ST. JOHN'S DEBATING SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11111, 8 May 1911, Page 3

ST. JOHN'S DEBATING SOCIETY

St. John's Literary and Debating: Society held its first debate last week in the Willis Street class-room, the subject being: "That Female Franchise is Undesirable." In affirming this. Mr. Douglas stated that woman had been advanced from what was onco regarded as "a valuable chattel" to man's equal, and that she was now endeavouring to supersede man in business, art and commerce, anil, further, that .she shortly would be aspiring to a place in Varliament. Ho contsndecl that woman's true place was the home, and that her intellect was not sufficiently advanced to take control of the affairs of the State.

Mr. R. 1,. Andrew, in opposing, slated that woman was the equal of man in everything but physical attributes, that she was governed and punished by the same laws as man, and should have a right in tho making of those laws. He also contended that her moral sense was higher, anil that femr.b criminals were not so numerous as male malefactors.

There were numerous speakers, and the debate was a lively and spirited one. The Her. Dr. Gibb, in summing up the merits of the different speakers, placed the first three in the following order:—R. L. Andrew, D. Douglas, and — Rabone.