In Monday's issue we expressed unqualified approval of the arrangements for the Princeton debate trials, as calculated to prove useful in furnishing training, in bringing out the different sides of the question, and at last in ensuring the choice of the best men. These are undoubted advantages, but with them there seems to be a possible disadvantage which must be guarded against. This is that as they entail so much more effort than the single five minute trial of the old system, a number of men may be discouraged from competing in the present trials.

We wish to call attention to this possible drawback to a system otherwise so promising, and to express a hope that such apprehension will prove groundless. It would certainly be unfortunate if after the care expended in formulating a plan intended to enable the judges to make unquestionable selections with greater facility, the number of candidates for the team were to fall below the standards of the past. If such proves to be the case, the advantages accruing from a more minute treatment of the question under the three steps of the new system will hardly justify its permanent adoption, for preliminaries should be so arranged as to attract not only the best but the most debaters to compete. We hope therefore that tonight will see many aspirants for the Princeton debate in the Fogg Lecture Room.