Oratory

To Washington last week went seven high school students, winners of sectional oratorical contests conducted by newspapers throughout the land. To hear them orate in competition for the U. S. championship there assembled one night in Constitution Hall 5,000 people and five judges --U. S. Senator Thomas James Walsh, Director Leo S. Rowe of the Pan-American Union, President William Coleman Nevils of Georgetown University, President Cloyd Heck Marvin of George Washington University, Chancellor Lucius Charles Clark of American University. Timekeepers held whistles poised while the seven delivered set speeches on the U. S. Constitution and four-minute extemporaneous orations. Second place was won by Ever Louise Conner, 16, of Chicago, only girl in the final contest, who it was said might have won first place had she not exceeded the time limit and been stopped by a whistle blast. Winner was Robert Gibson Rayburn, 16, of Newton, Kan. Tall, redhaired, Orator Rayburn spoke in a low. quiet voice. Excerpt from his oration: "The ink on the parchment where the Constitution has been engrossed for years is faded, but if it has been written in letters of living light, this country will march on through the ages, with the sun over its head and the pure blood of an enlightened citizenship surging high through its veins.''

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