Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-28
ORATORY CONTEST
DRAWS21 NATIONS
Randolph Leigh Returns to
U. S.-Announces Plans for
as Z
international Meeting.

The assured participation OF 81 ma
tions in the fourth International Ora
torical Contest was announced today by
Randolph Leigh, founder and director
general Of the contest movement in Its
national and international phases, fol-
lowing his return to Washington from =
three-month visit to. Europe, during
which negotiations for extension Of the
| contest into previously unenrolled coun-
tries were completed.
Besides the al assured nations, Mr..
Leigh announced that arrangements for
the addition Of Ave more countries to
the contest roll probably will be COM
pleted In the near future.
Mr.. Leigh's return voyage to the
United States was made aboard the s. s.
Homeric. which locked at New York
Friday afternoon after having been de-
layed three days In the buffeting storm
which sank the Italian freighter Florida
and disabled several other vessels.
The 81 countries whose secondary
school students will participate In the
competition this year for the high
school oratorical championship Of the
world are. besides the United States:
England, France. Germany, Holland.
Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Poland Austria, Jugoslavia, Switzerland,
tina. Chile. Brazil and Uruguay. II the
five countries whose participation in the
meet now Is tentative are enrolled, the
number OF represented nations will be
more than three times as great as it
was last year when only eight nations
were competing.
Elimination Meetings Planned.
The large number of participating
natlonalitieS, Mr.. Leigh explained to-
day, makes impossible the continuation
Of the previous plan OF allowing each
countrys champion to take part in the
international finals here in Washing
ton. To meet the difficulties imposed
comforting with the contest sponsors
in the various European countries.
evolved a plan of semi-final COMPETE
tons in which the newer nations in
the contest will be grouped in q series
OF elimination meetings for the selec-
ton Of the boys or girls who will come
to Washington for the championship
contest. The veteran nations of the
contest. England France and Germany.
however, by virtue Of their respective
larger populations. will send their
champions direct to the finals here.
> In order to properly administer the
details Of the contest as 1t is staged
in Central Europe. Mr. Leigh said to-
day he had established o branch ONCE
at Berlin.
A similar grouping OF the nations OF
South America Is being worked out to
facilitate the reduction Of any large
field of contestants in this hemisphere.
One Of the most significant develop
ments Of the contest In Europe, Mr..
Leigh declared, Is the taking over Of
the contest by the French government
as an official institution. The COM
petition In that nation has been placed
in charge Of the ministry Of public
instruction and the selection OF Frances
champion will be made under govern
ment supervision
Fam aims Abroad.
Mr.. Leigh. 81. Mrs. Leigh and their
two children. Randolph. jr. and Clai-
borne. left their Washington home
october IS. On the return trip to the
United States. however, Mr.. Leigh
sailed from Cherbourg. France, Janu-
airy 16. while his family remained in
Switzerland. where they will remain
until March. when they viii return 70
Washington.
Commenting on his trip to New York,
Mr.. Leigh said the Homeric lcbored In
seas higher than he ever had seen.
During the passage, he said. the YES
sells daily newspaper kept its passengers
informed Of major world news happen
ings, but failed to print q word about
the distress Of the sinking Italian ship
Florida, and the heroic rescue Of thas
ships crew by the 8. 8. America
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