--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 2 published: 1911-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Mutual Work," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 2 (December 1911): 183–187.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1502unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1502unse start_page: 183 end_page: 187 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1911-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1502unse publication_year: 1911 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1911, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mutual Work Mutual Work. The Season's Work in Debating. Debates have now been conducted successfully by so large a number of associations, that there need no longer be any question about the advisability of making debating a permanent part of the M. I. A. work- Almost every association, in which debating has been tried, reports that the good results of the work have been many, varied and great. Purpose. Debating, as practiced in the associations, should have two main purposes: First, to train the young men and women in public speaking, and, second, to train them in clear, logical thought based upon accurate information. To accomplish these purposes, the following procedure should be followed wherever possible. Debating Managers. Each stake board should assign to one or more of its members the responsibility of supervising debates in the stake; in each ward organization, likewise, one person should be in special charge of debating. If agreeable, the young ladies M. I. A. stake and ward boards should appoint similar debating managers. Try-Outs. One evening, probably in December or early January, the same for all the wards of the stake, should be set aside for the try-outs. As many as possible members of the association should be invited to take part. The try-out should consist of a five or ten minute speech (the time to be definitely stated and adhered to) on any subject chosen by the speaker. The subject of the speech should be handed the presid- ing officer at the beginning of the meeting. Three judges should be appointed to note carefully the full merits of the speeches, and select the best six of the speakers to constitute the debating teams of the ward. The Debates. Immediately afterwards, the subject for debate should be chosen; and the debate prepared. About one month after the holding of the try-outs, an evening (the same for all wards in the stake) should.be set aside for the ward debates. The victorious ward team may then challenge some other victorious ward team for an inter-ward debate. These may be continued, under the direction of the stake debating manager, until the champion debating team of the stake is found, which may then challenge the corresponding team of another stake, for an inter-stake debate. This method has been tried and found to give splendid results. Patriotism and enthusiasm are developed by it. The try-outs give excellent opportunity for extemporaneous speaking; the debates them- selves give the desirable training in clear thought and expression. In carrying out a debate, the following rules should be observed: Agreement. Before a debate, the two teams, or associations, or 184 IMPROVEMENT ERA sides, should formulate a written agreement covering the following points : 1. The time and place of the contest. 2. The time for submitting the question and by which team it shall be submitted. 3. The time for the team receiving the question to return its choice of side. 4. The number of debaters on each side and the length and order of their speeches. 5. The method of choosing judges. The Question. In selecting a question for debates care should be taken to choose a subject upon which difference of opinion may fairly exist, in fact one upon which public opinion is divided. Questions should be chosen, the study of which will be worth the while of the debaters, and the discussion of which will be beneficial and enlightening to the hearers. One of the questions suggested by the General Board should be chosen; if not, the question proposed should be submitted for approval to the General Board. Number on Team. Each team may consist of either two or three debaters. The contest will probably be long enough with two on a side. Length of Speeches. Principal speech should be from ten to fifteen minutes in length. A good order is as follows: first affirmative speaker, 15 minutes; first negative, 15 minutes; second affirmative, 15 minutes; second negative, 20 minutes, 15 for his principal speech and 5 for closing rebuttal and summary for his side; followed by a five-minute closing rebuttal by one of the affirmative speakers. If desired the five-minute closing rebuttal may be given as a second speech to the first negative speaker instead of adding it to the time of the second speaker, but the affirmative must always close the debate. Another plan which has some advantages over the first is to give each man a principal and a rebuttal speech. Judges. Three judges should be chosen, but no person should be retained as a judge who is not acceptable to both sides. Method. It .should be the primary purpose of each team to present clearly and fairly the arguments of its side and to defend its position with as much information and logical argument as possible. This requires much careful study and preparation. Mere assertion of one's own opinion has no argumentative force and should be avoided. Attempted flights of oratory should also be omitted. It should not be forgotten that there are two sides to every contro- versy, and that there is room for perfectly honest and friendly differences of opinion on most questions. Opening and Closing. The debates should be opened and closed by music and prayer, and conducted in an academic spirit of fairness and with a view to getting at the, truth. It is no disparagement to be defeated in a contest so conducted. Courtesy. Respectful courtesy should be shown on both sides, and MUTUAL WORK 185 all personalities avoided. In referring to the debaters on the opposite side, no names should be used, but rather the expression, "the gentleman or speaker on the affirmative," or "negative," as the case may be. Purpose. Improper motives should not be attributed. Only small, petty minds do that. A debate should never degenerate into mere con- tention. It is held to get information, gather knowledge, and ascertain the truth, and not to gain personal advantage. Limits of Debate. The wording of the question should be agreed upon by both sides, and a definition of the terms should be thoroughly understood. The debaters should confine themselves to the points of the question, and not permit themselves to treat topics not germane to the issue. A chairman should be chosen to conduct the debate, who will announce the subject, the names of the judges, the respective speakers, and the decision of the judges, and see that the debate is carried on in fairness. Let the discussion close with the debate, and not be carried on later, nor on the outside. In regard to the judges, let it be remmbered that their decisions are only the opinions of three out of the many who have listened, and that their decisions do not necessarily settle the merits of the question, — only the points of that debate in their opinion. Suggested Subjects for M. I. A. Debates. — Season 1911-12 POPULAR. 1. Will the West be developed more completely by dry-farming than by irrigation farming? 2. Should the subjects of a vocational nature, such as agriculture, sewirtg, cooking and mechanic arts, be taught in the elementary and high schools of the State ? 3. Does labor-saving machinery advance the industrial arts? 4. In the growth of a commonwealth is manufacturing more helpful than mining? 5. Are national forests, administered by the Federal Government, beneficial to the states in which they are located? TECHNICAL. 1. Should the United States Government own, and regulate the conduct of the coal mines of the country? 2. Should the United States Government establish a parcel's post? 3. Should the administration of city government in the United States be non-partisan. 4. Should all studies in college above those of the first, or freshman, year, be elective? 5. Should the playing for money debar an athlete from college teams ? 6. Is the system of direct primary nominations preferable to that of nomination bv caucus and convention? 186 IMPROVEMENT ERA 7. Would a limited number of endowed newspapers be for the best interests of the people of the United States? 8. Should the President of the United States be elected by direct vote of the people ? 9. Is vivisection justifiable? Champion Base Ball Team of Weber County The Y. M. M. I. A. Base-ball League of North Weber stake was organized early in the Spring of 1911 with the following officers: Henry A. Anderson, president; Joseph W. Herrick, vice-president; Clar.ence Stephenson, secretary. Teams from Ogden Third, Farr West, Slaterville, Taylor, West Weber, Warren and Plain City wards, comprised the league and played the schedule of games which lasted until September 10. Games were played every Saturday and holiday. The winners, Plain City, played twenty-two games during the summer, including some games outside the Leauge-schedule, and won twenty, making for themselves a remarkable record. At the end of the North Weber schedule, Plain City played the other winners of similar leagues in Weber county and MUTUAL WORK 187 won the championship of Weber county. The trophy which they won in the North Weber League is shown in the photograph. This is their first attempt of this kind in connection with Mutual Improvement work, and its success encourages them to greater activity in athletic work in the future. The League remains intact and will begin a new series of games next spring. The towns represented in the League supported their individual teams, and every Saturday afternoon the people all attended the contests and rooted for their favorites, thus creating a spirit of true sportsmanship in the entire district embraced within the activity of the League. They expect the work next spring to cover more of the wards, although for a beginner seven of the twelve wards in the stake participated, which was indeed encouraging to those handling the matter. The boys are as follows: Top row from left to right: Joseph Hunt, Lewis Poulsen, W. P. Thomas, Parley Taylor, John Hodson. Center row, sitting down: H. A. Anderson, pres. of League, James M. Thomas, manager, M. Draney. Bottom row: Oscar Richardson, captain, Joseph Singleton. New Wards and Changes for the month of September, 1911, as report d by the Presiding Bishop's office: the name of the Richfield ward, Oneida stake, has been changed to Banida. Grady's lake ward has been transferred from the Bingham stake to Bannock. Leo. W. Pack was appointed ward clerk of the West Bountiful ward, Davis stake, t succeed Harvey E. Coltrin. Otto A. Kofoed, ward clerk of the Weston ward, Oneida stake, to succeed Alfred A. Kofoed. Leonard Olson, ward clerk of the Smithfield First ward, Benson stake, to succeed Jos. W. Peterson. George E. Wilkins was sustained bishop of the Vernal second ward, Uintah stake, to succeed Frederick G. Bingham. Yeppa Benson, bishop of the Weston ward, Oneida stake, to succeed Otto Gassman. A. A. Anderson, bish p of the Poplar ward, Bingham stake, to succeed John Benson. James T. Brown, bishop of the Cardston ward, Alberta stake, to succeed Dennison E. Harris. Charles M. Shumway, bishop of the Treasureton, ward Oneida stake, to succeed Benjamin Hymas. William C. Field, ward clerk of the Treasureton ward, Oneida stake, to succeed David Nelson. John J. Gerstner was sustained bishop of the thirty- second ward, Pioneer stake, to succeed Robert Sherw od. Thomas Alfred Smith, bishop of the Cherry Creek ward, Malad stake, to succeed Joseph A. Jones. John A. Israelson was appointed ward clerk of the Hyrum third ward, Hyriim stake, to succeed Albert J. Williams; J. Elmer Johnson, stake clerk of the Maricopa stake, to succeed W. Aird MacDonald. Paul Soren Hansen, bishop of the Roosevelt ward, Duchesne stake, to succeed Dan Lambert. Jos. T. Wilkinson, ward clerk of the Hurricane ward, St. George stake, to succeed Jacob L. Workman. Daniel B. Marble, bishop of the Deweyville ward, Bear River stake to succeed George C. Dewey.