The Union has begun this year under the most favorable auspices. When the meeting was called to order by President C. M. Thayer, '89, at 7.40 o'clock, the hall was already crowded, and the audience continued to increase for some time later, until finally 278 men were present After the reading of the secretary's minutes, the question was chosen for the next meeting as follows: "Resolved, that the present attitude of the Prohibition party is unfavorable toward prohibition." It was voted that the presiding officer of the Union should appoint a committee to make a canvass of the University for choice of President of the United States, and the meeting then proceeded with the debate, the subject of which was: "Resolved, That the reelection of Grover Cleveland would be for the best interests of the country."

The first speaker was Mr. Shattuck, L. S., of the affirmative. He presented the issue of this campaign as tariff reform or the increase of the surplus. The Mills bill reduces the price of the necessities of life by abolishing the duties on raw materials. The Allison bill, on the other hand, merely lowers the internal revenue. The only reduction of duties it makes is that on sugar a sectional measure.

Mr. Bronson, L. S., claimed that the Mills bill was a jump at free trade. The country has flourished under the tariff to a remarkable degree. The speaker then touched upon Cleveland's attitude in civil service and the fisheries question.

The second speaker for the affirmative was Mr. F. B. Williams, L. S. He said that the old issue of the Republican party was dead. The present issue is tariff reform. The Mills bill is not free trade, for it retains an average duty of over 40 per cent. The present duty on lumber ought to be abolished, for it only protects Canadian workmen who are cutting off our forests in Maine.

Mr. W. W. Magee, '89, was the last of the principal disputants. Protection, said he, is the rock on which the republicans stand. The best means of securing revenue is by indirect taxation. An equitable reduction in the tariff is what the Republicans contend for. Free wool, with a tax on cloth, would only put money into the pockets of the manufacturers, who would continue to keep up prices. Wages and profit are both higher here than in England, but under free trade both would fall.

The debate was then thrown open to the house and the speaking continued with enthusiasm until 10.50 o'clock. The chair first recognized Mr. L. McK. Garrison, L. S., who stated that the forgeries from the London Spectator and Times were still circulated by the Republicans. The comparison between English and American prices, also issued as a campaign document, was too indefinite to be criticized. There were twenty more who contended for the floor.

Mr. Bronson closed for the negative and Mr. Williams for the affirmative.

The vote on the merits of the question resulted: Affirmative, 117; negative, 114. Merits of the principal disputants: Affirmative, 66; negative, 155-Merits of the debate as a whole: Affirmative, 47; negative, 28.