DEBATING AT HARVARD

The University Debating Council closed its season at Harvard last week and with a bitter sweet result in the Triangular meet.

The year as a whole can be called, however, the most successful in years and is deserving of comment.

Before the turn of the century college debating was an activity followed with interest by the student body. The tricks and traps of the logicians were as keenly appreciated as the generalship of an astute quarterback. Sanders Theatre and Symphony Hall were the scenes of the verbal battles. Interest thereafter declined steadily and the turnouts for debates in the middle twenties--even today--taxed the heart of the most courageous orator. Realizing the problem the officers of the Council and the director inaugurated an ambitious program of radio debates. The first long distance broadcast was in 1928 with Oxford. Since then there has been almost yearly trans-Atlantic discussions. There was one this year, and in addition a week ago the longest broadcast debate in history was held with the University of Hawaii. Three clashes of smaller magnitude occurred some time ago with the Knights of Columbus, Dartmouth and Stanford. That the debates have been a success has been amply proved by the large correspondence received from the listeners following each performance.

Not only is this new type of debating of education value to the listeners but indicates as well that the Debating Council is awake to opening fields. The radio has replaced the platform. Swaying of public opinion has already come to be done through a loud speaker. Men who hope to take a place in the nation's affairs find that the Council offers them facilities for training.

The Debating Council is to be congratulated not only as a pioneer in such a field but as again elevating debating to the position it deserves.