It is a peculiar fact that in most contests with Yale and Princeton the participants conduct themselves with all the grim silence of a life and death struggle while the excited spectators shout themselves hoarse. The Triangular debate tonight is a lone exception; and for once the spirit of keen competition and friendly rivalry can be expressed in appropriate words by the contestants themselves. While the audience must perforce wait until the end of the debate to register its complete approval or disapproval, the fact that the discussion centers upon the very vital problem of limitation of enrolment should make the decision fairly significant.

In the not distant past an intercollegiate debate usually consisted of a series of well-drilled flights of oratory, the object of which was to dodge adroitly an ever shifting "burden of proof". The far-flung reputation of Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech undoubtedly impressed schoolboy orators with the desirability of mastering this style; but it has made the task of training a college team to speak simply and directly vastly more difficult. It is recorded that one of the recent coaches of University debaters made persistently eloquent candidates speak in trial debates with a waste paper basket under each arm. Less humiliating was the requirement of having members of the team speak while seated.

Not the least interesting feature of the debate this evening will be the opportunity of comparing University speakers, who are but gradually approaching the fluent conversational style, with those of Yale and Princeton where changes in the old order have been made with great vigor and enthusiasm. To some degree the results should measure the appeal and test the practicability of a new style of public address.