Reading Memorial High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Reading, MA)

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Page Twenty The Pioneer it now because the debates were a tie. No names are printed on the shield until a team wins it. The standing of the league is: Won Lost Reading . 1 1 Wakefield . 1 1 Stoneham . 1 1 The Reading-Wakefield debate was as follows: — Resolved, That in view of the pres¬ ent situation the United States should take immediate steps to strengthen materially its national defenses. Negative. Proposition: In view of the present situation the United States should not strengthen its national defenses, be¬ cause: I. There is no immediate danger of war for the United States with A. with Germany because, 1. If Germany wins the war, she will not dare, with all Europe hostile to her, to withdraw a sufficient number of her men to war effectively against us. 2. Or, if Germany loses the war, she will be too exhausted to war against us, and will more¬ over have to beat France, England and Russia first. B. With England, because 1. If England has not attacked us at times in our national history when we were weak and she strong, she is not likely to do so after the war when she will be weak and we strong. 2. Moreover, England’s purpose for attacking us would be chiefly for colonization, and she has now more colonies than she can care for. C. With Japan, because 1. We are in very friendly rela¬ tions with Japan. 2. Japan’s armament is inferior to ours. 3. Half of Japan’s export trade is with the United States; there¬ fore she cannot afford to break with the United States, laboring as Japan is under a war debt of enormous propor¬ tions. D. Finally, with France, because 1. France’s armament is infer¬ ior to ours, and she will be exhausted at the close of the war. 3. France has always been friendly to us in the past. E. Smaller countries than the above mentioned the United States can easily cope with, with her present armament. II. Not only is there no danger of war for the United States with any sizeable nation, but her armament is adequate and a further effective strength¬ ening would involve the U. S. in a race for armament. A. The Report of the Bureau of Naval Affairs for 1915 shows the armament of the United States to be adequate to our needs. B. To make an increase in the na¬ tional defense of the United States felt, we would have to enter into a race for arma¬ ment, for: 1. In proportion as the United States increased its armament

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The Pioneer Page Nineteen door open. He next went into the parlor where his mother was sewing, flopped himself into a chair, stuck his muddy boots on another chair, and taking a book from the table, began to read. This did not last long, how¬ ever, for he was as nervous as a witch. He slammed the book on the table, got up and left the room, leav¬ ing mud on the chair where his feet had been, and crumbs on the floor where, undoubtedly, most of his cake had gone. He went up to his room, went in, slammed the door, and if the hinges had not been fairly strong, he probably would have had something to keep him busy and quiet for a while; neverthe¬ less, that did not bother him in the least, for he went straight for the mirror. They say ladies are always standing before the mirror, priding themselves on how pretty they are. Now this fellow was no lady, or gentle¬ man either, but he was just about as pretty as a boy could be, and he knew it, too. He wore good clothes, had a clean collar and a different necktie every day, and needed them too, be¬ cause when he went to look for any¬ thing it was never there, and he might as well look , in the cellar or attic as anywhere else for the things worn the day before. He threw them here, there and everywhere, and never put them in their place. He always made a good appearance, however. He was straight as an arrow, tall but well pro¬ portioned, he always had his hair combed and his teeth were as white as snow. His face and hands were always washed, that is when he start¬ ed for school mornings, but all his good appearance was due to his mother’s careful work, and if he keeps on the way he has started, his wife, if he has one, will be a hard working young lady. H. H. LIBBY ’18. DEBATING. When the debating society was first organized the pupils entered into it with good spirit and supported their speakers strongly. Gradually the lower classes fell out, their enthusiasm died down. We started out with success and we feel that a new interest has sprung up in the school, and hope this work will be faithfully carried on. The first debate was between Stone- ham and Wakefield, the subject was on National Prohibition and Wakefield won. The second debate was between Reading and Wakefield and the sub¬ ject was “Resolved, that in view of the present situation, the United States should take immediate steps to increase materially its national de¬ fenses.” Reading won. This debate was ably coached by Miss Vale. Reading speakers were Orvis Saxby, Chesley Stevens and Louis Whit¬ church. The third debate was between Read¬ ing and Stoneham. The subject was, “Resolved, that the United States Government should own and operate the railroads.” Stoneham won the debate. The Reading speakers were Erric Turner, Chesley Stevens and Louis Whitchurch. Miss Bertholde coached the speakers. A shield was offered as a trophy for the victorious team. Wakefield held it first, then Reading. Stoneham has

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The Pioneer Page Twenty-one the other nations would do likewise. 111. A race in armament such as has been shown to result would be absolutely harmful to the United States because: A. It would introduce the spirit of militarism. B. It would withdraw our skilled men from the industries. C. The maintaining of such an armament would be of tre¬ mendous cost. D. It would be injurious to spirit of friendliness now existing between the United States and her neighbors of the north and south. E. It would ultimately bring on war, not peace. F. It would be inconsistent with the ideals of the United States. Conclusion: Therefore, in view of the above mentioned facts, it is evi¬ dent that the United States should not take steps to strenghen its na¬ tional defenses to the degree pro¬ posed by the affirmative. The Stoneham-Reading debate was as follows: — Resolved—That the United States Government should own and operate the railroads. Affirmative Argument. Introduction: I. The railroad problem is a serious and important one. A. Our dependence upon railways has become universal. B. The railway problem is funda¬ mental in its relation to po¬ litical and economic liberty, to legitimate investment, to labor, and to the wise man¬ agement of our natural re¬ sources. II. The railways of the world may be roughly divided into two groups, A. Those owned and administered by private companies. B. Those owned and administered by the state. III. The present system in the United States is that of private own¬ ership and operation, subject to state and federal control. A. Control is effected, 1. By the Interstate Commerce Commission. 2. By the state commissions. IV. The question under discussion is whether government owner¬ ship would be preferable to the present method of con¬ trol. Main Argument: The affirmative is in favor of gov¬ ernment ownership as the solution of our railroad problem, for I. The present system of private ownership and government control has resulted in serious abuses. A. Power and wealth have been concentrated in the hands of a few. 1. The railroad business is a natural monopoly. 2. Large private fortunes have been built up at the expense of the public. B. The roads are greatly over¬ capitalized. 1. Rates must be kept up to pay dividends on watered stock.