1920-1921 Whitman Speech and Debate Team
Faculty
The
men’s debate coach was Mr. L. T. Sawtelle (no picture
available)
William
R. Davis, George Marquis, Walter Eels served as advisors
The
women’s debate coach was Miss Dorothy Gardiner
Note:
This is Whitman’s first year in DSR.
Whitman News
I. Whitman
A. Frederick and Sarah Weyerhaeuser
gave a $75,000 endowment to the college
B. Eugene
Woodruff was the student body president and Ruth Isaacs was the Vice President
C. S.B.L. Penrose was the college
president
D. Mu Phi Epsilon, a national
women’s musical fraternity was established on the campus.
E. Increased enrollment made Whitman
the largest music school in the Northwest
F. The
Sigma Gamma and Zeta Phi Epsilon fraternities were established on campus.
II. At
A. The
new campus sport was field hockey. Eighteen women participated.
B. The Pioneer ran ads for clothing stores and
C. Whitman’s
football team beat the
D. Women’s
hemlines rose nearly to the knee level.
Speech in the English Department News
p. 46-47
The
competition is to be open to members of the sophomore, the junior, and the
senior classes. There must be at least five competitors. The essays are limited
to 5,000 words. The contestants present their subjects to the head of the
English Department for approval not later than the third Tuesday of February. Essays
are due on the second Monday in May, signed by a fictitious name, with an
accompanying sealed envelope containing the real name of the writer. The award
is made by a committee of three judges, not connected with the College, upon
the basis of scholarly work and literary style, and is announced at
commencement. (1906)
THE
BURKE PRIZES —Judge Thomas Burke, of Seattle, offers two annual prizes of
thirty dollars each in the department of Modern Languages, for students of
French and Spanish. These prizes will be awarded on the following conditions:
Competition for these prizes shall be open to all students of the College in
French and Spanish respectively. Application to be a competitor for either of
these prizes must be made to the Head of the Department of Modern Languages
before a date set in the second term. On or before the first of May competitors
shall submit to the Head of the Department of Modern Languages a composition of
not less than 500 words, written in French or Spanish as the case may be. Competitors
will be expected to discuss their compositions in the language in which they
are written. Candidates shall be judged upon the thought and idiomatic use of
the language of their written work, and upon the fluency and accuracy of their
speech, (1910)
THE
JOHN BRINING EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING CONTEST — Mr. John Brining of Dayton,
Washington, offers two prizes, one of fifteen and one of ten dollars, to
winners in a speaking contest open to members of the first year class. The
contest is held during Commencement week. Contestants receive their subjects
three hours before they speak. In preparing their speeches they are not
permitted to consult any person. (1915)
THE
WILLIAM THOMAS DOVELL PRIZES IN ORATORY — Alumni members of the Board of
Overseers have established two prizes, one of fifty dollars and one of
twenty-five dollars, 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. Contestants present their subjects to the head of the
English Department for approval not later than the third Tuesday of February. If
more than six contestants submit orations, they 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 select the six best orations for the
Commencement contest. The Judges on thought and on delivery are selected by a
committee consisting of the President of the College and the heads of the
English and the History Departments. (1918)
THE
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS GOSE PRIZES IN HISTORY — Alumni members of the Board of
Overseers have established two prizes, one of fifty dollars and one of
twenty-five dollars, in memory 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 terms of History at Whitman by the Commencement of the award. Subjects for
essays will be posted by the head of the History Department before March first.
The selection of subjects will be made by April first and the essays handed in
on or before May twentieth. The Judges will be appointed by a committee
consisting of the President and the heads of the History and the English
Departments. The award will be based upon thoroughness of research and
originality of treatment. At least four contestants must participate. No winner
of one award will be eligible to another competition. (1918)
p.77
2. Written
Composition — This course is a continuation of Course
1. Required of Sophomores. Two hours, second or third
term.
3. An
Introduction to Journalism — This course is devoted to
practice in journalistic writing. Open to Juniors and
Seniors. Three hours, first term.
4. Narrative
Writing — This course is devoted primarily to the
writing of various types of narratives. In connection with the writing assigned
a study is made of the principles of narrative structure. Open to Juniors and Seniors. Three hours, second term.
5. Advanced
Composition — Usually exposition and the personal
essay are given chief attention in this course. Open to Juniors
and Seniors. Three hours, third term.
COURSES
IN SPEAKING
6. Oral
Composition — This course aims to develop the ability
to speak effectively. It supplements Course I in 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. Two terms required of
First years; one term required of Sophomores. One
hour, three terms.
7. Argumentation
and Debate — The aim of the course is not so much to develop skill in formal
debate as to give the student the power to consider disputed questions calmly
and logically. Open to students above First year. Three hours, first term.
8. Public
Speaking — This course is devoted chiefly to the
composition and the delivery of occasional speeches and short orations. Open to
Juniors and Seniors. Three hours, second term.
9. Oral
Interpretation of Literature — This course is intended
to meet the needs of students who expect to become teachers of literature. Open
to Juniors and Seniors. Three hours, third term. Drill
is given to all speakers who compete in contests and to those who appear on the
Commencement program.
p. 96
Award
of Honors 1920
The
John Brining Prizes in Firstyear Extemporaneous Speaking-
First:
ELIZABETH VIRGINIA PETERS, Class of 1923
Second:
JAMES PRENTICE WARNER, Class of 1923
The
William Thomas Dowell Prizes in Oratory—
First:
EDWIN DOUGLAS FORD, JR., Class of 1921
Second:
GRACE YOLKTAI LEE, Class of 1920
The
Christopher Columbus Gose Prizes in History—
First:
LULU HASKELL HOLMES, Class of 1921
Second:
ROY MACDONALD TATE, Class of 1921
Student
Organizations
THE
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF WHITMAN COLLEGE. An association, of
which every student of the College is a member, has a general supervision of
student activities. Its affairs are managed by an Executive Committee made up
of its officers and representatives of the faculty and alumni. The chief
activities controlled by it are athletics, debate, and oratory, the glee clubs,
and the publishing of the college weekly, the Pioneer. Questions which concern
student welfare are discussed by the committee and recommendations are made by
it to the student body for action. The dues paid by every student are collected
by the Bursar and used for the purposes of the organization.
English
Department Courses in Speech—Same as 1920
World News
· 1920
A.
“
B. “The
British Parliament passed the Government Act. The Act called for the creation
of separate parliaments in Northern and
C. “Right wing forces,
led by Wolfgang Kapp, attempted to overthrow the
D. “Gandhi began a nationwide speaking
campaign to enlist support for the non-cooperation movement.”*
E. “Under
terms agreed to at the Versailles Conference, the British government was given
the mandate for
F. “The
Syrian National Congress declared its complete independence. However,
G.
“The Senate and House overrode the veto of President Wilson and enacted into
law a bill outlawing the production, sale and transportation of all forms of
liquor.”*
H. “On November 19th, the US Senate voted
53-38 against the Versailles Treaty.”*
I. “With
the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, women finally
gained the right to vote.”*
Team News
10-03-1920
– Frosh and Sophs debate Tuesday: League of Nations to be subject for debaters
– Women’s Debate Next
“Resolved. That the League of Nations should
be accepted exactly as it stands under the
Virgil
Thomas, Gordon Gilmore and Arthur Douglas will represent the first year men,
and Grant Bean, Chester Lesh and Joe Teewinkle the sophomores, as a result of
tryouts held three weeks ago.
The
speeches will be eight minutes in length with rebuttals of three minutes. It
has been announced Miss Dorothy Gardner is coach of the freshmen and Professor
L.T. Sawtille coach of the sophomores.
Thomas
and Bean are former Wa-Hi debaters, while Gilmore, Douglas and Teewinkle have
all had high school experience, with Lesh a former Whitman varsity debater,
promising a good debate.
The
Tuesday debate is the first of a series of underclass debates to be held as a
result of the recent action of Delta Sigma Rho whereby a ruling was passing
making freshman ineligible for varsity debate. The underclass debate now offers
incoming debaters an opportunity to display their talent, providing excellent
material for the varsity debate team and Delta Sigma Rho.
The
next underclass debate will be between the women, Miss. Gardener has announced,
and tryouts for the team will be made within the next two weeks. The subject is
yet to be selected. The debate Tuesday is open to all students upon
presentation of their A.S.W.C. cards, and will start at right o’clock.
10-05-1920
- May Debate
In an effort to have Whitman represented
hereafter in varsity debates by upperclassmen, the local chapter of Delta Sigma
Rho the honorary debating society is petitioning the college authorities for
permission to handle all debate work. An effort is also being made to arrange
dual Freshmen debates with the University of Idaho to be staged in February or
March to get the freshmen of the college interested in that branch of activity
in order to work up strong teams of upperclassmen in the future.
At
present there are nine active members of the chapter in college including Anne
McAuley, Mildred Kent, Elizabeth Peters, Myrtle Mathas, Sidonie Pyle, Harold
McGahey, Chester Lesh, Harper Joy, and Ralph Cordiner.
The
officers, recently elected after Harper Joy, president, Elizabeth Peters,
secretary, and Ralph Cordiner, treasurer.
10-05-1920 – Frosh Debaters Defeat
Sophs: Win unanimous decision on
With a better style of debating and a much
better presentation of the question the freshman debating team received the
unanimous decision of the judges against the sophomores in the debate on the
question “Resolved. That the United States should enter the League of Nations
exactly as it stands in the Versailes covenant,” held in the chapel Tuesday
evening under the auspices of the local chapter of Delta Sigma Rho, national
honorary debating society.
The
debate team was well organized and presented in laudable manner and the members
of the teams are to be complemented on their endeavor to keep party sentiment
out of the discussion and to make it purely a debate upon the merits of the
covenant.
The
main bone of contention by the sophs was that of the impossibility of
acceptance of the league because of the opinion of the people and complexion of
the senate. The freshmen stuck strictly to the question and endeavored to prove
the advisability of the adoption of the
The
sophomores were represented by Joseph Tewinkle, Grant Bean and Chester Leah,
while Arthur Douglas, Gordon Gilmore and Virgil Thomas handled the affirmative
side of the question. The freshmen were coached by Miss Dorothy M. Gardner
while
10-22-1920
– Will Debate Treaty Subject: Subject Chosen for Under Class Debate Series
Sides
Resolved
that the United States should adopt the Versailles convenant of the League of
Nations.
This
is the subject agreed upon by Professors Dorothy M. Gardner and L.W. Sawtelle,
of the English Department, and the students for the Freshman-Sophomore debate
which is scheduled to be held the first part of November.
The
changing of the subject to read “Versailles covenant” instead of “with the
Lodge Reservations” was decided upon in order to prevent the debate from
becoming a political argument instead of a sensible consideration of the right
and wrong, the good and bad points of the original League of Nations.
It
is expected that Senator Root’s recent speech in
The
Freshman are taking the affirmative side under the coaching of Miss Gardner
while the Sophomores are being supervised in preparing the negative side of the
question by Professor Sawtelle.
11-12-1920
– Frosh Debaters Defeat Sophs: Win unanimous decision on
With a better style of debating and a much
better presentation of the question the freshman debating team received the
unanimous decision of the judges against the sophomores in the debate on the
question “Resolved. That the United States should enter the League of Nations
exactly as it stands in the Versailes covenant,” held in the chapel Tuesday
evening under the auspices of the local chapter of Delta Sigma Rho, national
honorary debating society.
The
debate team was well organized and presented in laudable manner and the members
of the teams are to be complemented on their endeavor to keep party sentiment
out of the discussion and to make it purely a debate upon the merits of the
covenant.
The
main bone of contention by the sophs was that of the impossibility of
acceptance of the league because of the opinion of the people and complexion of
the senate. The freshmen stuck strictly to the question and endeavored to prove
the advisability of the adoption of the
The
sophomores were represented by Joseph Teewinkle, Grant Bean and Chester Leah,
while Arthur Douglas, Gordon Gilmore and Virgil Thomas handled the affirmative
side of the question. The freshmen were coached by Miss Dorothy M. Gardner
while
11-19-1920
- Frosh-Soph Women to Clash in Debate: Miss Gardiner and Mr. Sawtelle to Coach
Rival Teams
“Resolved. That the Japanese be admitted to
the
Tryouts,
the results of which have not yet been announced, were held Thursday for the
purpose of choosing three representatives for each class. These teams are to be
coached by Miss Gardiner and Mr. Sawtelle – the coaches drawing lots for the
choice of teams.
On
Monday, December 13th the women expect to settle the Asiatic question in much
the same way as the
12-10-1920
– Fresh-Soph Debaters Clash Monday Night: Women’s Debate Teams Oppose for First
Time this Year
Next Monday at 8 o’clock, the Freshman debate team meets the Sophomore debate team on the
question, “Resolved, That the Japanese Should Be Admitted to the United States
on the Same Terms as Other Aliens.” The Freshman team consisting of Irma
Martin, Katherine McGonigal, and Fern Coble have the affirmative of the
question and the Sophomore team, consisting of Marjorie Palmer, Evangeline Fix
and Mable Wood will uphold the negative.
12-17-1920
- Soph Girls Win in inter-Class Debate: First Women’s inter-class Forensic
Proves Frosh Undoing
In the first women’s interclass debate in the
history of the college, the sophomore team won from the freshmen by a 2 to 1
decision. The debate was held Monday night in the college chapel. Upholding the
negative of the question, “Resolved, that the Japanese should be admitted to
the
Professor
L.W. Sawtelle coached the affirmative team while Miss Gardiner had charge of
the sophomore debaters.
01-21-1921
– Co-Ed debaters preparing for Clash with U: Teams are selected from tryouts
held Tuesday Evening: Contests are in March: Affirmative Team to Uphold Whitman
Here – Negative at Seattle
Martha Douglas, Anne McAuley, Ruth
Reynolds and Mable Wood were chosen to represent Whitman in debate this year
from tryouts Tuesday. Anne McAuley debated for
Whitman last year and is a member of Delta Sigma Rho.
The
debate, which will be a dual event with the University of Washington, will be
held on the 11th of March. The affirmative team will debate here, while the
negative team will be in Seattle.
The
question to be debated is: “Resolved: That prior to the right of strikes and
lock-outs, labor and capital should be compelled to submit their differences to
a board of arbitration, constitutionally granted.”
Miss
Gardiner will again coach the teams this year.
03-11-1921
– Whitman Women will Clash with University of Washington Tonight in Annual Dual
Debate Contests: Arbitration question will be expounded tonight by debaters:
Affirmative team here: Chapel expected to be full for hearing of the arguments
The only Women’s inter-collegiate
debate of the year will take place tonight against the University of Washington
when Martha Douglas and Anne McAuley will expound the cause of the negative of
the Strike arbitration question at Seattle, and Ruth Reynolds and Mable Wood
will defend the affirmative at home.
Ruth
Holland and Margaret Grimes of the University will take the negative here.
The
negative team left for Seattle last night.
The
Women’s League will entertain the visiting debaters during their stay. The
dormitory girls will entertain them at dinner at Reynolds tonight, and Delta
Sigma Rho will have a luncheon in their honor at noon.
The
question as stated is “Resolved that prior to the right to strike and lockout;
capital and labor should be compelled to submit their disputes to arbitration,
constitutionally granted.”
The
debate will be held in the chapel this evening. A reception will be held in
Langdon Hall after the debate.
03-11-1921
– Team is Chosen for Willamette Debate – Thomas, Harper, Tate, and Warner To
Compose Personnel
Virgil
Thomas of Walla Walla was selected in the try-out held Monday evening to
represent Whitman in the approaching debate with Willamette University on April
22. Together with Fred Harper, Mobray Tate and Prentiss Warner he will compose
the teams.
Thomas
has had considerable experience in debating, though with other members of the
team it will be his first appearance in a varsity contest. He was a member of
the freshman debate team which defeated the Sophomores
earlier in the school year. In addition to this he has had two year’s
experience in interscholastic debate gained while representing Walla Walla High
School. Whitman will thus be well represented in the coming contest as the
other three members of the team secured valuable experience while working as
alternates on the University of Washington Team.
03-18-1921
– Whitman Wins Co-Ed Debate: Superior Argument Wins Contest for Home Team –
Team at Seattle Loses
The dual Co-ed debate of Whitman
College and the University of Washington was held last Friday, March 11 in
Memorial Hall. At home, the question, “Resolved: That prior to the right to
strike or lockout, capital and labor should be compelled to submit their
disputes to an arbitration board, constitutionally waived,” was ably debated by
Ruth Reynolds and Mabel Wood, for the affirmative, and by Margaret Grimes and
Ruth Holland, for the negative. Whitman won the decision on the side of the
affirmative by a vote of two to one.
Judge
E. C. Mills was chairman of the debates. The decision was rendered by C. F.
Vandewater, J.G. Kelly, and Miss Gertrude Maxwell of the Walla Walla High
School Faculty.
Before
the opening of the debate musical numbers were rendered by a double quartet
selected from the members of the Women’s Glee Club.
At
Seattle, Martha Douglas and Annie McAulay upheld the negative side of the same
question, and Margaret Stuart and Irene Burns debated the affirmative for the
University. The vote of two to one was in favor of the affirmative.
04-15-1921
– Debaters Leave for Willamette Contest: Thomas and Harper Compose Affirmative
Team at Salem.
Virgil Thomas and Fred Harper will
compose the affirmative team which will go to Salem on April 22 to meet
Willamette University in dual debate. Mobray Tate and
Prentiss Warner will remain at home and uphold the negative case.
Judges
have not yet been chosen for the contest. The men should make a good showing in
this contest as they have had much time for preparation and gained valuable
experience while serving as alternates against the University of Washington.
04-22-1921
– Clash Tonight is With Willamette: Whitman Debaters to Argue with Southerners
in Memorial
Whitman
meets Willamette University in dual debate tonight, on the question: “Resolved,
that immigration from Southeastern Europe should be prohibited.”
Mowbray
Tate, ’23, and Prentiss Warner, ’23, will uphold the negative at home for
Whitman. Frank Benett and Bernard Ramsey will uphold
the affirmative for Willamette here.
Fred
Harper, ’22, and Virgil Thomas, ’24 will represent Whitman at Salem and they
will be opposed by Robert Notson and Sheldon Sackett.
Judges
of the debate to be held tonight in memorial Hall are Rev. Reichart, Pastor of
the First Presbyterian church, N.A. Davis, Assistant Cachier of the Baker-Boyer
Bank, and City Commissioner Grova Cookerly.
04-29-1921
– Honors Divided by Debate Team: Both decisions are unanimous and Both Teams
Win at Home
Whitman
divided honors with Willamette in the dual debate last Friday night. The
negative team won at home, while the affirmative lost to the Bearcat debaters
at Salem.
The
same question was discussed that was used in the debate with the University of
Washington, “Resolved that immigration from Southeastern Europe would be
prohibited.”
Prentiss
Warner and Mowbray Tate upheld the negative at home for Whitman and won the
fourth victory in debate which has been secured for Whitman this year. Tate,
the first Whitman speaker at home showed a large number of the people from
several of the principal countries of Southeastern Europe were desirable
immigrants. He further showed that at the present time there was a need of
immigrants in the industry of the country.
Warner,
second negative speaker for Whitman, pointed out the discrimination that the
United States would be practicing should she adopt a policy that would entirely
exclude Southeastern Europeans. He then brought forward the plan of the
negative which provided for a federal commission which would select the
immigrants from various countries according to their assimilability and
employability.
Fred
Harper and Virgil Thomas upheld the affirmative for Whitman at Willamette. In
this debate Whitman lost by a two-to-one decision. The affirmative at Salem contended
that there was little necessity for immigration at the present time, and also
that a continuance of the great flood of immigrants from Southeastern Europe
would mean a decadence in the American race.
Team Results
IV. Debate
at
A. A chapter of Delta Sigma Rho, a
national honorary debating society was established
on
campus, making Whitman only one of four schools on the West coast to have a
chapter. Delta Sigma Rho abolished First year participation on the Varsity
debate teams, but founded an on campus First year-Sophomore debate to allow
First years some practice before they tried out for the varsity team.
B. Harper
Joy was the president of debate, Sidonie Pyle was the Vice-President, Ralph
Cordiner was the treasurer was the secretary, and Elizabeth Peters was the
Treasurer.
C. The
women’s debate coach was Miss Dorothy Gardine
D. The
men’s debate coach, new to Whitman, was Mr. L. T. Sawtelle.
His teaching of a ‘conversational style of delivery’ was cited as a key reason
for the team’s success.
E. Intercollegiate
Debate
1. In
the first competition of the year, the men debated “R: That immigration from
2. In
the only women’s competition of the year, two Whitman teams debated the topic:
“Resolved: That prior to the right of strike or lockout, labour and capital
should be compelled to submit their disputes to arbitration, constitutionally
waived.” At Whitman, Ruth Reynolds and Mabel Woods defeated the
3. In
the only other men’s tournament of the semester, with Williamette, the same
resolution was debated on the affirmative by Fred Harper and Virgil Thomas at
Salem, and Mowbray Tate and Prentice Warner at home.
F. On
campus forensics.
1. The
First years men beat the Sophomore team unanimously. They
were on the affirmative side of the resolution: “Resolved: That the
*Taken
from: http://www.multied.com/dates/1920.html