The subject to be discussed in the competition for the Pasteur Medal this year will be: "Resolved, That the French Government should adopt an income tax in order to distribute more equitably the burden of taxation." The regulations governing this competition will be the same as last year. Instead of having a regular debate between two teams of three men each, as was done for several years, the competitors will speak individually on any phase of the general topic chosen. The trials will be held on Friday, December 3, in the Assembly Room of the Union at 7.30 o'clock, and all men who wish to enter must hand in their names to T. M. Gregory '10 by 9 o'clock Tuesday, November 30. Seven men will be retained for the final competition, which will be held in the New Lecture Hall Friday, December 10, at 8 o'clock, and will be open to the public.
At the trials men will be allowed to speak for five minutes only, but in the final competition, the speeches will be of twelve minutes duration. In judging these speeches, not only the logic and clear presentation of the subject, but also the general knowledge, manner of delivery, and the literary style of the competitor, will be considered. The three judges will be chosen as follows: one from the French Department, one from the Department of Public Speaking, and one from the Debating Council.
The Pasteur Medal Prize was founded in 1898 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, and was to be awarded to the best speaker in an annual debate on a subject drawn from contemporary French politics.
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