DEBATING SOCIETIES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2200, 13 July 1914, Page 3

DEBATING SOCIETIES

IN.TER-KOMAN CATHOLIC UNION. The' first debate in cqnneotion -with the recently-formed ■ Inter-Roman Catholic Sooieties' Debating Union was' decided on Thursday night at St. Anne's Catholic Club rooms; The contestants .wore St. Anne's. Club (affirmative) and Wellington Club (negative), the' subject being "Socialism; Wilj'lt Work?" Mr. G. Dee occupied the chair,'and the Rev. Father N. J. Herring, 53!., judged the debate.. " ' : The/question as it stood was one the exact meaning of which was debateable,'' for ;the ; affirmative took . the question to' mean, 1 'Socialism will;work, that is;; that it will actually come into existence, but whether it would work successfully is the subject for another debate." The negative,. on the other- hand, debated tho question from'the cialism; will it work successfully?" Roth opinions were permissible, but they imposed extra difficulty on the reverend judge. Tho speakers for the two clubs w,ore: St. Anne's—Messrs. 0. N. Foote, J. Fagan, and F. Galvin (leader); Wellington—Messrs. J. R. Grant, R. Duffy; and C. P. M'Kenzie (leader). The conditions of the' debate were first and second speakers of each side, ten'riling ut-es, and third speaker ' (leader) 15 minutes. The debate proved to lie-most' interesting and.instructive, and decidedly spirited, but it-was anected-slight-ly on account of the different aspects of the question argued by each side.' The Rev. judge, in adjudicating, allowed points under the headings of argument ;(60), language (25), 'and delivery (25) for each speaker, ; and for general connection or continued argument, 100 points' for each .side. / Tho result' was as follows: — j ; St. Anne's: Mr. Foote 67,-Mr. Fagai). 55, and Mr. Galvin 87. Continued argument, 80 points. Total, - 289 points. Wellington:' Mr. Grant: 70,, Mr. Duffy. 58, and Mr. M'Kenzie 80. ' Continued argument, 60 points. Total points, 268. St. Anne's were declared the winners by 21 points. The reverend judge reviewed the speakers, and explained tho. allocation of points to each individual speaker. He was "heartily thanked in .nil appreciative manner by Messrs. C. P M'Kenzie (secretary.to tlie;union) and J. Fagan (president of the St. Auno's Club). .