IIT Chicago Kent College of Law - Transcript Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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! t IPANi'lI6lllPT - E ' A E ' w Confederation and the constitution was brought up, together with a great deal of comment on the-work of the Supreme Court since its inception. The constructive speeches were followed by well-placed rebuttal argument. The result was that the senior team won the decision, thereby winning the posi- tion of first debating team of the college. ' It is doubtful if more interest was ever shown in interclass debating than during the past year. The attendance at each of the debates was good and much favorable comment on the work of the individuals composing the teams was heard. With the impetus given the work this year, and with the new material at hand, the 1926 teams should prove of the best. T Inter-Collegiate Debating Due to several cancellations, the only out of town debate participated in by the Chicago-Kent Debating Team was held at Simpson College, Indi- anola, Iowa, on March 23rd, 1925. Grinnell College was to have been in- cluded on this trip, but at a late hour sent word of having cancelled all student activities. The subject debated at Indianola was: Resolved, that Congress was jus- tified in passing the japanese Exclusion Act, with Chicago-Kent upholding the affirmative. . A L. E. Terry opened for Kent with an able discourse on the historical facts which precipitated the crisis calling for this legislative enactment. F. A. Minne then took up the problem as it exists today, particularly in California, and showed the impossibility of the japanese ever, adopting American ideals and becoming useful members of our society. H. T. Huber closed for Kent with some new arguments and a summary of the aff1r1native's position. The rebuttal was keenly contested, and the audience took great interest in the extemporaneous arguments advanced by both teams. The Chicago-Kent team was obliged to leave immediately to make train connections, and was unable to take part in the open forum which fol- lowedp The Oxford system of judging was used, and due to the unfamiliarity of thenstudents and faculty at Simpson with this method, the results were not tabulated in time for the Chicago team to bring back the results. However, the debate was hotly contested on an interesting subject, and the vigorous applause given our team left no doubts as to the impression the boys from Chicago-Kent left behind them. As we go to press, we learn of a coming debate to be held with Crane junior College on May 15th, the occasion being that of the opening of the new Crane Auditorium. The subject to be debated is: Resolved, that the President of the United States be elected by a direct ballot. Messrs. Guibor, Block and Huber will represent Chicago-Kent, taking the negative. 1925 g Page II9

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THE A Ni Page IIS BLOCK HANSEN A GUIBOR JAMES, Coach MINNE HUBER TERRY T A q . Debating For a number of years prizes have been awarded at Chicago-Kent for proficiency in debating. Heretofore the hrst and second prizes, consisting of engraved pins, have been awarded to the respective prize winners in each class. This year engraved pins were awarded to the three best speakers of each class, and in addition to the pins scholarship awards were made. At the conclusion of the class tryouts two debates were held to determine the merits of the class teams. On November 26, 1924 the freshman team, consisting of Messrs. Guibor, Block and Gould, met the junior team, con- sisting of Messrs. Huber, Minne and Langert, on the question: Resolved, that the constitution of the United States should be amended to allow the election of the president by a direct plurality vote. The juniors spoke on the affirmative side of this question and the freshmen on the negative. A good many interesting facts relating to this question were presented by the two teams, including some statistics relating to the last presidential election. The result of this debate was that the juniors won by a fairly substantial margin, and they immediately prepared themselves for meeting the senior team in a finish battle. . The subject chosen for the junior-senior debate was: Resolved, that Congress should have the power by a two-thirds majority to nullify deci- sions of the United States Supreme Court declaring federal laws uncon-- stitutionalf' The juniors debated the affirmative side of the question and the seniors the negative. A good deal of history relating to the Articles of .'-EE?

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THE. f fr N5 Page 120 5 'IDANSCDIPT , L' o'BR1EN HANSEN ' TERRY Senior Debating The question chosen for the senior debating tryout was a timely one: Resolved, that immigration should be totally restricted for five years be- ginning at once. The conditions for this tryout were the same as for the freshman and junior tryouts, eight minutes' preparation being allowed each candidate. The number of candidates, however, was not as large as for either of the other two classes. The first prize was awarded to Helmer Hansen, second prize to Leland 'E. Terry and third prize to Walte1'p A. O'Brien. The senior team met and defeated the junior team in the linal interclass debate. This victory made the seniors a record of having won four out of the five debates in which they had participated during the past three years. ' A 1925