Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-09
HUGH OWENS WINS
ORATORY CONTEST
Maryland Group COMPETE
tons End, With Only Dis
triGt Finals to Be Held.

Maryland's group contest phase Of
Ahe fourth National Oratorical Con-
test was ended last night at Rock
Vile when Hugh Francis Owens. IL.
yaar-old senior of the Georgetown
Preparatory School. defeated the
spokesmen Of four other Montgomery
County schools for a place In the
Maryland district finals.
with the Virginia champion already
chosen in the victory of John Bell,
jr., and the Maryland championship
contenders awaiting their last battle
on home ground. the final entrants in
the private and parochial school finals
will be determined at two simultane-
Gus meetings in Washington tonight.
Three orators will meet on common
platform at Corcoran Hall of the
George Washington University at
o'clock in one of the two concluding
group meetings, and three other
speakers will contend in the audi
torium of the National Museum in
meeting that is to begin at 7:45
o'clock.
Defeats Four Others.
In his winning battle last night.
staged in the Christian Church or
Rockville, the Georgetown Prepare
tory School boy speaking on 1.-THE
Constitution" defeated four young
speech-makers from as many schools
In MONTGOMERY County. Those, VINO
went down to defeat before Owens
oratorical ability were Douglas Cries
enmer, jr., of the Bethesda High
School, whose Grafton on The Con-
stitution and the State" won Tor MIN
a close second place; John Gott of the
Dickerson High School, speaking on
"Washington and the Constitution
Miss Helen Wilkinson of the Rock
Vile High School, on "Marshalfs
Contribution to the Constitution, ana
Arthur Watkins of Gaithersburg High
School, who competed with a speech
on "The Meaning Of the Constitution
Today"
owens. as victor Of the contest, was
presented with $40 in gold by Walter
.. Perry of Bethesda, who announced
that he will offer to the winners in
the Montgomery group contest the
same amount for a period or nve
wears. The award last night was the
first Of the FIVE consecutive prizes
which Mr.. Perry will furnish as con-
crete incentive for oratorical compe'
tition in the various schools.
Pays Tribute to Orations.
oliver owen Kuhn, news manager
of The Washington Star, announced
the winner of the contest following
the compilation of the judges ballots.
In an address on the contest which
accompanied the announcement. Mr.
Kuhn paid tribute TO the student
orations as a means of promoting the
principles of the American Constitu-
ton and the doctrines 1t contains.
"Those principles handed down by
our forefathers which have made this
nation great, the greatest in all his
tory" he said, Twill be forever pro-
fected IL young America continues, as
ut present, to study and go forth to
glorify the fundamental doctrines or
this country as eXemplified in our
Constitution
America is never safe against the
armies of skepticism, doubt and those
hories who, in patronizing manner,
seek to undermine respect for the
laws and Constitution of this country
not to speak of the onslaught from
the fountainhead of sedition and
anarchist doctrines, Soviet Russia
unless %thg people grid themselves
under the banner of civic righteous
ness" Mr.. Kuhn declared. In still in
the minds of young America con-
seriousness of what is right and wrong
governmentally: teach them to respect
and love the Constitution, our divine
heritage from far-sighted patriots of
the early days of our Nation, and the
Nation will endure" he said, and con-
tinued--
Reflects Contest Speeches.
with all the skepticism and cap
fious criticism which oldsters seem 10
believe the proper thing, but which is
deadly to 'perpetuation of right gov
ernmental principles. just give me this
army of youngsters now contesting
from one end OF the Nation to the
other, and l win risk battle with any
force. Let them continue to preach
their devout beliefs and / shall not
worry as to the future OF the Ma
tion--it always will remain safe ana
glorious"
AR. Kuhn,s remarks acted as re-
Hector of the orations that had been
delivered by the young contestants
for the place In the Maryland finals,
and when he had concluded he an
nounced the name Of Hugh Owens as
yinner Of the coveted place. Spirited
APPLAUSE greeted the victor, and
among those to congratulate him In
~ rush that followed was the father
81 one OF the defeated contestants.
Hugh is a handsome lad OF slightly
more than six.foot stature. His erect
bearing and manly, clear voice,
coupled with his well composed
soAech. would seem to make him a
nowerful bidder for the championship
Of MARYLAND. In the battle for that
honor Owens must defeat William
A. Loker of Leonard Hall, Mark
woods of the Hyattsville High School;
John A. Hardesty of the McDonough
Institute and Lansdale Clagett OF the
Marlboro High School.
Big Crowds Expected.
The contests tonight are expected
70 draw the largest crowds that have
attended any of the oratorical COM
petttions held in the District OF Co.
iumbia this year. Interesting fea-
lures are planned for each OF the
meetings; at the National Museum
contest, where the entrants from
GonzagaL High School, Immaculate
Seminary and the Dewitt Preparatory
School will compete, a musical pro-
gram by the student orchestra OF
the Powell Junior High School, under
the direction of George +. Hurt. viii
he rendered to augment the speak
ing program, At the meeting in
Corcoran Hall of George Washing
ton University, at which orators
from the Cathedral School for Boys
the Woodward School for Boys and