The Union Debate.

The regular debate of the Harvard Union took place last evening in Sever 11. The question for the evening was, "Resolved that the University nine should be allowed to play with professionals."

The debate was opened for the affirmative by J. M. Hallowell, '88, who stated that he wished it to be fully understood that he did not belive in the adoption of the resolution because Yale, Princeton and our other opponents are allowed professional practice, but because the action of the faculty which prohibits us from having the same practice has not been productive of the desired results and has not raised the standard of our athletics in the least. This action of the faculty seems to aim particularly at base-ball. It has been said that formerly base-ball was played by every one and afforded excellent exercise for all the students alike; but professionalism has turned the old sport into a business which occupies more thought and more time than the student can afford. Perhaps this may be so, but if we are to play ball at all, how much less time, how much less thought would be necessary and how much better able shoudl we be to compete with our opponents if we were allowed to receive instruction from men who have made base-ball the study of their lives? The faculty offers the instruction of Mr. Lathrop to our Mott Haven athletes, and why should not our other teams receive equally good instruction. Mr. Hallowell showed clearly the absurdity of the so-called moral side of the question.

C. E. Shattuck, L. S., defended the negative side alone, his colleague Mr. Burdett being absent. He agreed with his opponent in considering the moral side of the question not a strong argument. The question at issue was, he said, shall the nine be allowed to go to neighboring towns and play a few games with professionals for gate receipts to pay the professionals with? He cited President Elliot's statement concerning our present social condition and the opinion in which Harvard is held by people at large who, if asked what they think of having the Harvard base-ball club going about playing ball with professionals clubs, would think it a bad thing and refuse to aid the University in any way whatever. If the institutionis to reach the standard which it has set up for itself, it must, to a certain extent cater to public opinion.

Page, '88, affirmative, said that our best games had been played in those former years when we played with professionals; that every art can best be learned from those whose business it is to practice said art; that a lack of professional training has made the games none the less exciting, while with such training we should have a chance to beat more often.

The vote on the merits of the debate was: Affirmative, 21; negative, 16. On the merits of the question: Affirmative, 16; negative, 16. On the debate as a whole: Affirmative, 10; negative, 8.

The next subject for debate is: "Resolved that a reduction of the tariff would hurt the wage-earner."