Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-03-16
Jefferson Contest:
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His Tolerance
lobe Theme Of
Pupil Orators
By RAY HARRINGTON

today Of Greater DetroltS hiei
school and college orators prepar
inc their SiN-minute speeches il
the Thomas Jefferson Memoria
Oratorical Contest which IN,
Times is sponsoring here anC
which this and all other Hears
newspapers from coast 10 coaS
are sponsoring nationally.
Within the next nine schoo
DAYS. before the close Of classes
lf-,-..4}-,- March - each sehoo
must pick lis individual champion
20 60 into district, lnterdiStriC
and city final contests so Detroit
high school and college champions
may get 20 Chicago for the mid
dleweStern zone contest April a.
PORTENT ATTESTED
The fun portent of the jefferson
oratorical contest is atteSted in {
formal endorsement issued toda!
by tho American Legion's Detroi
Districts Association. embracing
- posts. through Jack R. c. Cam
executive secretary Of the associa
ton Following is the Legion
statement in full:
THE Jefferson Bicentennial
MemQaal Oratorical Contest be-
ing sponsored by The Detroit
Times and other Hearst papers
throughout the country deserves
the hearty approval Of all.
Legionnaires certainly are
among those who commend most
highly this patriotic educational
project.
THE benefits Ia he derived by
those who compete are many.
each Of which Is worthwhile and
Uill pay dividends 10 all con-
testants.
REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE
THE very study necessary to
prepare for competition requires
research providing moro init
mate knowledge Of American
history. To be proud Of our
country requires knowledge of
the facts of our history. When
we do know that history land
too many Of us have hut
sketchy knowledge) II comes
easier 10 make whatever sacri-
fees are required Of us to
preserve America.
"In the study. of Thomas JEFF
ferson's life and deeds, the con-
testant Is bound To learn OF the
life Of his associates as we'll
lives that were fruitful and de-
voted TO building the solid foun-
datiOns upon which this great
nation was builded and upon
which IL still stands.
Those things which Jefferson
advocated; his contributions To
the preservation Of the vast
privileges and liberties that are
typically American; his guiding
genius in the days when this
nation could have become some
thing less than we would have IL
all these will become living,
vital, and personal ideas to he
preserved. preached and sup
ported by all those who study
them.
when the research and study
II done. and the contestant pre-
pares for the contest In school,
he or she Is already the winner,
no matter whether or not the
judges give him or her the nod
indicating victory. The student
Is the winner because he can
never he deprived Of the riches
faInd and won in preparing for
this magnificent contest.
THE practice In properly pre-
senting his subject also will pay
dividends TO the contestant so
long as he lives. Ability 10 mar
shall facts, present them In lOgi-
cal sequence. and to draw from
them his deductions will he Of
untold value throughout life.
whether or not he becomes n
winner Of war bonds which the
Times offers those who excel.
"In these times when the
American plan for life, the
American belief in tolerance.
the opportunity for every indi-
Vidual to rise through his own
ability and its development
through study and work are be-
ing attacked in other parts 'of
the world, this project Of the
Times is particularly timely.
THEY WILL PROFIT
THE American Legion CON
graduates the Times. the edu-
Gators and leaders who are en-
couraging the contest nv lending
their time and ability ~ coaches
and judges. and those who will
he fortunate and wise enough to
take part as contestants. No
matter who gets the prizes,
every one who has a part In II
will he the winner.
"In the long run. the commu-
nifty and the nation will profit
immensely nv this grand JefTer-
son Memorial OratorIcal Con-
test. because America will he
blessed with a larger number Of
young men and women who
have become better versed in
the history Of our glorious re-