Evening star., 1927-05-28
CHARM AND POWER
WIN ORATORY TITLE
FOR WESTERN GIRL
Dorothy Carlson of Salt Lake
City Awarded High School
Championship.
$500 JAM AUDITORIUM;
CHEERS GREET DECISION
James Tunnel, Jr., Of Georgetown,
Del, Second, and Jefferson Meagh-
er Of Binghamton, Third.

Casting dainty defiance at an impos-
ing field of young men and presenting
first her attractiveness and then her
oratory for the judgment of a jury Of
five Supreme Court justices, a lone.
l7-year-old girl last night won the high
school forensic championship of the
United States before an audience of
1000 persons in the final meeting of
the fourth National Oratorical Con.
test, held in the Washington Audi
torium.
She Is Miss Dorothy Carlson Of Salt
Lake City, Utah, representative Of the
Western zone in the contest.
Miss Carlson is the first girl to
win the national championship, as
well as the first girl to represent
the Western district, which, by virtue
OF her victory last night, has supplied
this country with three Of its four
oratorical champions.
Closely behind Miss Carlson in first
place in the judges rating came James
Tunnel, jr., of Georgetown, DEL, to
heels followed Jefferson Meagher of
N. Y, as the winner Of
third place.
Loker Close Behind.
In a competition as closely scaled
as. the contestants were In last nights
battle. but little distance can separate
any combatant from his fellows, and
William Alexander Loker of Leonard
town, Md. representative of The
Stars area, came in not far behind
the three "placers."
In the delivery of her grafton on
to An American Citizen" Miss Carlson
stood directly in front Of one of the
so that her voice, sweet
and feminine, for all its power, was
carried throughout the Auditorium.
When she was introduced she, the
only girl in the contest, nodded
slightly to the chairman and faced
her audience, a perfect exemplar Of
poise and sef-possession, while she
awaited the quieting Of an acclaiIning
audience. Her presence remained un.
shaken throughout her grafton, and
when she warned that vigilance must
be our watchword," in the face of ex.
listing dangers from foreigners under
the guise Of friendship" who come to
this country ito wreck the very citadal
Of our liberty" her audience paid
silent heed and took that warning to
its collective heart.
Almost simultaneous with Miss Carl.
sons return to her seat, q young ca.
det of Company NJ of Western High
School. darted out Of the wings and
across the stage, carrying huge has.
ket of flowers, which he presented to
the flustered girl The flowers were
the tribute of the Utah State Society.
which had lent its hearty support to
the girl from Utah.
AS the last speaker on the program,
Miss Carlson had little time to wait
until she would know just how strong
had been her bid for victory. While
the five justices of the Supreme Court
were writing their individual ballots,
without conference, the orchestra con.
tributed greatly to the relief of the
bristling tension. While the separate
ballots were being compiled by off,
cials Of the contest, Herbert Wenig,
last years champion, spoke briefly
and perhaps in .'fatherly" fashion be-
coming to veteran, of the contests
of it's purpose in
the homes of the Nation with
It's doctrine Of good government and
good citizenship through the youth Of
the Nation.
Decision Is Announced.
Just as Mr.. Wenig finished talking,
Mr.. Leigh. without preamble Of any
sort. brought to a close the period OF
terrific waiting. He announced first
he name Of Jefferson Meagher as third
place winner, then that of James Tun-
nell as winner of second place. Finally
picking up the silver loving cup, typ
cal of the national championship, he
said. as he faced the one girl on the
platform:
THE national champion - Miss
Carlson"
The announcement was signal for
vociferous acclaim that evinced the ap.
proval of the vast audience and re-
called the scene last year, when an
other westerner, the same Herbert
Wenig who had just spoken. was
wildly cheered for his accomplishment
N similar victory.
Miss Carlson, still the marvel Of
poise. smiled delightedly and before
my one else could move toward her.
Carl Albert. the Midwest champion,
had bounded clear across the stage to
grasp her hand in hearty. grinning,
Aleck Loker was the
next to reach the little champion and
he had come nearly as far as the
udoIlIIsS L. by IlIl1o
he other contestants had regained
control of their faculties and in a
the little girl in orchid was
by her "enemies" of a
'cant half hour before, each eager to
wiring her hand in congratulation.
Hanging on to her just-won cup, Miss
Carlson was rushed" by a hundred
members of the recently sedate audi.
,nce and in another moment she was
submerged by the ever
Increasing crowd that surrounded her.
)ne of the first persons to reach her
side from the audience was Senator
Reed Smoot of Utah. and with
Kindly, Come right here little girl"
hat legislator implanted a great big
liss directly upon her smiling mouth.
Hammond Describes Scene.
Declaring 1--WE are witnessing the
Of project gigantic in
is conception, brilliant in it's execu-
ion and almost without limit in it's
,ower for good in national and inter.
rational affairs" John Hays Ham,
nond, internationally known engi-
leer Of Washington, who presided as
chairman of the meeting, described
n a single sentence of his introduce
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