Grants Pass High School - Toka Yearbook (Grants Pass, OR)

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Debate After a few years of rest, made necessary by the superabundance of enthusiasm which the students had displayed and in which their energies were confined to inter-class debates, Grants Pass again entered the State Debating League. This time the High School had two teams in the field, a negative consisting of two members, Gladys Swacker and Cedric Marshall while Alva Nipper and Winfield Gilkey made up the affirmative. To James Wescott, the untiring and faithful coach, much of the success of the team is due. A Triangular Debate The first debate of the season which was of a triangular nature occurred on January twenty-ninth, Central Point, Myrtle Creek and Grants Pass being the participants. Central Point sent a negative team to Myrtle Creek who in turn sent a similar team here. Gladys Swacker and Cedric Marshall of Grants Pass supported the negative at Central Point. The question assigned for discussion was, Resolved, That the Federal Government should own and operate all interstate railroads and all intrastate lines competing with them. Constitutionality waived. Central Point opened the debate at that place, followed by Cedric Marshall, the first speaker on our team, whose thoroughly convincing arguments and forceful manner bespoke defeat for the Central Point team. Gladys Swacker, second speaker for Grants Pass, delivered her speech with the customary 13

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“Marie! came again, roughly. “Do you think I shall stand quietly by and see you favor that young fool, your cousin ? Monsieur, she answers, icily, “that is entirely my affair. 1 am to marry my cousin within a week. My father, he wishes it, she adds, a trifle hopelessly it seems to him. The man turns away wearily. “1 see, he says in a quiet voice. “Our engagement was merely a little summer pastime for you, something to be conveniently forgotten when the time came. Very well—I'll not trouble you further. “Wait—Oh, please! Her tone is changed to entreaty now. “Well “Before you go—I must tell you the truth if they kill me for it. My wishes have nothing to do with this marriage—it is my father's command, and girls of France must obey their parents.” She stops a moment, then adds fiercely, hate my cousin Pierre ! She stands facing him, white and trembling, as young Pierre Gasquet enters the room. “So! he says, his face black with rage. You hate your cousin Pierre, do you? We shall see what Cousin Pierre can do! There is a moments struggle between the two men, a flash of steel—and the girl, throwing herself before McDaniels, catches the blow. In the flickering light young Pierre and the American stand gazing at each other with dazed eyes over the fallen form of Marie. “Honk ! Honk ! Honk !” 1 raised my head—the same feeble ray of sunlight showed the rusty firearms, the broken chairs, the old organ with its cobwebs and dust. In the distance an automobile horn sounded impatiently the signal for my return, bringing me rudely from the far distant past to the present. It was only a dream after all. Before leaving the place I happened to glance down at the floor before the organ, and I saw, barely perceptible on the rotting floor, a dark stain. Then I turned and left the old cabin with its memories. —LOIS DALE. 15. 12

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success and a manner equally as emphatic as the first speaker. Following the unanimous decision of the judges in favor of Grants Pass, our team enjoyed the hospitality of Central Point at a pleasant reception. The debate which took place here was opened by Alva Nipper followed by the other speakers in their turn. Both delivery and rebuttal were far superior to those of the visiting team. Success crowned the efforts of this team too and we are all exceedingly proud of the fact that the victorious debaters are members of the Grants Pass High School. Medford-Grants Pass Debate The next time Grants Pass was paired with Medford, that school having won the debate from Ashland and on February twenty-fourth our negative team now composed of three members, Gladys Swacker, Cedric Marshall and Alva Nipper, met the Medford debaters at that city; the question being the same as before. The delivery and arguments of our team were as impressive and persuasive as on the former occasion although Medford ranked a trifle higher in the estimation of the judges and Medford won by the close decision of two to one. Inter-Class Debates Although Grants Pass’ withdrawal from the race for the state championship was necessitated by it’s defeat at Medford, this was not enough to suppress the debating spirit in the school and interest was now centered on the inter-class debates. A Freshman-Sophomore debate took place April seventh; the question for discussion was, “Resolved, That Grants Pass should own and operate its water system. This was extremely interesting because of its close association with the audience. The affirmative side was supported by Harry Edgerton and Esther Gilkey of the Freshman class and the negative by Raymond Lath-rope and Juel Bestul of the Sophomore class. Several good arguments were put forth by both teams. The decision was unanimous for the Freshmen. The winning team will meet the Junior team of which Morris Bocock and Doris Caldwell are members at a later date. 14