“Debate” From Topeka High School Yearbook, 1939

Winning first or second in five tournaments out of nine entered, the Trojan debate squad finished the season with a better than average record.

Although the orators got off to a bad start at Pittsburg, where two Topeka teams were eliminated by a Fort Scott team, they soon began winning tournaments. At Wyandotte, the third tournament of the year, a four-man team composed of Harry Grassick and Bill Everett, Glenn Cogswell and Barton Bayly, captured second place. The team lost only one debate, that one to Newton on the negative side in the finals. The affirmative side defeated the Newton negative.

Next came the Salina contest, where Harry and Bill as a two-man team came through to defeat Russell and win first place. Harry came down with a cold just a few days later, and Glenn became Bill’s colleague for the Emporia tournament. Although the boys had never debated together before, they won second place, losing only in the finals to Fort Scott.

Not content to rest on their laurels, the orators went through the Eastern Kansas Conference tournament undefeated. Harry proved his ability further by winning the unanimous decision of three judges for first place in the extemporaneous speech contest.

Misfortune now fell on the team. First, it was found that the state debate rules would ot allow two of the boys to make the trip to Denver for an exhibition match which they had been planning on for several weeks. When that difficulty was solved and arrangements were made for the team to go, it was learned that Bill Everett was ineligible for further debate in high school. Bill’s ineligibility made it necessary for the team to return the Eastern Kansas Conference cup, as Bill had debated in that tournament.

This also forced J. Edmund Mayer, debate coach, to use another man for his four-man team in the state district contest. Paul Moser, a sophomore, was the fourth member of the team, which won the district contest undefeated.

With the exception of first and second places won by Harry and Glenn in the district extempore contest, there were no more wins by the Trojans. The last tournament of the year was the Wentworth Military Academy tournament, where Harry and Bill lost in the quarter finals to Springfield, Mo.

The 1938-39 season saw the Trojan debaters get off to a bad start, then win five consecutive tournaments, and at last, because of sickness and ineligibility, finish rather poorly. In spite of their difficulties, however, it can truly be said that the debate team more than upheld the honor of Topeka High School in forensic contests.

“National Forensics”

Organized in 1927, the Topeka High School chapter of the National Forensic League grows stronger every year. This league requires candidates for membership to earn points through participating in some form of speech activity before they can become members.

Continued service and ability are recognized by the awarding of jewels to be placed in the membership pin. Three debaters earned enough points this year and last to earn the highest degree. Harry Grassick, Glenn Cogswell, and Bill Everett through participation in the state meet and a number of invitation tournaments received the degree of distinction. All are seniors.