1917-1918 Whitman Speech and Debate Team
Milton
Simpson
Whitman
News
I.
A.
Two faculty members were drafted into the war (WW I).
1.
Professor David Campbell, head of the Music Conservatory.
2.
Professor Borleske, athletics.
B.
Dr. Penrose was the college president.
C.
ASWC
1.
Joseph Johnson became president following Sylvia Van Hollebeke’s
resignation.
2.
Sylvia Van Hollebeke became Vice President.
D.
Professor Milton Simpson served as debate coach.
II. At
A. The PIO printed a roll call of students abroad fighting WWI
B.
New Clubs at Whitman
1. A
Patriotic League was formed at Whitman. They worked with the
2.
Citing a need for more Christianity on campus, a chapter of YMCA was formed.
3. A
ROTC unit was formed, with used carbine rifles supplied by the
4.
Beta Sigma Sorority became Kappa Kappa Gamma when it
joined the national sorority.
C.
The seventieth anniversary of the Whitman Massacre was observed.
Speech
in the English Department News
p.
80-81
Professor
DAVIS, Associate Professor SIMPSON, Miss COBB
Courses
1a, 1b, and 5 of this department are required of all candidates for the
baccalaureate degrees. Courses la and 5 are required of Freshmen.
Courses 1a, 1b, 2, 5, 7a, and 7b are given every year. In the year 1918-1919,
Courses 4, 8, 11, 19, 17, 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, four hours (not including Courses la and lb); Old
English and Middle English, six hours; Periods of Modern Literature, nine hours;
the Drama, six hours; the Novel, Contemporary Literature, American literature,
and the Teaching of English, six hours.
1a.
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. Required of Freshmen.
Written Composition. This course is a continuation of
la. Two hours, second semester. Required of Sophomores.
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 in
speaking. Attention is also given to the formation of right vocal habits.
Frequent practice is given in reading and extempore speaking. One hour, both
semesters. Required of Freshmen.
Composition. A
course in writing for advanced students. The needs of the class determine the
nature of the course. One semester is devoted to practice in journalistic
writing. Two hours, both semesters. Open to Juniors and Seniors.
Argumentation
and Debate. 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. In the first semester the
chief emphasis is upon written argument; in the second semester, upon oral
debate and other forms of public address. Two hours, both
semesters. 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. Omitted in 1918-1919.]
A
General View of English Literature. This course provides an
introduction to the essay, the drama, and the novel. Three hours, second
semester. Open to Freshmen.
A
General View of English Literature. This course provides an
introduction to lyric poetry. Three hours, first semester. Open to Sophomores.
English
Literature from 1651 to 1660. In this course special
attention is given to the works of Spenser, Bacon, and Milton. Open to Juniors and Seniors. Three hours, first semester. Omitted in 1918-1919.]
English
Literature from 1660 to 1798. This course is a survey of
the chief writers of the period. Three hours) second
semester. Omitted in 1918-1919.]
English
Literature from 1198 to 18S2. The
poetry and prose of the Romantic period. Three hours, first semester.
Open to Juniors and Seniors.
p.
104
Award
of Honors 1917
The
John Brining Prizes in Freshman Extemporaneous Speaking
First,
ROBERT BARTON POBTERRIBLD, Class of 1920
Second,
CHARLES DAVID GAFI-NEY, Class of 1920
1917
THE
JOHN BRINING EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING CONTEST.— Mr. John Brining of Dayton,
Washington, offers two prizes of fifteen and ten dollars, respectively, to
winners in a speaking contest open to members of the freshman class. The
contest is held during Commencement week. Contestants receive their subjects
three hours before they speak. In preparation of their speeches they are not
permitted to consult any person.
THE
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF WHITMAN COLLEGE is an organization which has charge of
the general athletic, social, musical, and debating activities of the student
body.
Requirements
and course options for the English Department
4. Argumentation and Debate. 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. In the first semester the chief emphasis is upon written argument;
in the second semester, upon oral debate and other forms of public address.
Two
hours, both semesters.
Open
to Juniors and Seniors.
Omitted
in 1917-1918.]
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.
Award
of Honors 1916
The John Brining Prize in Freshman
Extemporaneous Speaking
First,
EDITH PALMER MASON, Class of 1919.
Second, GEOROE EDOAR
1918
Note-First year of Dovell-Gose
THE
WILLIAM THOMAS DOVELL PRIZES IN ORATORY.—Members of the Board of Overseers have
offered two prizes of fifty dollars and twenty-five dollars each in memory of
the late William Thomas Dovell, a member of the class
of 1888, upon the following conditions:
The
prizes shall be awarded upon the basis of an oratorical contest to be held
during Commencement week, provided that at least four contestants participate.
The contest is open to members of the sophomore, junior, and senior classes.
The orations are limited to two thousand words, the subjects being selected
from a list announced by the head of the English Department not later than
December first. If more than six contestants submit orations, they shall
present them to the head of the English Department not later than April
fifteenth for submission to a board of judges on thought and composition who
shall select the six best orations for the Commencement contest. The judges on
thought and on delivery will be selected by a committee consisting of the
President of the College and the heads of the English and History Departments.
THE
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS GOSE PRIZES IN HISTORY— Members of the Board of Overseers
have established prizes of fifty dollars and twenty-five dollars each in honor
of the late Christopher Columbus Gose, a member of
the class of 1886, upon the following conditions:
The
prizes are to be awarded at Commencement on the basis of competitive essays on
historical -subjects. The contest is open to students who shall have completed
at least four semesters of work in History by Commencement. Subjects for essays
will be posted by the head of the History Department on December first. The
selection of subjects will be made at the opening of the second semester, and
the essays handed in on or before May tenth. The judges will be appointed by a
committee consisting of the President and the heads of the History and English
Departments. The award will be based upon thoroughness of research and
originality. At least four contestants must participate.
The
John Brining Award-same as in 1917
English
Department requirements and class offerings
5. Oral Composition. This
course aims to develop the ability to speak effectively. lit
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 in
speaking. Attention is also given to the formation of right vocal habits.
Frequent practice is given in reading and extempore speaking.
One
hour, both semesters.
Required
of Freshmen.
4. Argumentation and Debate. 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. In the first semester the chief emphasis is upon written argument;
in the second semester, upon oral debate and other forms of public address.
Two
hours, both semesters.
Open
to Juniors and Seniors.
1917
Awards
The John Brining Prizes in Freshman
Extemporaneous Speaking—
First,
ROBERT BARTON PORTEKFIELD, Class of 1920
Second,
CHARLES DAVID GAFFNEY, Class of 1920
World
News
·
1917
A.
“First U.S. combat troops in
B. The Russian Revolution of 1917 occurs. Bolsheviks seize
power and the Czar is overthrown.
C. “Balfour Declaration promises Jewish
homeland in
D. “
E. “Armistice
between new Russian Bolshevik government and Germans” takes place.
F. “Sigmund Freud's Introduction to Psychoanalysis” is published.
G. “
H.
“In the United States Congress passes an 18th Amendment to the Constitution,
which prohibits the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating
liquors.” *
November 30, 1917
Freshman
Hold Peppy Meeting
Discussion
club program is impetus for new organization
December 14, 1917
College
Debate Team is chosen
Four
Men and an Alternate Picked for contest with Washington
In
the debate tryouts held Tuesday afternoon, R. Butch, R. Garver,
Hurd Porterfield and William O. Douglas as alternate
were chosen by Judges Prof. W. S. Eells, Pres. S. B.
L. Penrose and Prof. W. M. Bleakney to represent
Whitman in the Washington debate which is to be held in January.
There
was no lack of material from which the judges might choose, there being some
fourteen contestants for the possible four positions. The contestants were
paired off in twos, each contestant having a five minute main speech and a
three minute rebuttal. The line-up consists almost entirely of upper classmen
and men who have had considerable experience. Although the freshmen are not
represented on the team this year, there were a number of them who showed their
school spirit by coming out to the tryouts.
In
spite of the fact that few under classmen are represented on the teams there is
some excellent material among them which will undoubtedly be of service to
Whitman in the future.
January 18, 1918
Coed
Debaters chosen
Pep
Shown by the Girls at the Tryout Pleases Faculty Immensely
The
debate tryout for the girls took place Tuesday afternoon. Frances Penrose, alma Smith, Hilda dirks and Miriam Smith were chosen as the
two teams with Neva Martin as alternate. Prof. Bratton, Pro. Bleakney and Prof. Eels acted as judges.
The
ten girls who tried out for the places all showed good work. The
pep and enthusiasm displayed were unusual for girls’ debate. Experienced
members of the faculty say that it is the best tryout they are ever seen among
the girls. The prospects are favorable for a good showing.
March 1, 1918
Whitman
Debaters Have Good Trip to Sound City
Porterfield
and Douglas Relate experience of interesting trip to coast
On
Wednesday night, February 21st, we left Walla Walla for the verbal combat with
our ancient foes in Seattle. About four o’clock in the morn, I was awakened
from peaceful slumbers by diverse exclamations and execrations. Peering out
between the curtains of my berth I perceived a man (clad in ultra-negligee
attire) picking himself up slowly from the isle in front of my colleague’s
berth, from which were issued profuse explanations and apologies. “What’s the
matter?” I said to Doug, aiming to inquire into the thinly clad gentleman’s
precipitous descent from his upper berth and the ensuing near riot. And I
learned that the aforesaid gentleman in facilitating his descent from the upper
berth, had placed his stocking clad foot upon Doug’s
bed. Whereupon Doug immediately awoke and thinking that some black Ethiopian
porter was prowling about immediately he grasped hold of the elusive black
object and upset the aforesaid gentleman’s balance. I then remembered how some
of our fellow students from Spokane were once robbed of their valuables during
their Pullman slumbers by a dusky porter.
Aside
from this incident and the fact that the man above me found some of my pencils
in his shoe in the morning, the trip passed without incident. In Seattle, Doug
and I chanced to visit the Wilson Business College and there met Miss Marion
Forney and Blanche Mitchell, two of last year’s co-eds. In the afternoon, the
Seattle debaters, both of whom are members of Delta Kappa Epsilon, took us on
an auto ride through the city. Doug took dinner at the Delta Chi house and at
the Deke house.
Then
comes the sad part of the tale. We debated. Our confidence
in victory was high and it was heightened by an assurance on the part of our opponents
that we had won. But the decision came 2 to 1 and it was over. We then sallied
forth to drown our sorrow.
Friday
morning and afternoon “Hooray” Johnson took us around the city in his car.
“Hooray” is on a steel rivet crew in the Seattle Ship Construction Company
works and we got an idea of one of Seattle’s greatest industries.
In
the afternoon we journeyed to Camp Lewis. We made straight for the camp Library
where Professor Ruby, the librarian and Leo Etzkorn,
’19, his assistant welcomed us with open arms. During our stay here we met with
several Whitmanites.
March 1, 1918
Whitman
Debaters Defeated twice
University
defeats Garver, Butsch, Porterfield
and Douglas
In
the annual debate with the University of Washington on Thursday, February 21,
Whitman’s two teams were defeated by the University’s orators in an interesting
discussion on the subject: Resolved, That China Was Justified in Officially
Protesting Against the Consummation of the Lansing-Ishil Agreement.
The
U. of Washington sent its negative team composed of Phillip Martin and Eugene
Vincent to debate against the Whitman affirmative team consisting of Russel Butsch and Bob Graver. The
judges decided unanimously in favor of the negative. The Washington debaters
were very convincing speakers and showed the result of good coaching. The
Whitman men held up their side of the argument very well and the decision was
awarded upon the merit of the constructive argument of the negative rater than
upon the destructive. Mention should be made that what credit be given the Whitman affirmative team, a good share of it
should go to the alternate, Marion Dickey, who was a great aid to both teams in
the recent debate. While Whitman did not win, yet the results obtained are in
every way promising of great things in the future.
At
exactly the same time in Meaney Hall, in Seattle,
Douglas and Porterfield were defending the negative of the same question
against Headrick and Johnsen
of the University of the Affirmative. The debate there was not so much a clash
of facts as a cleverly designed game of oratory and sympathetic appeals to the
audience. That our team had the university team outclassed in real debating was
evident as stated by many who heard the same question against Heidrick decision, but there is a certain satisfaction of
having debated to the final refutation. “Bob” and “Doug” both say that if they
had only had “those Whitman rooters” behind them instead of the empty roars of Meaney Hall before them that the echoes of their peals of
oratory would have convinced any judge of the veracity of their contentions.
The judges at Seattle were Chapman, Deveny and Card,
of Tacoma. The judges here were Fowler, of Lewiston, Peterson, and Pendleton
and Rev. Warren, of this city.
We
owe our gratitude not only to the two teams for their splendid showing in this
debate but also to Prof. Simpson, whose diligence and untiring energy and
efforts made our teams so well prepared in this debate. And also to Marion
Dickey, the alternate, do we owe many words of appreciation for the invaluable
aid he gave to the various members of the teams in his extensive research work.
Again
have Whitman’s teams lived up to the standard of Whitman College and we can say
that although there was defeat in both places, never the less, there was the
victory of having been defeated in the real Whitman way.
March 1, 1918
Co-ed
Debate
Owing
to the extension of President Wilson, of the present law concerning distilled
liquors to include brewed and malt liquors, the question decided upon for the
women’s debate is out of consideration. The question as originally decided upon
was, ‘Resolved That the Present legislation as regards distilled liquor should
be extended to include brewed and Malt Liquor.”
At a
meeting of the women debaters Wednesday afternoon it was considered wise to
write to the University of Washington suggesting that the women’s debates be
abandoned for this year. The reason for this step is that, owing to the men’s
debates with Idaho on April 12, it would be impossible to debate with the
University until the first of May. This would bring the debate too near the end
of the school year. As a great deal of work has already been done by the
debaters the necessary change of subject would cause them a great deal of
additional word.
March 8, 1918
Girls
May Debate
Word
has been received from the debate manager of the U. of W. saying that they wish
to go on with the women’s debate in spite of the fact that the question concerning
malted liquors has been thrown out of consideration on account of the recent
action for the president. They offered several possible questions from which
the following was chosen: Resolved that the Supreme Court Be Denied the Power
of Annulling legislative Acts. The girls have already started to look up
material on the new question. It is to be hoped that they put up a good stiff
fight and win back our lost laurels.
April 19, 1918
Whitman
Team victorious Over Idaho Debaters here
Porterfield
and Ford Defeat Idaho Team in Local debate
One-Judge
system used here
Douglas
and Dickey Lose to Idaho in debate Held at Moscow
Whitman
debate enthusiasts had the pleasure on the night of April 12 of hearing Whitman
win a decided victory over the team from the University of Idaho in the dual
debate. The question was: “Resolved, That the program
outlined by the American League to Enforce Peace should be adopted by
international agreement at the close of the present war, the feasibility of its
initiation being granted.” Edwin Ford and Robert Porterfield
who upheld the affirmative, built up a strong constructive argument, which was
very insufficiently met by the negative speaker, Ralph Gochnour
and Carl Burke.
Edwin
Ford, who spoke first, gave a clear and straightforward statement of why the
league would be a distinct step forward in world politics. Briefly the reasons
were:
1.
It is the logical next step toward world
peace
2.
Some step is absolutely necessary.
3.
It is a step over The Hague conference.
4.
The council will be supported by economic and
military sanctions.
5.
The nations will submit their disputes for
their own interests and because they will have freely bound themselves to do
so.
6.
It will codify international law.
The
first speaker on the negative, Ralph Goehnour,
attempted to show that the league would be impracticable because of certain
difficulties of operation, such as the basis of representation and the
selection of suitable judges, and challenged the affirmative to show how these
difficulties could be met.
Robert
Porterfield, in continuing for Whitman, declared that inasmuch as the
feasibility of the league’s initiation was granted in the question itself, and
as these difficulties must have been settled before the league’s initiation
could be feasible, these objections were not pertinent to the question. He then
in a forcible and witty way told how the economic and military pressure of the
nations could compel a recalcitrant nation to submit to the league. An enforced
delay, he said, ‘would settle many matters by giving… time for passion to
subside and peaceful negotiations to have effect. Disarmament would undoubtedly
be an ultimate result of the league’s operation.
I.
Debate at Whitman
A.
24 students competed in the John Brining Extemporaneous Speaking competition
for freshman. Students were given three hours to prepare an eight minute
speech. Robert Porterfield won.
B.
Freshman organized a campus discussion club. Joseph Gaiser
was elected President.
C. A
Coed debate team was reinstated, with sixteen girls signing up. Frances
Penrose, Alma Smith, Hilda Driks, and Miriam Smith
were selected as intercollegiate competitors. Plans were made to debate UW,
with the proposed resolution of: That the present legislation concerning
distilled liquor be extended to include malt liquor.
D.
Intercollegiate debate.
1.
On March 1'st Whitman debated the
2.
On April 12, Whitman debated the
3.
On April 26, the Whitman Woman’s team debated the
C.
An end of the year Debate banquet was held at the Grand Hotel. Whitman debate
was incorporated as an academic fraternity there, and plans were made to
attempt to join a national debate fraternity. Rob Porterfield was elected
president.
*
Taken from: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005246.html
http://www.fsmitha.com/time20-2.htm