ORATORY ALWAYS expanding and gaining in prestige forsenic activities in Weber's curriculum have progressed until they have now reached an enviable plane. The practical training given to all those who really strive in this work is invaluable in public life, for these workers find an opportunity to express themselves and to banish the eternal demon of fear. Public speaking work brings to the student an active mind and a freedom of speech which makes for power and conviction not only in school life but in the world outside the school. The student, who strives in this field, grasps an eternal gift which will bring him joy and happiness in the service of others. Weber started out with high ideals in oratory. The sophomores and freshmen decided to undertake and solve the great mystery of the various political plat- forms, and, as a consequence of this decision, the Barker Extemporaneous speaking fray was begun. This contest was instituted by James L. Barker, principal of Weber from 1914 to 1917. Principal Barker presented the school with a cup which was to be the reward of an extemporaneous speaking contest. Four members from each class complete. Two contes's are held, two first- year students being pitted against two second-year students in each event. The class possessing the highest composite score is given the privilege of having its class numerals engraved upon the cup. Coming just before election day, the general assignments, the political platforms. was pertinent. For weeks preceding the contest all the students exhibited an interest in politics, unusual even at election periods. Nations had tried to puzzle out the why and the wherefore of each party plank and platform and had failed in all attempts at the solution of the national mystery. THE LITERARY DIGEST had failed in an attempt at the correct political solution, but Weber carried on. On the appointed day the four entrants from each class met at ten o'clock and drew lots so as to determine who would represent the classes in the first contest. The four lucky ones then had one hour in which to prepare their topic. At ten-thirty, fully informed upon their topic, each one came forth into devotional and spoke upon his assigned point. The sophomores bet the freshmen that they would win the forensic match and they did. George Williams and Winifred McConnell, representing the sophomores, apparently understood the complex structure of the platforms better than did the freshmen, Margaret Schmalz and Grant Syphers, or, perhaps, Grant probably decided the prize was not worth the winning when he discovered that he could not defend the Socialists but must need present the Republican cause in a clear light. The best excuse for the downfall of the "freshies" probably is that they hadn't had their minds trained, as yet, in the complexities of college life. Next came the Grant con- test. This oratorical event, instituted by President Grant is held annually on his birthday, the twenty-second of December. President Heber J. Grant, of the L. D. S. church, started the contest in all of the church schools in the year 1919-1920. The oration, a prepared ten-minute speech, is given without notes and the winner is presented with a book personally autographed by President Grant. Few students entered this contest: evidently they were afraid that they could not uphold the dignity of the occasion. George Williams and Grant Syphers declaimed in a manner befitting dear old Weber, George winning the decision. As a matter of fact, both spoke so well that the placing of the award was hard to determine. There was a frantic rush for tax pamphlets and, for the first time in the history of the library, economics books were placed on reserve when the Classified Property Tax was announced as the general assignment for the next two Barker Contests. "Say, Eva, where is that book of Lutz's or Taussig's'll do? Say, hurry and let me take the PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS. Oh, Jim's got it? I'll have to get another copy." RED LETTER DAYS Winners Oct. 31-First Barker Contest George Williams Dec. 22-Grant Contest George Williams Jan. 21-Second Barker Contest James Neil ORATORY Again all the student's brief cases were stuffed with literature. Taxation became the sole topic of conversation. Now and then pamphlets six. seven, eleven or fourteen bulged out of one of the aspirant's brief cases and lay on the floor until some other avid tax fiend confiscated it. Income Tax, Land Tax, Classified Tax, General Tax, Single Tax, double tax, triple tax every debator's and orator's mind was full of tacks, and the sensation wasn't a pleasant one. James Neil and Bill Capes championed the "sophs", and Virginia Nicholas and Blaine Ramsden spoke for the "freshies" Again Jim walked off with the extemporaneous laurels, (that seems to be a common occurrence with Jim). The old adage about the luck of a greenhorn was wrong once more, unless we believe, of course, that there are exceptions to every rule. The freshmen failed again. Shortly afterwards the sophomores, Joe Littlefield and Norman Bingham, and the freshmen, Dowain Wright and Wanda Rose, gathered all the discarded pamphlets, torn by much usage, pieced them together and perused them earnestly in preparation for the final clash. Long and diligently they stuffed their heads with taxes, and. most likely, the sophomores studied longer and more diligently until taxes bulged from their heads, for the older class triumphed once again. Thus the second year men won the honor of cherishing the Barker Cup for another year-until the "freshies" grow up to be sophomores and win it for the "sophs" again. Have you ever had a wave of the famed waters of the Great Salt Lake hit you in the mouth? It is a shock which befuddles the brain and chokes up the throat. No amount of effort will bring forth one sound from that undependable voice box. Many people had a similar experience one day in assembly. It was on a sunshiny morning that George announced, "Today is the day for the Lewis Extemporaneous Speaking Contest; Mr. Allen, Mr. Allison, Mr. Syphers, Mr. Ramsden, Mr. Bingham, and Miss Foulger, will you please come to the stand?" Many a mind went blank when its owner heard our own President's voice enunciate his name. When George proceeded to announce, "The general topic of discussion will be the Junior College Bill which is now before the state legislature," each favored one experienced a peculiar sinking feeling; nevertheless each one walked slowly up to the platform. Norman must have felt as if the fates were over harsh with him for no sooner had his foot touched that platform carpet than George announced, "Mr. Bingham will give the first speech." So began six excellent arguments either for or against the bill. In this contest the speakers have absolutely no preparation on their special topic. If they are not numb with fear, they think of what to say as they walk to the stage. The speakers always rise to the occasion nobly, and we learn to appreciate the quick wit of our fellow classmates. The contest is sponsored by the J. S. Lewis Company. It was started in 1915 and has been conducted annually since then. If Mr. Lewis had been there when the last emphatic voice ended, he would have been, no doubt, ready to let the future of our legislature and the settlement not only of the problems in taxation but also of any bill under consideration rest in the hands of such competent speakers. Blaine Ramsden was pronounced the best "Extemporaneouseur" and received the medal offered by Mr. Lewis. Should a blessing or a ban be pronuonced on a departing class which bestows an annual oratorical contest on a school? This is a question which has often puzzled Weberites. The class of 1905 decided to purchase a cup which would be a bone of contention in oratorical circles for years to come. The '05 contest was held May 20m, when the snow was all gone. Some very fine speakers entered. Competition was keen as to who would win the right to have his name engraved in the '05 hall of fame. Emma Jacobs carried off the honor. RED LETTER DAYS Winners Jan. 22-Third Barker Contest Joseph Littfield Feb. 23-Lewis Contest Blaine Ramsden May, 15-'05 Contest Emma Jacobs