Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-15
ORATOR F|NAL|STS
/. 7 BOYS AND 3 GIRLS
Loker Victor in Maryland.
Graves and Andrews
f. Win in D. c.

Two district contests, staged ST
multaneously last night at the Eastern
and Hyattsvills High Schools, COM
pleted the entry field for The Star
finals In the fourth National OratoriCal
Contest and gave an indisputable vic
tory-in representation at least-to the
Young men: seven of the ten places
we're captured by boys and the remain
ing three were taken by girls.
William A. Loker, 17-year-oid senior
of Leonard Hall School, Leonardtown,
won the Maryland district champion
ship over strong opponents in the by
attsville meeting. while Alvin Graves,
17-year-old senior at Eastern High
School. defeated the best orators OF
his school in its finals.
Yesterday afternoon the eighth
place in The Star finals was won by
Allen Andrews, a senior of the Arm
strong High School.
Battle to Be Remembered.
The Maryland contest last night pro
vided a battle that will be remembered
for many months to come. Five boys,
each armed with a sturdy Grafton for
his assault upon the Maryland district
championship, constituted the contest
ing field that represented one of the
strongest in the ten districts of TINS
region. Supporting contingents from
the four visiting schools trooped into
the Hyattsville School Auditorium with
the home crowd to make one OF the
liveliest audiences of youngsters-and
has yet attended semi
final competition Visitors were ac-
corded rousing reception by the Hy-
attsville student body, which gave its
school yell for each of the contest
ants. and, following q musical intro
duction by the Powell Junior High
Orchestra and brief remarks by Nicho-
las Orem, superintendent of Prince
Georges County schools, the contest
was on.
Loker Is First Speaker.
Young Loker, the lad who Journey
ed all the way from Leonardtown
with his 100 supporters under Brother
Ambrose, G. F. X, director of Leon
ard Hall. was the first orator 10 take
the platform. The restlessness of
the excited audience disappeared when
the ir.complexioned, erect. young
addressed the chairman,
and then turned to face his audience
and the judges.
There was complete silence and
Loker began the delivery of his ora
ton on THE Constitution" Quietly,
at first, he rose to commanding
heights in the coloring and shading
of his speech TO give the infection
that may have been responsible for
his victory. His gestures were very
few. and coming as they did. at in
frequent, but seemingly necessary in
tervals, they were suggestive of the
feeling of the speaker Time went by
and just as the second hand of the
timekeepers watch was about to
slide into the l0-minute bar, Loker
brought his Grafton TO a close. An
easy bow, and he took his seat while
the audience applauded.
Speaks on Franklin.
Next, Lansdale Clagett Of the Mari
boro High School, was introduced.
His Grafton on "Franklin's Contribu.
ton to the Constitution" had won
the group contest at Marlboro last
week, and he delivered il again last
night against stronger opponents
than he faced in his initial yictory-all
winners, even as himself.
John Hardesty of the McDonough
Institute. talking on "Madisons Con.
tribution to the Constitution, fol-
lowed Clagett, and his bid for the
championship concluded the first sec
tion Of the orators program.
The young musicians of the Powell
Junior High School, heartened bv n
glowing compliment paid them bv Mr..
Orem, played Zimmerman's starry
Emblem March with a gusto thai
won the approval of the crowd.
Holds His Audience.
Hugh Francis Owens, 17-year-old
senior of the Georgetown Preparation
School at Garrett Park Md, and one
OF the heavy guns in the elimina
ton contests, which he survived, was
the fourth speaker. He lashed into
his ora ton on The Constitution" and
whipped it into his audience with all
the fire of the campaigning Senator.
Hugh is a tall, handsome lad. pos
sessed of clear, deep voice that ca n
hold any audience, and as he dis
coursed on the Constitution he ap-
peared a powerful contender for the
championship. When he resumed his
seat the applause which greeted his
Nc THIS LINE.