Evening star., 1928-05-13
ORAT0RY CONTEST
LAUDEDBY JUDGES
Events Seen as Builder of
Good Citizenship and Aid
to Pupils.

torical Contest as builder of good Cit
i2enShip and as developer of th'
youth of the country, along with thu
hope that the contest will continue 1T
present activity in future years. was ex'
pressed III statements made yesterday
by the individual members of the boare
OF judges which determined Benjamin
+ Hinden Of Central High School victor
in The Star finals of the contest las
Thursday.
Headed by Speaker Lonsworth. thS
recent contest "iuriStS," including SEN
ator George H. Moses. president pre-
tempore of the Senate: Jesse Adkins
president of the District Of Columbia
Bar Association; Robert v, Fleming
president of the Riggs National Bank
and Mrs. William Sherman Walker,
vice president general of the D. A. r.
were of one accord in the thought that
the contest had produced orators OF
surprising ability for their youth.
In weighing the significance of the
contest. the judges agreed that with the
vast number of high school students
studying the Constitution, future gen.
erationS CANNOT help having a greater
appreciation for the organic law of THIS
Nation. Two of the Judges declared
they found the finals illuminating,
and at least two said definitely that they
leading newspapers, would continue an
annual institution.
Sees Benefit 20 Losers
Speaker Longworth found the value
Of the contest in the performance of
the contestants themselves, and Senator
Moses was mindful of the legion of de-
feated contestants. who derived per-
Sonal benefit from their study, although
their efforts seemed screened by the
brilliant performance Of the eight final
lists he heard.
Mr.. Adkins was struck by the fact
that each of the participants had found
food for individual thought in his study
Of the Constitution.
MIR. Fleming was Impressed" with
the understanding of the Constitution
and with the knowledge of historical
events which bore on the framing OF
the amendments that The Stars eight
orators displayed. Mrs. Walker sees
the contest as the most important STEP
now being taken for teaching the priv
leges and duties Of citizenship.
1T seems to me the young men and
women to whom ] listened on the
morning of May 10 have proved the
value of the Oratorical Contest" Speak
er Longworth said. They were inter-
ested and had given. the subject much
study and had developed an ability to
speak in public and a poise that / be-
iieve to be comparatively rare in young
people of their age.
THE Star is doing a very fine thing
in encouraging these contests, and
hope viii continue them"
Intensive Study.
Senator Moses declared:
My experience as Judge in thu
oratorical contest conducted here b.
The Star was Illuminating It showed
that the young men and women whC
were fnaliSts had won their positions
through intensive and useful study o.
an instrument with which we shoulC
al be more familiar; and when W.
think that behind these successful
young men and women there we're man,
others who did not win but whose
studies we're doubtless quite as inten'
Sive, We must rejoice that so large q
number of our youth each year come X
know of the value and significance oi
our organic law. These youths, goint
out as they viii tato the activities Of
later life, carry with them from tl1eii
studies In connection with this contest
an influence which viii be incalculable
for the maintenance Of correct consti-
tutionai government in the United
States" <*
Mr.. Adkins said:
1T was a great privilege, and indeed
Inspiration, TO listen to these eight
young people discuss. one Of them The
Development Of the Constitution" and
the others 'fTshe Present Significance OF
the Constitution" and ! better under
stand the interesting editorial in The
Star Friday afternoon.
We were told that over 1000 000
pupils attend the schools which par
ticipated IN this contest. and that In
some Of the schools the entire student
body entered the competition We were
told that 1892 would complete the firsi
decade Of these contests, and comment
ed favorably upon the fact that by thai
time a very large part Of our citizenrs
would be thoroughly trained In the his
tory, the principles and the significance
Of the Constitution
Making Good Voters.
white naturally there was much ir
common in the eight speeches, wal
struck by the fact that each speaker
was individual, had his own viewpoint
An0 they did not hesitate TO express
their own opinions One Of the obyt
thought IL remained 70 be seen wfethel
the suffrage aEnendwent was q go0t
thing. He had not heard the splendid
speeches Of Miss Doody and Mis-
Sterling or he could not doubt tflei
ability 10 vote snteIlsgentIy and persuadl
others 70 vote the right way, ] vas par.
ticuIarIy Impressed by Mr. Murphy
grasp Of the disputed constitutions
questions with which we are still con
csrned. The eight speeches were ex
ceiient, and Mr Hinden is entitled q
the greater credit for winning In guci
field hope he wins the nationa
contest. And congratulate The Sta
for its great public spirit In tosterini
these contests,
+'In current magazine, an enninen
historian gives prophecy Of the unjtet
States in the year 1900. saying tina
We still veneTate the Constitution, bsi
only ia o sentimental way, and tina
politicians have found q way TO pas
Any law and have ii held constitutional
The learned author overlooked the con
tesax. As long as they continue, tfh
yenerss1on for the Constitution viii b
practical aS well a. sentimental
Impressed by Poise.
MF Fleming said
'Srlae Orat0YicAl Contest finals bel
hinder ti1e auspices Of The Evening Sta
we're most Illuminating ! was great
Impressed BY the Doise and confidence Q
al the contestants, particularly when
b. considered that none was over 10 year
Df age. WAS also greatly iHprebse'
Win tlle grasp which the contestant
taaE on the meaning o. the ConsUtIlbl
arc The events 0f history wiicl
gsaye iia1 such oearing on the amend
Eaent& " IL. II iG nay belief that tnes
contests held annually win % much D
cid the coming generation its Who's
hands 1ge progress and stability q
tie country snop will be.
q feej that The Evening Star ap
tlle other newspapers ~ our couDtfl
bgnder whose aslSpicee the contest
b2eld, are doing & splendid piees &
bofk ano are " be congratulated"
Referring u The ElaT hnaig, Mr!