Evening star., 1927-05-22
YOUNG ORATORS
. IN FINALS FRIDAY
AIeck Loker, Leonardtown
! Student, Ready to Meet
Six U. S. Opponents.

In just five days. seven young
fpeechmakers will meet in the Wash.
ington Auditorium to contend for the
high school oratorical championship
Of the United States. and William
Alexander Loker of Leonardtown,
Md, will be one of them.
Hailing from as many different
cities and representing their re-
spective regions in the fourth National
Oratorical Contest, these modern dis.
ciples of Demosthenes represent the
test high school oratorical ability that
eeverai months Of eliminations could
produce, hence each will be a strong
opponent of the six others.
"Aleck" Loker, the champion of The
Stars region. embracing the District
of Columbia. Maryland and Virginia,
Is thoroughly aware of the company
he Is to keep. While he does not fear
any of them, he is Understanding
none in his preparations for the stiff.
est fight Of his life. These pleasant
Spring days, down there on the his
tOric peninsula of southern Mary
land, where he was born and reared,
and where he is being schooled,
"Aleck" is grooming himself for the
crucial test Friday night. following
complete rest since he won the region
al championship.
Family Encouragement.
At his home, an attractive. large
white frame house, with wide porches.
set in the middle of green lawn
we'll back from the highway. "Aleck"
listens TO the counsel OF his father.
Judge William NJ. Loker Of the sew.
enth judicial district of Maryland. His
mother voices encouragement and the
little brothers and sisters furnish all
the vociferous praise he needs.
From another member" Of the
these along with the wit and tradi-
tonal philosophy of that members
race-Jim Brooks, the colored house
man in the employ of the Maryland
judge since his earliest years. Jim. by
the way, is one of "Mr. Alexis" most
faithful followers, for he has attended
each of the contests in which the ora.
tor has completed, and when the
Young Master" emerged victorious.
Jim always was there to pin on his
lapel a small American flag.
But it is over at Leonard Hall
School. a short distance away that
"Aieck" does his most active work.
1t was there. under the tuteiage or
Brother Walter, teacher of English,
that he wrote his grafton, and it was
there, also, that he practiced it de-
livery.
The main building of Leonard Hall
IS set back from the roadway, with
long, curvlng driveway leading to 1t.
and the grounds are studded with
many old trees. The drives are lined
with young naples. recently planted,
and a small herd of sheep attends to
the close, but even, clipping of the
lawns.
Where 1t Was Written.
On a recent visit to Leonardtown, a
reporter for The Star was shown just
where championship orations are
written. 'Aleck's" was prepared in
class as a regular assignment, and
when it survived the eliminations con-
Quoted in the school, its writer was
made to deliver" it.
The study hall of the school. long.
rectangular room in the front of the
main building, was the place, The
Stars champion first presented his
speech before an audience. The hall
IS equipped with combination seats
and desks Of modern design, and,
while "Aleck" spoke before his class.
mates. his teachers listened.
Following each delivery, some re-
writing was done, and the new YER
Eions memorized. Yes. Brother Wal
achievement is accompanied only
through plenty of study.
Those scenes of grafton and study
are continuing again now, with even
greater intensity.
Many conferences are held at
Leonard Hall these days. too. Brother
Ambrose. c. f. X, director. has given
Brother Walter full command of the
oratory training. and when the cham
pion and his teacher repair to the
schools club room, following a par
tcularly trying rehearsal. Brother
Ambrose generally goes along too. to
hear the words of wisdom and advice
the little teacher delivers. There is
little bench in one corner Of the
club room-the reporter saw it-and
the two brothers and their speech
making student use it frequently in
these conferences.
Outdoor Preparations.
But II is not all study and talk!
Brother Walter. in fact, forbids such
a program. Those recently planted
trees that have been mentioned
often need a bit of attention and per-
haps it is 'Aleck" who gives II to
them. There is a garden that needs
spading and the young orator can
Wtctu SjdGc dliIlOSL as We'll as ne
does the English language in oratory.
When there's nothing serious to be
done. he can take a kindly slap at a
friendly old ram out there in the lit.
tie sheep herd. The ram is used to
that and in turn he'll give a sporting
'butt" with his dark old head. All
this, you see, is fun that goes a long
way toward perfecting an orators
ability-Brother Walter says so.
In the midst of all this, the business
of shopping must not be overlooked.
and that, when a fellow plans for a
two-and-a-half-month tour of Europe.
is real business. Loker leaves that
until Saturdays. however. He was in
Washington yesterday, making a few
purchases and visiting some folks,
l,,,t hn ,.ot,,rrad ar.l,, Lost Cor