Evening star., 1927-05-16
STIFF FIGHT LOOMS
FOR 0RAT0RY ACE.
Six of Seven National Con-
testants Chosen-Chicago
Selects on May Fl.

With six of the seven contenders
for the high school oratorical cham
ponship of the United States already
chosen, it is evident that the finals
of the fourth National Oratorical
Contest to be staged in the Washing
ton Auditorium, May q. will be the
hardest-fought oratorical battle since
the contest, now national institution,
was founded.
Reports from two of the Eastern
contest centers, New York and Phila-
delphia, indicate that their respective
representatives in the finals, Jefferson
f. Meagher of B:nghamton, n. Y,
and James NJ. Tunnel, jr., of George
town, Del. are mighty serious con-
tenders for the championship
Jefferson Meagher, who by the way
pronounces his name "Ma-her,' with
long "a" is 1Sh years old and the
possessor of an unusual scholastic
and oratorical record. His speaking
ability was manifest in his grammar
school years. When his class was
graduated from the grammar grades
in 1928, Jefferson was the speaker at
the commencement exercises for all
the public schools of Binghamton. In
the same year he won first prize in
an ESSAY contest in Broome County,
\. Y, on 'xrhe Distinctive Features
Of the Constitution of the United
States"
Won Coast Trip.
Last wear he won several interhigh
school oratorical contests on various
subjects, and, although a Junior, he
was president of his schools student
governing body, knows as the General
Organization. He was also member
of his schools 1926 debating team.
His greatest victory in public speaking
last year however, was his conquest
in the Columbia River historical ex-
pedition oratorical contest, by which
he won trip to the Pacific Coast.
This year young Meagher is presi-
dent of his school debating club and
president of the senior class. In ad-
dition he is editor-in-chief of the Bing-
hamton High Schools publication,
The Panorama and he is to be the
valedictorian of the graduating class
next month.
The facts received at national con-
test headquarters concerning James
Tunell, the Philadelphia zone entry,
are not as complete as those on the
however, to rate him highly as a con-
Ne
Tunnel is only 16 years old, and,
therefore. one of the youngest contest
ants SO far chosen for the national
finals.
Best Of 100000.
A veteran of the National Oratorical
Contest-he won second honors in the
Philadelphia regional finals last year
young Tunnel this year won in a
a0 cfn 1rx,1
vania, southern New Jersey and Della
ware, in a series Of contests in which
900 high school students competed.
In his victory at Philadelphia last
Friday night, he was the fourth
orator to speak and all reports of that
contest express wonder at the vocal
powers of the lad. Aside from his
youth. James is small OF stature and
despite these ''handicaps" he possesses
a voice that is deep and resonant. one
tnat was heard throughout the Acad.
emy OF Music. in which the zone finals
were held. His Grafton ''reads" very
Wen and with his reported speaking
ability, Tunnel should be the power.
Iui contender his supporters claim
he is.
With each of these boys and the
other individual contenders for the
SAdiApiOHSllip William Alexa ndnr
Loker, the Leonardtown, Md. youth
who is champion of this region. will
speak his oratorical best i'm his own
bid for the championship. His speech
is very well written, his voice excen.
honal and his personality is pleasing
SO while he has mighty good fieId
OF opponents. "Aleck" remains a now.
erful contender for national honors.
Chicago Contender Unsolicited.
Oratorical enemies now. each groom.
Ing himself to defeat the other five,
the champions Of the six zones that
have chosen their representatives will
be travelling companions for two and
a half months during the Summer.
When they deliver their orations in
the national finals each will have
clinched his right to the tour. which
viii begin July with the trip aboard
the Leviathan.
The other three contestants chosen
to date are: Maxwell Lancaster. 16.
Birmingham, Ala; Carl E. Albert, IS.
McAlester, Okla, and Miss Dorothy
Carlson. II, Salt Lake City. Utah.
Chicago's zone will select its cham
pion May 81.