Evening star., 1927-05-28
The Fourth 0ratorical Contest.

Representatives of two million sec
ondary school pupils of this country
last night met in competition in this
city in the climax of the fourth Ma.
tional Orator.cal Contest. The sub
jects Of their orations related to the
Constitution Of the United Sts es. They
debated that theme with skill and elo
quence. thrilling their hearers with
their earnestness and their grasp OF
the matter and their effective presen-
tation of the specific aspects of the
main topic. To one of them. Miss
Dorothy Carlson Of Salt Lake City.
Utah, went the award for first place,
she thus becoming the national cham.
pion to appear as the representative
of the United States In the interna.
tional contest to be held in Washing
ton next October.
The National Oratorical Conte t has
become an institution of the utmost
significance and value in establishing
a better understanding of the princi'
pies and meaning of the Federal Con.
stitution. The two million students
who have this year participated have.
in their studies in preparation for
this competition, gained a deeper in
sight into the significance Of the
fundamental law of the land. Their
parents have, in association with the
young peoples efforts, obtained full.
er and sounder view Of the basic prin'
ciples Of American Government. The
countless people of all ages who have
heard their orations, in the local, dis.
trict and regional contests. have been
educated in the best sense in the
soundness Of the Government, the JUS.
tice and wisdom Of the provisions Of
the organic law, and especially the
need Of steadfast adherence to the
principles which were laid down near.
ly one hundred and forty years ago,
and are still operative and effective
In the maintenance Of free and popu.
lar government in this country.
The Star is proud to have been en-
gagged from the outset In this impor.
tant work Of education. Washington is
the appropriate place for the finals.
both Of the national and the interna-
tional competitions. The people Of this
city are thus in a position to Judge
Of the merits Of the individual ef-
forts Of the contestants, to observe
the splendid types Of young American
manhood and womanhood participat-
ing, survivors OF the millions who have
been for several weeks striving for
supremacy in their local fields. They
can estimate confidently Of the value
Of the contest from the point Of view
Of good citizenship.
Though there have now been twenty.
eight different orations on the same
general subject in the course Of the
four national finals held here, each
has advanced some specific thought
differing from the others. A wide
range Of selection is open to the young
people who participate. They have, as
a rule, chosen simply 1.-THE Consti.
, tuition" as their theme, and It Is in
truth remarkable that their treatments
Of this fundamental topic have been
so varied. Their offerings have been
models Of expression and of thought,
have been indeed real contributions to
the political literature Of America.
It Is estimated that in the course Of
the four years no less than six mil.
lion students have taken part in these
competitions. Some Of them have pass
ed on into manhood and womanhood.
taking their places In the citizenship
ranks. Year by year they adva nee
thus into active service for their coun.
try, taking with them into their adult
activities surer understanding Of the
blessings Of American government. of
the need Of steadfast watchfulness to
safeguard them, Of the responsibilities
attaching to participation in free gov.
ernment.
All seven Of the competitors who
were heard last night will later be es.
corted to Europe as guests Of the CO.
operating newspapers that have con.
Quoted this great contest. They will
see other governments at work. and
will without doubt return TO America
confirmed In their ideal of the United
States as the best governed of all the
countries In the world.
It was p. T. Barnum who said "tht