Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-08
EDMUND GULL|ON
. OF WESTERN WINS
ORATORY CONTEST
Griffith Johnson, Central High
Competitor, Is Named
Alternate.
J. LOREN FREUND TAKES
THIRD PLACE IN CLASH
Miss Frances McKim Places Fourth
in Spirited Rivalry for
Forensic Honors.

Edmund Gullion, 17-year-old Western
High School senior, won The Star
championship in the National Oratorical
finals this morning in competition with
10 other contestants. Second place went
to Griffith johnson, 18 years old, of
Central High School, who was named
as alternate in case Gullion is unable
to appear in the national finals.
The judges awarded third place to
J. Loren Freund, 10 years old, of
Gonzaga College, and fourth place TO
Miss Frances Gertrude McKim, 10 years
old, of st. Marys Seminary, st. Mary's
County, Md.
The contest was one of the most
holly contested in the seven years IL
has been held in the District. There
was little to choose among the four
young orators who placed.
Tense Silence at Western.
At the auditorium of Western High
School, the orator was on the stage
and tense silence greeted the judges
when they arrived % minutes late. DR..
Elmer Newton, principal. introduced
Guillian, announcing his subject as
John Marshall and Federal Suprem-
acy." He was the last of the IL con-
testants in The Stars finals.
Gullion spoke in resonant, powerful
voice, which was full of expression and
at times eloquent. The time of his pre-
pared speech was five minutes and $3.50
seconds.
His extemporaneous subject was
(which of Marshall's Decisions Do You
Regard as the Most Important, and
Why?" His delivery was conversational
and held the attention of his audi
ence. The whistle stopped him at four
minutes.
Several of the judges remarked con-
tinually on the high quality Of Gullion's
extemporaneous Grafton. The contest
this year marks the first time the ora
tors have been required to speak with
out preparation. Their orations are
divided into two parts-first, prepared
speech six minutes In length, and the
second four-nlinute impromptu ad-
dress. ssrss q
Young Gullion Is the son OF Lieut..
Col and Mrs. Allen Gullian of $3.50
Northampton street. He Is ambitious
to study either law or journalism and
intends to enter Princeton after he has
graduated from Western this year.
Winner Is Outstanding Student.
Members of the Western faculty say
he is an outstanding student and
prominent in xtra-curriculum activities.
johnson, the alternate, is the son OF
Rev. and Mrs. Cove G. johnson. Dr.
johnson is pastor of the National
Baptist Memorial Church.
nknI INn
parochial district. His mother is Mrs.
Celia Freund, of 1924 Seventeenth
street. His father is dead.
Miss McKim is the champion OF the
Maryland district. She is the daughter
OF Mrs. Mary Golden McKim OF 170l
Ellamont street, Baltimore.
The Judges, accompanied by Randolph
Leigh. director of the National Ora
torical Contest, Travelled about the city
by automobile, stopping at nine places
where the speaking took place. Their
decision was rendered at 1890 O'Clock.
lust IS minutes after Guillian COM
pleted his extemporaneous address.
Judges Arrive Early.
The Judges, Senator Tom Connally of
Texas, Representative Ruth Bryan
Owen of Florida, French Strother, ad-
ministrative assistant to President
Hoover; G. Aaron Youngquist, Assistant
Attorney General of the United States,
and Robert v. Fleming, president OF
the Riggs National Bank, arrived at
Eastern High School, the first stop on
the itinerary, is minutes before O'Clock,
the scheduled time for the contest to
commence. They were in their seats
when 15-year-old Charles Hart. son OF
the principal Of the school, walked onto
the stage. The student body filled the
auditorium.
Young Hart was presented to the
audience by his father at 9:01 o'clock,
and Immediately launched into his pre-
pared speech, THE Living Constitu-
ton" His stage manner showed con-
siderably more polish and animation
than when he was chosen to represent
his school several weeks ago. The time
of his speech was minutes 40.86 Sec
onds.
After a brief applause, he began a
four minute eXtemporaneous speech,
1.-THE Bill of Rights-Its Contents and
the Reason for Its Adoption" with all
the elaboration of great orator. Never
cropping for word, he displayed mastery
OF his subject and facility OF expression.
Continued on Page 2, Column A.