The Evening Times

CONTEST IN ORATORY.

State Meeting to Be Held in the City April 13.

In connection with the state oratorical contest J. F. T. O'Connor of this city, president of the Western League of Oratory, writes the Fargo Forum the following:

The people of Fargo will have an opportunity shortly of hearing the college orators of North Dakota. Last year the state contest was held at Grand Forks and the Metropolitan theater was crowded to the doors. This year the contest will be held at the local theater April 13. The following colleges will have orators in the contest: Agricultural college, Fargo college, Red River Valley university (known at present as the Wesleyan college) and the State university. The rivalry between the different institutions was never more keen than at present and the orators are working hard to carry off the honors for their respective colleges. The winners of first and second place will represent the state of North Dakota in the interstate contest with South Dakota which will be held at Brookings, S. D., in June.

As a result of the rather harsh criticism which has been heaped upon some of the student activities within the past few months, on account of the over emphasis which institutions have laid upon them, and partly because of the obscure future beneficial results from these activities, a change has been produced in the public mind and the people are demanding an insight into the deeper training—the intellectual training. Telegraphic reports from all over the country inform us of the great interest which is being taken in oratorical and debating contests. At Denver, Colo., the intercollegiate oratorical contest was held Feb. 23 and every seat was sold for the contest. The state normal schools of Illinois held their contest March 22, at Macomb, Ill., and it was impossible to find a hall large enough to accommodate the crowd. Numerous other instances might be cited to show the great interest that the people are taking in these contests. The people of Fargo are particularly fortunate in having the state contest held in their city. The contest is held in Fargo every third year and after this year will probably be held every fourth year at Fargo. The state science school has made application for membership and if admitted this will locate the contest there every fifth year.

State and Interstate Leagues.

The Intercollegiate Oratorical League of North Dakota is a member of the Western League of Oratory and the success of the state contest directly affects the interstate league of oratory. Last year the success of the different contests placed the Western League of Oratory on a better basis than ever before financially and otherwise and it is to be hoped that the people will support the state contest this year fully as well as last year. It is expected that the different colleges will bring a large delegation to the contest which promises to be the most interesting one held in years.

Since the organization of the Western League of Oratory, North Dakota has won one contest. One contest in nine years is a rather poor showing and North Dakota orators this year are making every effort to defeat South Dakota but the showing must be made in the state contest. South Dakota is also working hard to defeat North Dakota in the interstate contest but with loyal support by the people who are interested in the colleges of North Dakota and the students of the different institutions, there is every reason to believe that the representatives from North Dakota this year will carry off the honors from South Dakota.