1917-1918 Whitman Speech and Debate Team
Milton Simpson
Whitman News
I.
A. Two faculty
members were drafted.
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 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 1918-1919, Courses 4, 8, II, 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. la. 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 I 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 Commencement Marshabhip—
JAMES LOYBUJ RILKY, Class of 1918
The Ball Cups—
BOTOLPH JOHANNES PAULY, CLASS of 1920
LEONA AIYIITA HEWITT, Class of 1920
The Greet: Club Vase—
No award
The John Brining Prizes in Freshman
Extemporaneous Speaking
First, ROBERT BARTON POBTERRIBLD, Class of
1920
Second, CHARLES DAVID GAFI-NEY, Class of
1920
The Burice Prise in French—
MABJOU DBUMHELLER, Class of 1917
The Biirice Prize
in German—
OLIVE MARY WEABB, Class of 1917
The Norma J. Eyan
Prises in Freshman English—
First, ROBERT BROWNING HOUSH:, Class of 1919
Second, CABL SCHBEIBEB, Class of 1919
The English Essay Prizes—
First, ALAN REYNOLDS THOMPSON, Class of
1919
Second, ELEANOR MABIA SICKLES, Class of
1917
The Woodward Fellowship in Mathematics—
PHEBB TERESA KIMBALL, CLASS Of 1918
The D. S. Baker Scholarship—
OLIVE ALMA SIMSEN, Class of 1920
The Louisa Phelps Anderson Greek
Scholarship—
The Phi Delta Theta Prize Scholarship—
OLAEENCE BYRON LIHNT KIMBALL, Class of 1920
1917
Note: debate prize ends
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 tbe 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
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 Douglass 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 Douglass Relates 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 divers
exclamations and execrations. Peering
our 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 issuing 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 facilitate 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 delusive 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 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 92 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 Douglass
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 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 it
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, Douglass 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 Heiduck decision, but there is a certain
satisfaction of having debated the is____ 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 which 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. The offered several possible
question 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 sin 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 attain
Douglass 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