At the Harvard Union last evening a very interesting discussion took place upon the subject of the Labor Movement in American Politics. Messrs. Burdett and McAfee argued for the affirmative, while Messrs. Hansen and Goodale of the Law School upheld the negative side of the question. In the course of the debate, several interesting economic facts were brought forward. Thus one of the speakers alluded to the fact that 85 per cent. of the total product of the German Empire is distributed among persons having an income of less that $500 a year. Reliable statistics prove that the receipts of the laboring classes in England have increased 200 per cent. during the last fifty years. The gains of capital have been augmented by only 15 per cent. during the same period. Mr. Edward Atkinson is authority for the statement that average wages in the United States have increased one third since 1860.
The vote on the merits of the question stood: aff., 8; neg., 15; on the skill of the principal disputants: aff., 12; neg., 29; on the debate as a whole: aff., 5; neg., 12.
The following officers were elected, all of them by acclamation: President, G. P. Furber, '87; vice president, R. B. Mahany, '88; secretary and treasurer, Russell Duane, '88. Mr. Mahany now enters upon his third term as vice-president. The following gentlemen were elected members of the society: L. P. Jacks, D.S.; E. H. Hosmer, D.S.; Eliot Norton, L.S.; W. C. Osborne, L.S,; J. W. Mack, L.S.; F.W. Atherton, L.S.; G. Droppers, '88; W. S. Poppleton, '87; A. N. Hunt, '87; Chas. Hudson, '87; R. C. Surbridge, '89; Chas. Warren, '89; W. R. Bigelow; '89; A. P. Butterworth, '89; W. c. Greene, '89; D. C. Torrey, '90; F. A. Foxcroft, '90; F. S. Stebbins, '90; W. W. Bates, '90; T. W. Balch, '90.
A unanimous vote of thanks was tendered to vice-president R. B. Mahany and the Executive Committee for their efficient management of the Union during the past half year.
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Amherst-Williams vs. Dartmouth.