1915-1916 Whitman Speech and Debate Team
Faculty
Professors Boas, W.R.
Davis and Professor Bratton, faculty members on the debate council.
Whitman News
I.
A. The college added 5 new
professors to the faculty.
1. Mr. David
Campbell, a former Whitman graduate was added to the music department as
instructor of pianoforte.
2. Mess Meryl Kepler, a former Whitman graduate was also a welcome
addition as instructor of pianoforte.
3. Mrs. Kroesch, wife
of a faculty member was also added as an instructor in pianoforte.
4. Miss Alice Popper
was added on as an instructor in the language group.
5. Mr. Ferdinand
Fillion, a man of excellent abilities in the field of music was added to
instruct violin and piano.
B. Russel
Miller was student body president
C. S. B. L. Penrose was the college
president
D. Professor W.R. Davis and
Professor Bratton were the faculty members on the debate council.
E. President of the Debate Council
was Rosella Hamilton
F. Hazel Milligan was in charge of
Women’s debate and Arthur Lee was in charge of Men’s.
II. At
A. The completion of
a half million dollar endowment gave Whitman a strong financial basis.
B. A novel theme
writing contest for high schoolers was given national recognition at the
National Council of English Teachers. Over 1,200 students participated in this
event sponsored by the school.
C. Two new classes
were added, History of Art and Household Economics.
D. President
Penrose’s house burned down when an oil heater broke and malfunctioned.
E. Taxi cabs,
jewelry, and drug stores were advertised in the Pioneer.
F. Clothing consisted
of corsets and dresses for women and suits with hats for men.
Speech in the English Department News
p.
66-67
Department
of English Professors DAVIS and BOAS Courses la, lb, and 5 of this department
are required of all candidates for the baccalaureate degrees. Courses la and 5
are required of Freshmen. Courses la, lb, 2, 5, 7a, and 7b are given every
year. In the year 1916-1917, Courses 4, 8, II, 17, 19, and 20 will also be
offered. Students who select English as their major study will take thirty-two
hours chosen from the courses given in this department. It is recommended that
these courses be distributed as follows: Composition, three hours (not
including Courses la and lb); Old English and Middle English, seven hours;
Periods of Modern Literature, nine hours; the Drama, six hours; the Novel,
Contemporary Literature, American Literature, and the Teaching of English,
seven hours. Written Composition. This course aims to
stimulate independent and clear thinking and to develop skill in writing. Instruction
is given to meet the needs of the class. Themes are required and reading suited
to the class is prescribed. Weekly conferences on themes are required in
addition to the two hours of recitation. Two hours, first semester. (M. F„ at
8:00) Required of Freshmen. Written Composition. This
course is a continuation of la. Two hours, second semester. Required of
Sophomores.
Oral
Composition. This course aims to develop the ability to
speak effectively. It is an organic part of Course 1. It supplements Course I
in the study of the principles of composition and gives practice in the
application of them to speech. Attention is also given to the formation of
right vocal habits. Frequent practice is given in reading and extempore
speaking. One hour, both semesters. (W., at 8:00) Required of Freshmen.
Composition. A
course in writing for advanced students. In 1916-17 the course will be devoted
to practice in journalistic writing. The needs of the class determine the
nature of the course. Three hours, first semester. (M. W. F„ at 10:15) Open to
Juniors and Seniors.
Argumentation
and Debate. A study of the theory and practice of persuasive
argument. In the first semester the nature of evidence and the processes
of analysis and brief drawing receive detailed attention. The chief emphasis is
upon written argument. The second semester is given over to oral debate and to
a brief consideration of the forms of public address. The aim of the course as
a whole is not so much to develop skill in formal debate as to give the student
the power to consider disputed questions calmly and logically. Two hours, both
semesters. (T. Th., at 10:15) Open to Juniors and Seniors.
Public
Speaking. Practice in vocal interpretation of
literature and in the composition and delivery of occasional speeches. Two
hours, second semester. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
5. Oral
Composition. This course aims to develop the ability to speak effectively. It
is an organic part of Course 1. It supplements Course 1 in the study of the
principles of composition and gives practice in the application of them to
speech. Attention is also given to the formation of right vocal habits.
Frequent practice is given in reading and extempore speaking. One hour, both
semesters. (W., at 8:00)
Required
of Freshmen.
4. Argumentation
and Debate. A study of the theory and practice of persuasive argument. In the
first semester the nature of evidence and the processes of analysis and brief
drawing receive detailed attention. The chief emphasis is upon written
argument. The second semester is given over to oral debate and to a brief
consideration of the forms of public address. The aim of the course as a whole
is not so much to develop skill in formal debate as to give the student the
power to consider disputed questions calmly and logically.
Two hours,
both semesters. (T. Th., at 10:15) Open to Juniors and Seniors.
6. Public
Speaking. Practice in vocal interpretation of literature and in the composition
and delivery of occasional speeches.
Two
hours, second semester.
Open
to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
COLLEGE
ORGANIZATIONS
THE
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF WHITMAN COLLEGE is an organization which has charge of
the general activities of the student body. Athletics of all kinds, the glee
clubs, debate, literary societies, and student publications are under its
control. Any student or instructor of the institution is eligible to
membership.
AWARD
HONORS OF 1914
The
John Brining Prize in Extemporaneous Speaking
·
First, Earl Edgar Stimson, Class of 1918
·
Second, Robert Parazette Norton, Class of
1918
World News
I. In the
World
A. President Woodrow
Wilson established a Council of National Defense, composed of members of his
cabinet, and a Civilian Advisory Commission, which set up local defense
councils in every state and locality.
B. Pancho Villa, in retaliation to President Wilson’s support
of the Carranza government took sixteen American mining engineers from a train
in northern
C. The
D. Further conflicts
with
Team News
October
15, 1915
Debate Council is Planning Contests
Whitman Will Submit “Seaman’s Act” as
Question For Both Men and Women
Profs. W. R. Davis and W. A. Bratton
Will Look Over Old and New Material
At the meeting of the debate council
Tuesday Professors Davis and Bratton were elected as faculty member for the
coming year. It was decided to submit the “Seaman’s Act” as a general question
for both men’s and women’s intercollegiate debate this year. Plans for the
coming season were discussed and an effort is to be made to hold
women’s triangular this semester. The tryouts for places of the women’s
teams will probably occur next month. According to contract the Whitman-Pullman
co-ed and the Whitman University men’s debate will be held here. The debating
material back from former seasons together with that in the Freshman class
points toward hotly contested tryouts and a successful year.
Whitman has always stood well in
debate and last year especially we were unusually fortunate. The men won
unanimous decisions both at home in the Whitman-Pullman debate and at Seattle
in the University of Washington-Whitman debate. The girls broke even by winning
one and losing the other. With so many old debaters back and so many new people
of good reputation along that line in high school we ought to have another
epoch making year in Whitman’s debating history.
October
15, 1915
Discussion Club Plans Procedure for
the Year
Members Are Going to Discuss Live
Topics at Fortnightly Meetings
October
22, 1915
Discussion Club holds meeting
Verdant Wranglers Talk Pro and Con on
Compulsory Military Drill
The program consisted of parliamentary
drill and a discussion of the subject, “Is It Advisable, for Purposes of
National Defense to Have Compulsory Military Training in High Schools and
Colleges?”
October
29, 1915
Woman Suffrage is Discussed in Class
Political Science Students Hold
Interesting Debate on Votes for Women
Last Wednesday the class in Municipal
Government had a very unique session which took the form of a debate rather
than a recitation. The question at issue was: “resolved that Woman Suffrage is
desirable in the United States.” Both sides had able presentation. All the
arguments pro and con were give to those of the class
who did not participate in the debate and it was their duty to act as fain and impartial judges. Some of the speakers told of
their own experience along domestic lines and stated that anti-suffrage brought
the quiet hearth, into their happy homes while the suffrage movement brought
speeches on the street corners, but alas, only a cold dinner when the husband
returned after a hard day’s work. After all the speakers had given their sides
of the question the class took a vote on the question. It might, perhaps, not
be best to give out the exact return in a woman suffrage state like ours, but
it was undoubtedly the irresistible eloquence of the speakers of the negative
that made the speakers on the affirmative felt themselves bound to vote for
their opponents.
November
5, 1915
Freshman Discussion Club Holds Meeting
The Discussion club held a program
that proved to be very humorous, consisting of a parliamentary drill discussing
both the pros and the cons of the question: “resolved, That a toothless man
before a well filled table is in greater misery than a hob-tailed horse in
fly-time.”
November
19, 1915
Freshman Discussion Club Holds Meeting
The club met at English Professor W.R.
Davis’ house for their fortnightly meeting. The program consisted of a debate
of the right of the United States to send arms and ammunition to warring
nations.
November
19, 1915
Women May Debate on their Fashions
Interesting Question May Be the
Subject for Formal Discussion for the Girls
Dame Fashion is to be scored. The
Pullman Debate Council has decided upon the subject of “Fashions” as a fitting
subject to be debated by the College women of this section.
The economic, physical and moral side
of the question will be brought out and settled, so that after the debates
everything concerning fashion will be so thoroughly set in one’s mind that
there will be absolutely no doubt as to the right manner of custom to pursue.
The old methods of fashion are to be abhorred, the same as the present and a new system is to be
installed, according to the debate council. The old style hoop skirt is gone
forever. The poodle skirt is a mere shadow and will not be trifled with.
The main idea in the new movement as
brought out by the debate council is to modernize fashion along the order of
“fit”’ and not custom. The council also shows that a lady formerly taking three
yards of goods to make a dress now takes thirty. They home to compromise in
some manner and instigate a maximum yard law. It is hoped by the committee in
charge to so influence the public by kind words and argument to do away with
present styles and fashions and adopt a Grecian system which they have worked
out. This system, according to the council, has been sanctioned by “Sister
Billkess” of Spokane, as a modern idea equal to those of Herbet Spencer, Billy
Sunday or Henry Ford.
November
26, 1915
Men’s Intercollegiate Debate Subject
Chosen
“National Preparedness,” an Up-to-Date
Question, Will be argued
Competitive try-outs expected to be
keen
Only Four Letter Men Back Leaves Good
Chances for freshman
The attention to all who intend to try
out for places on the men’s debate teams this year is called to the fact that
“National Preparedness” in the subject that had been chosen.
The exact wording of the question has
not as yet been decided upon, but will be in a few days and will be posted on
the bulleting board. In the meantime all who intend
to enter this work had better get busy and read all the available material on
the subject, as the first tryouts will be held as soon as possible after the
wording id decided.
The question is on of national interest
and is a live one. Material will be found in all the current magazines.
This is the desire of the debate
council that the tryouts be held early this year so as to gibe the men who make
the team a longer period to prepare in than has been allowed in the past. A
large turn-out is expected and competition for place should be keen.
This debate offers the only chance for
the men of the school to make a letter in this line, and the chances to do so
this year are good, as there are but four letter men in school. The Freshmen
class should produce some good material this year and the members of this class
are especially urged to enter this work.
December
3, 1915
Question for Girls Debate is Chosen
La Follette Seaman Act Will Be the
Subject for Co-ed’s Discussion
“The Lafollette Seaman Act: has been
chosen by the intercollegiate league as the subject for women’s debate this
year. There is a large amount of material on hand in the College library already
so that, although the exact wording of the question has not as yet been
determined, work for the try-outs will probably begin very shortly. The subject
was selected according to the regular method from topics submitted by each of
the members of the triangular league, the “Regulation of Fashions: having been
turned in by W. S. C., “National Preparedness” by the University and the
“LaFollette Seaman’s Act” by the Whitman council. The final debate for women’s
debate has not been chosen but the league seems to favor the middle spring, the
time of women’s debates last year.
December
3, 1915
Question for Men’s Debate is Chosen
The exact wording is as follows:
Resolved, That a program of military
and naval preparation, embodying the general principles proposed by President
Wilson, should be adopted.
December
10, 1915
Question for Girls’ Debate is Settled
Resolved, That
the La Follette Seaman’s Act Be Repealed.
December
10, 1915
Freshman Discussion Club holds Meeting
The question discussed was the merit
of intercollegiate athletics.
December
17, 1915
Try-Outs for Debate at Whitman Friday
Twelve Contestants, Including Three
Letter Men, Desire to represent Local College
Whitman College debate try-outs, for
the purpose of choosing the four men to represent the local school in the
triangular debates with W. S. C. and the University of Washington, will be held
Friday afternoon of this week, according to announcement of the debate council.
With three debate letter men trying out for the teams this year indications point
to Whitman’s being well represented in the annual contests. Emory Hoover,
Clarence Ludwig, and Earl Stimpson are among the experienced men who are
already studying the question.
The question to be argued is
“Resolved, That a program of preparedness embodying the general features
proposed by president Wilson should be adopted.”
January
7, 1916
Freshman Discussion Club Wishes Debate
Knights of the Green Lid Issue
Challenge to Second Year Class
The Knights of the Green Cap have
thrown their gauntlet at the feet of the Sophomore
class. That is to say, that this year’s Freshman Discussion Club has challenged
last year’s club to a debate. As yet no acceptance of the challenge has been
made and no decision as to the question for the debate has been made. Some of
the upperclassmen are very interested in the prattling of the infant class and
although they do not think them capable of conducting a real forensic contest
they would like to see them indulge in a Baby Show or
a contest at drinking milk. One person suggested cream puffs at 40 yards, but
it is generally the opinion that such a battle would result in too large a
death toll and the Sophomore Class might be taken before the courts by the
Humane Society on the charge of cruelty to dumb animals. Developments will be
announced later.
January
14, 1916
Debate Teams are Chosen for Feb. 5
Emory Hoover, Clarence Ludwig, Earl
Stimpson and Arthur Lee are selected to represent Whitman to discuss “Resolved,
That a program of preparedness embodying the general features proposed by
president Wilson should be adopted.”
January
21, 1916
Freshman Discussion Club Outlines New
Work
The Freshman Discussion Club outlined
the programs which will be held next semester. New interesting programs have
been planned and new features will be added to them. The debate, to take place
with last year’s discussion club will be held after examinations.
February
18, 1916
Triangular Debate Will be Thursday
Whitman Men Will Meet W. S. C. and U
of W. on “National Preparedness”
Next Thursday night the forensic
giants of the school will debate the question of “National Preparedness” with
the representatives of Washington State College and the University of
Washington.
The Question will be: “Resolved, That a program of preparedness embodying the general
features proposed by president Wilson should be adopted.” Emory Hoover and
Arthur Lee will uphold the affirmative of the question against the University
of Washington team in the chapel, while the negative team composed of Clarence
Ludwig and earl Stimpson will debate the negative at Pullman the same night.
The question is one of great interest
to the people of the country at this time and the discussion of it will prove
interesting to the intelligent students and townfolks.
Last year Whitman won both debates and
unanimous decision against these two schools and the year before beat the
University of Washington. Whitman is as ably represented this year as last and
there is no reason why we can not repeat. This
activity is the one in which Whitman has an equal chance and we have in the
past more than upheld the honor of the College in this line.
Team Results
IV. Debate
at Whitman
A. The Triangular
debate topic for men was Resolved: “That a program of military and naval
preparation, embodying the general principles proposed by President Wilson
should be adopted.”
B. The Triangular
debate topic for women was Resolved: “The La Follette Seaman’s Act be repealed”.
C. Triangular Debate
1. The affirmative
Whitman team of Alma Smith and Rosella Hamilton defeated
2. The affirmative
Whitman team of
3. Women’s Triangular
debate at Whitman was 2nd to
4. Men’s Triangular
debate team stood 1st in the Triangular debate league.
D. There were 12
members on the team.