Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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tion, and the topic she presented for discussion was: Resolved, That the powers of Europe in conference should declare Albania a neutralized state. We chose to defend the affirmative. Our team was still intact, as Ralph Mullen, Emil Greenhut, and Ben Goldman, were again chosen by the coach. Libraries were searched for every particle of information on the subject. The material was then carefully worked up into argument, and the walls of the auditorium re-echoed with the forceful addresses. Our boys also had the good fortune to have personal conversations with Norman Angell and C. Telford Erickson, authorities on the Albanian situation, as well as men of world-wide reputation. There was much rivalry displayed between the two schools. Tech was determined to win, and we were equally confident of defeating West Tech in the same manner that we had defeated East Tech upon a previous occasion. Our fellows put up a stone-wall argument, and delivered it with such force and earnestness that it carried conviction to the judges, as well as to the entire audience. When the direct arguments were over the negative attempted to reply to our contentions, but failed. Whereas our fellows in three short, five-minute rebuttals did refute the supposed arguments of our opponents. A brief interval of suspense, and then the decision was announced. It was what the school and team had worked and hoped for: a unanimous decision over West Tech. Thus we finished the debating year with a perfect record. Two clean-cut, unanimous decisions, one over East Tech, and the other over West Tech. One of the most important factors in the success of our team was the able direction and keen criticism of our coach, Mr. H. T. McMyler. It was his guiding spirit that spurred us on to victory. And it is our fond hope that he may in the future coach many a High School of Commerce debating team with the same success that he attained with the team of 1914. BEN GOLDMAN. HIS school, realizing the importance of a course in. debating, has organized a class which will be held the first term of each year. Up to the present time, we have had the best success in debating of any school in the city, and it is our intention to retain our record, and, if possible to raise our standard. Members of this class participate in class debates, and famous speeches are learned and delivered with the view of promoting case and fluency in talking. This is also in line with the rest of our commercial education, for we must be impressive and convincing in our talk when we go out into the business world. ENGLISH CLASS IN DEBATE. RALPH MULLEN. S3

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DEBATES. A CALL for candidates for the debating team was issued by Mr. McMyler late in November. After the team for interscholastic contests was chosen, the members immediately set to work preparing for our debate with East Tech. On January the twenty-third, the first debate of the year occurred in our own auditorium. The question was: Resolved, That the United States Congress should adopt House Resolution 22143, a bill providing for Philippine Independence in 1921. Our representatives, Ralph Mullen, Emil Greenhut, and Ben Goldman, upheld the affirmative side, as East Tech had chosen to maintain the negative. The crowd that assembled was all that could be desired, as nearly 500 people were present. The audience was keyed up to a high pitch of expectancy, and enthusiastic school yells of both schools, were heard in all parts of the auditorium. Each team made a good presentation of its position, but in the rebuttal Commerce was decidedly in the lead. The East Tech boys could not penetrate our defence. The result was a unanimous decision in favor of the affirmative. Having vanquished East Tech, the team set to work again, preparing for our next debate at West Tech. It was up to Tech to submit the ques- 82

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