company them on their tour, stated
that she had been chosen because of
her brilliant showing in the Washing
ton finals. Originally" Mr.. Leigh ex-
planned. I'VE had planned to permit
only Wenig to speak in the capitals
and principal cities of the foreign
countries we will visit, but inasmuch
as four of the seven orators are young
women we decided that our audiences
overseas would appreciate a sample of
and 1 am confident Miss Posey will
carry off this difficult assignment ad-
mirably.'
Admitting they spent practically
SleepleSS nights due to their uncon-
trollable excitement over the approach
Of an event they regard the greatest
thrill of their lives, the party Of seven
orators are prepared to board the Re
public at o'clock this afternoon. Civ
ing them three hours to adjust them.
selves for their five-day trip to their
first stopping place, Cherbourg,
France.
MuIlarky Unable to Go.
The seventh member of the party
Is Jose Munos Gotta. 18-year-old ma
tional champion of Mexico, and one
of the group who will compete with
Wenig, the United States champion
in the international finals. to be held
in Washington on October 10.
Due to the illness of his widowed
mother, Joseph Mullarky of Augusta,
Ga, who made such an excellent
showing in the national finals, is being
compelled to sacrifice the tour. Mr..
Leigh, approaching his plight, has
made a cash settlement with him and
his passage ticket has been taken
over by Beryl Bearman. sister of
Guita Bearman, the Chicago entrant
in the national finals.
The others in the party are: Miss
May P. Bradshaw. dean of girls at
Business High School. official chap
eron; Miss Anne Hardin, Louisville,
Ky; Thomas Cleary of Philadelphia,
and Miss Helen Bylund, Brooklyn, n.
Y, representative.
All Are Insured.
Due to the time consumed yester-
day. in completing wardrobes and
signing passports and similar routine
matters elaborate entertainment plans.
including a theater party, were called
off. 1t is expected, however, that there
will be a large delegation on hand at
pier No. this afternoon to wish the
oratorical champions Godspeed on
their voyage.
AS an example Of the precautions
which are being taken in the interest
of the young people, Mr.. Leigh an
nounced today that each of the group
has been insured against accident in
the sum of S. 600.
When the orators reported at the
McAlpin Hotel yesterday they COM
pared notes on the honors that had
been accorded them since they left
Washington early in June after the
national finals. 1t was found that
Wenig was awarded the coverted
hero's medal by the Breakfast Club
of Los Angeles, an honor which has
been conferred only six times before.
Among the few who have won 1t
are Secretary of the Navy Wilbur,
Charley Paddock, John Phillip Sousa
and Bill Tilden.
The action Of the club shows the
high rating of the oratorical cham
pionship in their eyes. Clery told
his fellow orators that because Of his
showing in the contest he had been
given a gold medal by his school and
a four-year scholarship to college.
Other Champions Coming.
When the young people complete
their European tour and are ready
TO sail back home on September
they will be joined by the national
oratorical champions of France and
England. When they land at Mon
treal they will pick up the Canada
champion, all of whom will be in the
first international contest in Wash
ington.
Each member Of the party will
carry a letter personally signed by
Of the American Ambassadors to the
of the American Ambassadors of the
countries they will visit. These let
ters will guarantee to them special
courtesies and are in addition to their
passport booklets.