1908 Defeated 1909 in Debate

In an interesting and well contested debate the Sophomores last evening defeated the Freshmen in the first contest of the interclass debating series. The winning team supported the negative side of the question, "Resolved, That the policy of the administration in regard to San Domingo is justifiable." E.R. Lewis, D. Rosenblum, and P.L. Butler made up the Sophomore team, and spoke in the order named. The Freshman order was: J.D. Cronin, I. Dimond, G.C. Good.

In the first speech of the evening J.D. Cronin, of the affirmative, outlined the existing conditions in San Domingo and stated the special issue. Intervention is necessary, he said. Shall the United States interfere or allow European powers to do so? He then went on to prove that the present policy of the administration is justifiable because it is fair both to the European powers and to San Domingo. For the negative E.R. Lewis opened the debate. He showed that conditions in San Domingo are not as serious as the affirmative had claimed, that for that reason the United States should hesitate to interfere. In the second speech for the affirmative, I. Dimond emphasized the fact that a European receivership would establish the nucleus of a permanent possesion. This point, however, was well refuted by D. Rosenblum, the next speaker on the Sophomore team. He showed that no European nation could get permanent possession of land on this side of the Atlantic, because of the Monroe Doctrine, which has been declared international law.

G.C. Good showed clearly how great the danger of European intervention would really be. His speech was well refuted by P.L. Butler, who showed that the interests of the United States are not at stake, and that we are now forming a dangerous precedent.

In the rebuttal speeches the Sophomores had the advantage. They summed up their arguments well, and brought forth continued applause by their clever points.

The judges for the debate were Professors C.J. Bullock and A.P. Andrew, of the department of Economics, and S. Curtis, assistant in the department of English. M. Thelen sL. presided