The Weekly University Courier
The Largest College Journal Circulation the United States.
Published Every Friday Morning by the
COURIER COMPANY
For Kansas University Students.
COURIER COMPANY
O. B TAYLOR,
President.
DENT. HOGEBOM,
Secretary
EDITORIAL STAFF:
JOHN A. PRESCOTT, EDITOR-IN-CHEF-
ASSOCIATE
CHAS. JONNSON,
M. E. GAMBLE,
FRED. LIDDEKE,
HARRY BUCKINGHAM
V. L. KELLOGG,
AGNES LOVE,
GRAPHMAN,
MAY HAIR,
MAY CHURCHILL.
BUSINESS MANAGERS:
WILL. A. JACKSON, | S. T. GILUME.
From the Press of P. T. FOLEY.
Entered at the post-office at Lawrence, Kansas,
as second-class matter.
THE INTER-STATE ORATORICAL CONTEST.
On Thursday, May 3rd, the Inter-State Oratorical Contest was held at Bloomington, Ind. Nine states were represented, each, presumably, by its best college orator. The first place was awarded to R. G. Johnson, of DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind.; the second place to H. M. Hode, of Beloit College, Wisconsin, and the third place to I. K. Wilson, of Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa.
The subject of the winning oration is "Principles of Political Parties." It, with the other orations, has been published by the DePauw Monthly, of DePauw University and may be obtained by application to that paper. Mr. Stebbins, our representative, received last place.
The judges on thought and composition were Gov. Foraker, of Ohio, Prof. Morey, of Chicago, Ill., and Editor Winestan, of the Burlington Hawkeye, Burlington, Iowa. The judges on delivery were, Rev. Stuart, of St. Louis, Mo., Judge Frake, of Chicago, Ill., and Attorney General Michener, of Indianapolis, Ind. This list will be seen to be quite different from the one heretofore published.
In the convention held May 4, the following officers of the InterState Association were elected: Pres., A. B. Borders, of Illinois; Vice Pres., H. C. Spencer, of Indiana; Secretary Frank E. Hartigan, of Doane College, Neb.
The result of the contest is a severe disappointment to the students of K. S. U. who were confident in their representative, recognizing in him an able writer and a strong speaker. Mr. Stebbins' speech was frequently interrupted by applause, a popular compliment paid to no other contestant save once, to Johnson the winner.
We wish again to call the attention of the students to the fact that Field Day will soon be here, and that to make the exercises interesting the contestants must be well trained and prepared to "break the record." If a student excels in jumping, let him devote a small part of each day from now till commencement in making himself more proficient in that art. Let him who runs practice assiduously, and on Field Day "run like Jehu." Let him who hath strength of arm be prepared to throw like Samson the heavy sledge. No doubt there are many among the Freshmen who would acquit themselves handsomely could they but be induced to take part. The prize winners of past years should be on hand ready to do wonders, to continue the breaking of records if possible; for it is with no little pride that we inform the younger students that two athletic records have been broken by students of K. S. U In regard to preparation we have this to say. Excellence in athletics, or in anything else for that matter, demands special attention to some one department. Better to be first in some one branch than to be "fair all round." Decide whether running, jumping walking, wrestling or kicking i your "fort," and prepare accordingly. Do not let the lack of a gymnasium stand in the way o making Field Day a success, feature of commencement week to which faculty and students can point with pride."
THAT CONTEST.
THE "Breeze," a paper printed and published by the students of a so-called college at Baldwin, shortly after the inter-state contest sent out an extra in heavy mourning, containing such a sneaking, dastardly, cowardly attempt at venting petty jealousy and personal malice as is rarely found in a political sheet, not to mention a sheet sent out by an institution of the church. We were mocked at because the orator from Kansas received last place. The editors of this pusillanimous sheet rejoiced with fiendish delight because Stebbins' rank had fallen below our expectations.
One would have thought that Baker had won the contest and was rejoicing at having defeated her rival; and that the editors, laboring under the excitement of victory, had sent forth their little sheet to proclaim that victory. Perhaps it was a victory. But who with any sense of honor or propriety would rejoice at such a victory; a victory gained only at the expense of the whole state.
Not satisfied with taunting us in defeat and boasting over their joy, a comparison of scores was invited.
It might have been well had they been content with the accomplishment of their schemes, and left their boasts to another time. But this did not accord with their natures.
While we do not claim to be angels or ministers to angels, we yet think ourselves able to recognize a conspiracy when we see it. Did we say conspiracy? Let us see. Perhaps the editors of the "Breeze" know something about this matter which does not allow their consciences, if not already seared, to rest in peace.
The constitution of the Inter-State Oratorical Association says: "Each State Association shall be notified of their (judges) appointment at least six weeks before the contest." Why was it that our State Association was never informed of such appointments, although we had the President of the Inter-State association in our own state? Why was it that Mr. Platt, Secretary of the State Association, and one of the delegates, from Kansas, did not know who the judges were until after he had reached Greencastle, Indiana? Did the editors of the "Breeze," one of whom had a voice in the choosing of the judges know this? If so, how can they explain such action?
Again, why was Atty. Genl. Michener of Indiana, chosen for one of the judges on delivery, when the constitution plainly says that "no judge on delivery shall be from the same state in which the contest is held unless in case of extreme emergency"? Can it be called a case of extreme emergency when the election was made at least a week before the contest? The President of the Association was surely not so ignorant as to be unaware that such action was in direct violation of the provisions of the constitution. Then why was it done? Even after his attention was called to this provision by the orator from Kansas, and Mr. Michener was protested against as a judge, nothing was done. True, our orator was told that hundreds of men had been telegraphed and hundreds of letters had been written to all the prominent men in our land in a vain effort to get judges. But it is believed that some, at least, of these men, men of national reputation whom it was claimed had been invited had never received such invitation and had never declined to serve. We are a modest University, but we must say that we hardly think the "records of any of our orators will "compare" with such "records" as these.
Had our State Association received the notice required in the constitution, the judges who were intense partisans would have been
removed on a protest from our orator. But such protest was rendered impossible by the action of the executive committee. Kansas, with the president of the association, who is one of the executive committee, was completely ignored. Whether such results were the simple results of circumstance or that of a conspiracy we leave to our readers. Enough to say that the vice president, who belongs to the same fraternity of which Mr. Johnson, the winning orator, is a member, was so favored by circumstances as to secure the appointment of a judge in direct violation of the constitution.
Nor is this all. In a caucus of delegates it was decided to give Kansas the presidency for another year, providing it went to K. S. U. Mr Stebbins was named for the place. But on mention of this name Mr Anderson declared that he would not support a University man for any office, since the students of K. S. U. had not behaved in orthodox style while at the State Contest at Baldwin. Mr. Anderson had the presidential bee in his own bonnet, and finding that he could not get the presidency for himeslf, he determined not to let Kansas have it. Such petty jealousy, such subversion of the interest of the state to those of personal ambition, such selfishness of action ill became a man; but what shall we say when we learn that this "man" is an ordained minister of the Gospel. It is only justice to him to say that after pleading with him for two precious hours, the delegates finally succeeded in working him up to such a state of grace that "with malice toward none and charity for all" he threw his arms around Stebbins' neck and said that he had concluded to "let the dead past bury its dead," and that he would support him for the office. But in the convention next morning no Anderson was to be seen. He had forgotten his promise perhaps, and had flown to a more congenial clime where such views as his are inculcated and where such talents and such actions find a heartier appreciation. A comparison of records will probably show that K. S. U. has never furnished a delegate of such ideal manhood as this. It is fitting to remark that she is content that she has not.
It may be urged that this did not defeat Mr. Stebbins, and hence that Baker is free from any charge of disloyalty to Kansas interests. If such disloyalty did not exist why did not Mr. Campbell, when the vote taken for president in the convention resulted in a tie, decide the vote in favor of the Kansas man? Was he ignorant of that clause in the constitution which says that "in case of a tie in voting he (the Prest.) shall cast the deciding vote"? Actions speak louder than words. We leave the inference from such actions to be drawn by our readers.
While we are peaceable people,
and court no controversy, there is still a limit to forbearance, a limit which forbids us to pass by in silence even the taunts of such a sheet as the "Breeze," when the men behind it after helping to down the State of Kansas in the Inter-State Association, so forget themselves as to boast of it as a victory. A limit which bids us say that when Baker challenges K. S. U. for a comparison of records, she but exhibits her accustomed ignorance of her own baseness and insignificance. We commend her to a more prudent course in the future.
The Excursion.
The excursion planned by the Political Science Club has been abandoned. Explicit agreements, made with Prof. Canfield, in writing have been evaded or abandoned by those who made them, and he has been met by such obstacles that, in connection with such decidedly un-picnic-like weather, it has been thought best to give up the project. Somewhere there was "a mistake" claimed by the U. P. Ry., and the rate was raised ten dollars a car. Then it was found that the road could not deliver the party at the Soldiers' Home, as was agreed, but expected the students to walk half a mile or more. Later, a forfeiture of fifty dollars was demanded in case the weather was such that the party could not go. And last of all, came a telegram revoking the permission given to visit the Military Prison. The base ball match at Topeka naturally drew many in that direction. With these obstacles, and with the thermometer hovering about the freezing point, that which certainly promised to be the pleasantest excursion of the season melted, (or rather, froze) away.
THE files of the COURIER in the University library have never been complete. At the request of the librarian we are now trying to supply the missing numbers. We wish to obtain copies of the following issues: 1885—1886, number 1; 1886—1887, all numbers except number 4; 1887—1888, numbers 9, 10, 13, 16 and 20. Any person having these numbers, or any of them, in his possession will confer a favor upon us, and upon the University, by handing them to the editor-in-chief.
An unpleasant mistake occurred in our issue of week before last in the statement that Prof. Blake was guilty of whispering audibly in the library. The article was written Blank, and was meant to be entirely impersonal. Prof. Blake is always thoughtful of the students, whether in the library or elsewhere, and we hope he will pardon our blunder.
THE report of the inter-state oratorial contest was crowded out last week but we publish it in this issue, hoping that it does not come too late to be of some interest.
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