The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-04-13
DISCUSS THE
CONSTITUTION
CLOSE AND INTERESTING
CONTEST IN ORATORY
LOCAL BOY 1ST

| The district oratorical contest,
held at the high school assembly
last Friday night, brought out
five student contestants, repre-
senting the high schools of Plen-
tywood. Bainville, Culbertson, Pop
lar and Wolf Point 1t had been
boped that more of the high
schools of the district which in
cludes, also, Valley, Daniels ana
Richland would participate.
Bernard Geisen, the local con-
testant was the winner OF the
solid gold medal awarded for first
nlace Clara Onstad, repre-
senting Plentywood, daughter OF
Attorney L. ]. Onstad, won second
and received the rolled gold medal
Delbert Leeson, son OF George
Leeson. represented Bainville;
William Hagen represented Cul-
bertson, and Sheldon Searles Pop
lar
Nationwide Series
The contest was for the north
eastern district of Montana, fol-
lowing local preliminary contests,
to choose an orator to attend the
state contest to be held in Great
: Falls The same series is being
held in the other states OIL the
: union and preliminary to division
al national and international con-
tests. The whole system is spon-
. sored and financed by 53 OF the
= great daily newspapers OF the
d country The Great Falls Tribune
0 is the Montana member OF this
group. The objects are the en-
couragement of public speaking
! and greater familiarity and re-
i snect for the constitution OF the
i United States.
u The contestants have the choice
a Of two subjects: The Present Sig
u nificance of the Constitution; the
DEVELOPMENT of the Constitution.
Is Friday evening Geisen talked on
= % the latter and Miss Onstad the
former.
le Method of Judging
10 The Judges We're Miss Beatrice
m Prince. dramatic teacher in the
Minot school. Rev. Sydney A..
walker and Hugh N. Marion OF
- this city They reached their de-
II cision by a method of marking
H. SET forth in pamphlets that were
~ furnished. Supt Livingston, VINO
u. had been appointed district man
a. ager. and all concerned would
= have much preferred set OF
= iudges who were all from OUTSIDE
y Wolf Point. The decision was
!, difficult Friday night The con-
~ testants we're closely punched, IN
y fact three were tied when the
iudges turned in their first rank
he T ings. These were Geisen, Onstad
u and Hagen. Each judge was IN
structed to rank the speakers l.,
W 2 a. 3. in the order the judges
oy thought they deserved. The low
ID est total of these ranks when
~ added determined the winner, the
second lowest determined second
nlace In case of ties the judges
were instructed to confer and re-
consider all the essential points IN
- the performance of the contes-
IN tants and decide on the awards.
The young orators all did well.
"a Their efforts were something for
~ the schools to Be proud of. Ma
be turally all will improve with ex-
W. perience. study training and
rk coaching The most common
al weakness was deviating from theH
subjects. Delbert Leeson recelv-
cd much favorable comment from
:, members of the large audience
: He shows promise and lacks only.
- evnerience and coaching to bring
od out the qualities that make Tor
~ excellence. Miss Onstad had IRE
~ and spirit but yielded to the temp
- tation to turn the latter part OF her
- oration into a debate argument on
tho 18Th amendment and a tenn
bo perance lecture William HAGEN
was good in some features but ms
:. effort lacked climax and he forgot
bic lines and seemingly would
have had to leave the rostrum II ne
80 had not been prompted, whicn
No ruined the effect of his speech.
he Winner Sticks to Subject
Rernard Geisen worked under
To- the handicap of small stature
,d which detracts from stage pres
lie ence and impressiveness but was
IN good or excellent in all other
noints. He knew the lines OF ms
- Grafton and put it over fairly Wen
ho His voice is at the uncertain
-, stage which worried him some
~ Pest of all he talked on his SUI
;ect. the development of the con
stitution, and on nothing else ano
handled it well.
The winning of district contest
is. is a minor matter to any hlgr
school when measured with the
en- interest and inspiration resulting
ian from participation in the work
NNprn announced