CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH
DEBATE INDEX
SECOND EDITION
PITTSBURGH
CARNEGIE LIBRARY
1912
Preface to the Second Edition
This index was begun as a card index to the debaters' manuals in the Reference Department of this Library. The increasing number of such manuals and the frequent requests for material on debates made it seem desirable to combine in one list the indexes to all the manuals, thus bringing references to all the material on one subject together and saving the time required to consult the index of each book. The card index has been so useful here that it has been printed, in the hope that it may also be useful elsewhere. Under each subject are given the proposition for debate, page references to the manuals, and a note indicating the material to be found there, whether briefs, references, specimen debates or synopses of debates.
The "Debates" of this Library, included in the list of books indexed, is a loose-leaf book containing briefs and references copied from various sources or supplementing lists to be found elsewhere. The Carnegie Library "Reference lists" referred to are less complete manuscript lists compiled in response to requests.
One hundred new references have been added in this edition. Twenty-four of these are on new topics and seventy-six are additional references on topics included in the first edition. New cross references have also been included when necessary. The new books indexed are Robbins's "High school debate book," the "Debaters' handbook series" and the new edition of Askew's "Pros and cons," also the numbers of the "Speaker" and of the "Bulletin" of the University of Wisconsin issued in the sixteen months since the first edition of this index was published.
November 1, 1912.
Debate Index
Books Indexed
* Contains list of propositions for debate.
† These numbers have been assigned arbitrarily for convenience in reference.
Topics
Absenteeism.
Askew, 1906, p. 1: Briefs and references.
Addison and Montaigne. See [Montaigne and Addison.]
Adult suffrage. See [Suffrage.]
Adulteration of food. See [Food adulteration.]
Advertising.
Public control of advertising. Askew, 1906, p. 3: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 4: Briefs.
Advowsons, Sale of.
Askew, 1906, p. 4: Briefs and references.
Æneid and Iliad. See [Iliad and Æneid.]
Agassiz and Darwin. See [Darwin and Agassiz.]
Age pensions. See [Old age pensions.]
Agricultural banks. See [Banks, Agricultural.]
Agriculture.
Agricultural depression; should remedies be sought? Askew, 1906, p. 6: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 7: Briefs.
Thorough (or deep) cultivation. Askew, 1906, p. 208: Briefs.
Alexander the Great and Cæsar.
Was the life of Alexander the Great more influential on contemporaneous and subsequent history than the life of Julius Cæsar? Matson, p. 32: Briefs and references.
Alexander the Great and Hannibal.
Who was the greater general, Hannibal or Alexander? Rowton, p. 214: References.
Alexander the Great, Cæsar, Napoleon.
Which was the greatest hero, Alexander, Cæsar or Bonaparte? Rowton, p. 225: References.
Alfred the Great and Washington.
Was Alfred the Great as great and good as Washington? Matson, p. 112: Briefs and references.
Allotments and small holdings extension.
Askew, 1906, p. 7: Briefs and references.
Alsace-Lorraine.
Should Germany cede Alsace-Lorraine? Askew, 1906, p. 8: Briefs and references.
Ambition.
Is ambition a vice or a virtue? Rowton, p. 210: References.
America. Discovery.
Has the discovery of America been beneficial to the world? Rowton, p. 212: References.
American Protective Association.
The principles of the American Protective Association deserve the support of American citizens. Brookings, p. 19: Briefs and references.
The American revolution and the Civil war.
Was the Revolution an event of United States history more important and influential than the Civil war? Matson, p. 81: Briefs and references.
See also [Lincoln and Washington.]
Amusements and the church. See [Church, The.]
Anarchism.
Askew, 1906, p. 11: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 9: Briefs.
Anger.
Is anger a vice or a virtue? Rowton, p. 225: References.
Anglican church. See [England, Church of.]
Anglo-Japanese alliance.
Askew, 1906, p. 13: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 11: Briefs.
Anglo-Saxon peoples.
America and England; union of the English-speaking race. Askew, 1906, p. 9: Briefs and references.
Animals.
Are brutes endowed with reason? Rowton, p. 192: Briefs and references.
Have animals intelligence? Gibson, p. 19: Briefs and references.
Rights of animals. Askew, 1906, p. 195: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 12: Briefs.
See also [Human mind and brute mind.]
Anti-trust law, 1890. See [Sherman anti-trust law.]
Arbitration, Commercial.
Askew, 1906, p. 15: Briefs.
Arbitration, Compulsory industrial.
Boards of arbitration with compulsory powers should be established to settle disputes between employers and wage-earners. Ringwalt, p. 210: Briefs and references.
Capital and labor should be compelled to settle their disputes in legally established courts of arbitration. Debaters' handbook ser., no. 1: Briefs, references, and selected articles.
Compulsory industrial arbitration. Askew, 1906, p. 16: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 13: Briefs.
The government should settle all disputes between capital and labor. Craig, p. 556: Outlines.
Ought arbitration in trade disputes to be enforced by law? Gibson, p. 24: Briefs and references.
State boards of arbitration with compulsory powers should be established throughout the United States to settle industrial disputes between employers and employees. Foster, p. 353: Speech (affirmative).
There should be a national board of arbitration for matters in dispute between employers and employees on inter-state railroads, and this board should be given compulsory powers. Brookings, p. 162: Briefs and references.
Arbitration, International.
Could not arbitration be made a substitute for war? Rowton, p. 224: References.
International arbitration; is it a substitute for war? Askew, 1906, p. 16: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 14: Briefs.
The United States should form a treaty with Great Britain and with France agreeing to arbitrate all disputed questions. C. L. of P. Reference lists.
Arctic exploration.
Has Arctic exploration been justified in its results? Matson, p. 412: Briefs and references.
Aristocratic and democratic government.
Askew, 1906, p. 17: Briefs and references.
Aristotle and Plato. See [Plato and Aristotle.]
Armaments.
Danger of increased armaments. Askew, 1906, p. 114: Briefs and references.
Reduction of national armaments. Askew, 1911, p. 15: Briefs.
See also [Disarmament.]
Armed intervention.
Armed intervention for the collection of debts. Speaker, v. 2, p. 391: Briefs and references.—C. L. of P. Debates: Briefs.
Armed intervention is not justifiable on the part of any nation to collect in behalf of private individuals financial claims against any American nation. Pearson, p. 223: Synopses and references.
Armenian question.
Armenian question and English intervention. Askew, 1906, p. 18: Briefs and references.
Army (England).
Army short service. Askew, 1906, p. 20: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 16: Briefs.
Compulsory universal service. Askew, 1911, p. 207: Briefs.
See also [Conscription.]
Army (United States). Increase.
Is it good government for the United States to maintain a standing army greater than is actually necessary to enforce the laws of the country? Craig, p. 520: Speeches.
The United States army should be increased rather than diminished. C. L. of P. Reference lists.
The United States army should be increased to one thousand for each million of our population. Thomas, p. 200: Briefs.
Art.
Should not all national works of art be entirely free to the public? Rowton, p. 227: References.
Art, British.
Is British art declining? Gibson, p. 27: Briefs and references.
Art and morality.
Does art, in its principles and works, imply the moral? Is art amenable to an ethical standard? Matson, p. 365: Briefs and references.
Art and religion.
Is the influence of the fine arts favorable to religion? Matson, p. 366: Briefs and references.
Art and science.
Are art and science antagonistic? Is the general prevalence of natural science prejudicial to the cultivation of high art? Matson, p. 362: Briefs and references.
Art unions.
Do the associations entitled "art unions" tend to promote the spread of the fine arts? Rowton, p. 228: References.
Asset currency.
National banks should be permitted to issue notes based on their general assets. Ringwalt, p. 143: Briefs and references.
National banks should be permitted to issue, subject to tax and government supervision, notes based on their general assets. Speaker, v. 3, p. 409: Brief (affirmative).—C. L. of P. Debates: Brief (affirmative).
A system of asset currency, under federal control, should be established in the United States. Pearson, p. 191: Synopses of speeches, and references.
Astronomy and geology.
Does the study of astronomy tend more to expand the mind than the study of geology? Is the study of geology of more practical benefit than the study of astronomy? Matson, p. 261: Briefs and references.
Athanasian creed.
Should the rubric requiring its public recitation be removed? Askew, 1911, p. 17: Briefs.
Atheists.
Are there tribes of atheists? Matson, p. 472: Briefs and references.
Athletics.
Intercollegiate athletics promote the best interests of colleges. Thomas, p. 186: Briefs.
Intercollegiate athletics should be abolished. Speaker, v. 7, p. 295: Brief (negative).
Interscholastic athletic contests are of more value to the participants than literary contests. C. L. of P. Reference lists.
Should not practice in athletic games form a part of every system of education? Rowton, p. 229: References.
See also [Sport.]
Atomic theory.
Does the atomic theory find in science sufficient confirmation to establish its validity? Matson, p. 387: Briefs and references.
Authority (in religion).
Authority as the basis of religious belief. Askew, 1906, p. 21: Briefs and references.
Authors and publishers.
Authors and publishers; are the former inequitably treated? Askew, 1906, p. 22: Briefs.
Automobile license.
Should the federal government license automobile drivers? Foster, p. 351: Analysis.
Bachelors.
Taxation of bachelors. Askew, 1906, p. 23; Askew, 1911, p. 20: Briefs.
Bacon, Francis.
Are the character and career of Lord Bacon, as a whole, indefensible? Was the character of Bacon deserving of the approbation of posterity? Matson, p. 94: Briefs and references.
Bacon and Newton.
Has the philosophy of Bacon contributed more to the progress of physical science than the discoveries of Newton? Matson, p. 379: Briefs and references.
Bacon-Shakespeare question.
Is it probable that Lord Bacon is the real author of the plays attributed to Shakespeare? Matson, p. 300: Briefs and references.
Bakehouse, Municipal. See [Municipal ownership.]
Balance of power.
Is the so called balance of power the best practicable arrangement for promoting and preserving just and harmonious relations between the European powers? Is the federation of European nations desirable and practicable? Matson, p. 183: Briefs and references.
Ballot.
Abolition of plural voting. Askew, 1911, p. 182: Briefs.
Compulsory voting. Askew, 1906, p. 223: Briefs and references.
One man one vote. Askew, 1906, p. 162: Briefs.
Second ballots. Askew, 1906, p. 198: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 206: Briefs.
Balzac and Hugo.
Is Balzac a greater novelist than Hugo? Matson, p. 339: Briefs and references.
Bank deposits, Guarantee of.
The national government should guarantee the repayment of bank deposits in national banks. C. L. of P. Debates: References.
There should be some legislation providing for the guarantee of bank deposits. Pearson, p. 305: Report of speeches, and references.—C. L. of P. Debates: References.
Bank holidays.
Bank holidays by act of Parliament. Askew, 1906, p. 24: Briefs.
Bank-notes.
Bank issues secured by commercial paper are preferable to those secured by bonds. Pearson, p. 1: Speeches and references.
The government tax on state bank-notes should be repealed. Brookings, p. 93: Briefs and references.
Bankrupt law.
Should there be a national bankrupt law? Matson, p. 169: Briefs and references.
Banks, Agricultural.
Askew, 1906, p. 5: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 5: Briefs.
Banks, Central.
Congress should establish a central bank of issue. Pearson, p. 325: Synopses of speeches, and references.—C. L. of P. Debates: References.—C. L. of P. Reference lists.
The federal government should establish a central bank of the United States. Debaters' handbook ser., no. 14: Briefs, references and selected articles.—Robbins, p. 50: Briefs and references.
Banks, National.
National banks should be abolished. Craig, p. 358: Outlined for points only.
Barbarian and civilized man.
Which is the more happy, a barbarian or a civilized man? Gibson, p. 31: Briefs and references.—Rowton, p. 204: Briefs and references.
Beecher and Spurgeon.
Was Beecher a greater preacher than Spurgeon? Matson, p. 525: Briefs and references.
Beethoven and Mozart.
Is Beethoven a greater composer than Mozart? Matson, p. 372: Briefs and references.
Betterment tax.
Betterment. Askew, 1906, p. 24: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 21: Briefs.
Betting.
Are betting and gambling immoral? Gibson, p. 155: Briefs and references.
Bible and geology.
Do modern geological discoveries agree with Holy writ? Rowton, p. 223: References.
Bible in the public schools.
Should the Bible be read, as a religious exercise, in the public schools? Matson, p. 239: Briefs and references.—C. L. of P. Reference lists.
Bicycle tax.
Askew, 1906, p. 26; Askew, 1911, p. 23: Briefs.
Bimetallism.
Askew, 1906, p. 27: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 24: Briefs.
Bimetallism and not protection is the secret of future prosperity. Craig, p. 366: Outlined for points only.
Is the maintenance of a double standard of value in exchanges practicable or desirable? Is the single gold valuation the true economic policy for nations? Matson, p. 206: Briefs and references.
See also [Gold (currency).]—[Silver (currency).]
Biography and history. See [History and biography.]
Bismarck and Gladstone.
Is Bismarck a greater statesman than Gladstone? Matson, p. 101: Briefs and references.
Blasphemy laws; their abolition.
Askew, 1906, p. 30: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 27: Briefs.
Bonaparte Napoleon. See [Napoleon.]
Booth, William.
General Booth's employment system as outlined in "Darkest England" should be adopted in this country. Brookings, p. 160: Briefs and references.
Boycotting.
Askew, 1906, p. 30; Askew, 1911, p. 28: Briefs.
British art. See [Art, British.]
British empire. Communication.
Inter-imperial communication. Askew, 1906, p. 123: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 117: Briefs.
British empire. Federation.
British imperial federation. Askew, 1906, p. 108: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 97: Briefs.
Ought our empire to federate? Gibson, p. 96: Briefs and references.
Brown, John.
Was John Brown's raid into Virginia to rescue slaves unjustifiable? Was John Brown's execution justifiable? Should John Brown be regarded as a hero and martyr, or as a fanatic? Matson, p. 129: Briefs and references.
Browning and Tennyson.
Is Browning a greater poet than Tennyson? Matson, p. 317: Briefs and references.
Browning, Mrs, and Eliot, George. See [Eliot, George, and Browning, Mrs.]
Brussels sugar convention.
Shall the Brussels sugar convention be denounced? Askew, 1906, p. 203: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 222: Briefs.
Brute mind and human mind. See Human mind and brute mind.
Brutus and Cæsar.
Was Brutus justified in killing Cæsar? Rowton, p. 209: References.
Bryant and Longfellow.
Is Bryant a greater poet than Longfellow? Matson, p. 322: Briefs and references.
Buddhism.
Has Buddhism, in its essential principles and spirit, more of truth and good than of error and evil? Is Buddhism more unlike than like Christianity? Matson, p. 473: Briefs and references.
Bunyan and Thomas à Kempis.
Has Bunyan's "Pilgrim's progress" exerted as much influence as Kempis's "Imitation of Christ"? Matson, p. 514: Briefs and references.
Burial, Premature.
Premature burial; are preventive means necessary? Askew, 1906, p. 183; Askew, 1911, p. 185: Briefs.
Burns and Byron. See [Byron and Burns.]
Byron.
Are Lord Byron's writings moral in their tendency? Rowton, p. 215: References.
Byron and Burns.
Which was the greater poet, Byron or Burns? Rowton, p. 222: References.
Byron and Shelley.
Was Byron a greater poet than Shelley? Matson, p. 312: Briefs and references.
Byron and Wordsworth. See [Wordsworth and Byron.]
Cabinet government (England).
Government by cabinet. Askew, 1906, p. 31: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 28: Briefs.
Cabinet ministers (United States).
Cabinet ministers ought to have seats and the right to speak in Congress. Brookings, p. 40: Briefs and references.
Members of the president's Cabinet should have the right to be present and speak in the House of representatives. Thomas, p. 164: Briefs and references.
Should members of the Cabinet have seats on the floor of Congress, and a voice in its debates? Matson, p. 157: Brief and references.
Cabinet system and congressional system.
Cabinet system of government is preferable to the congressional system. Brookings, p. 37: Briefs and references.
Cæsar, Alexander the Great, Napoleon. See [Alexander the Great, Cæsar, Napoleon.]
Cæsar and Alexander the Great. See [Alexander the Great and Cæsar.]
Cæsar and Brutus. See [Brutus and Cæsar.]
Calvin and Luther. See [Luther and Calvin.]
Calvin and Servetus.
Is Calvin's part in procuring the condemnation and death of Servetus deserving of censure? Matson, p. 521: Briefs and references.
Calvin and Wesley.
Has the influence of Wesley in the promotion of religious thought and life been greater than that of Calvin? Matson, p. 519: Briefs and references.
Campaign funds.
All contributions of $100 and over to political parties should be publicly accounted for by the officers receiving them. Thomas, p. 174: Briefs and references.
Canada. Annexation to the United States.
The annexation of Canada by peaceable means would be an economic advantage to the United States. Thomas, p. 206: Briefs.
Canada should be annexed to the United States. Brookings, p. 59: Briefs and references.
Canada; should she join the United States? Askew, 1906, p. 32: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 29: Briefs.
Would the political union of Canada with the United States be a benefit to both countries? Is the commercial union of Canada and the United States desirable? Does it seem likely to be "the manifest destiny" of Canada to become a sovereign and independent republic? Matson, p. 182: Briefs and references.
Canada. Reciprocity with the United States. See [Reciprocity. United States and Canada.]
Canals. See [Government ownership. Canals.]—[Nicaragua canal.]
Canteen.
Abolition of the canteen from the United States army posts was wise. Thomas, p. 206: Briefs.—C. L. of P. Reference lists.
Canvassing at parliamentary elections.
Askew, 1906, p. 34: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 32: Briefs.
Capital and labor. See [Labor and laboring classes.]
Capital punishment.
Debaters' handbook ser., no. 4: References and selected articles.
Capital punishment; its abolition. Askew, 1906, p. 34: Briefs and references.—Askew, 1911, p. 33: Briefs.
Capital punishment should be abolished. Brookings, p. 57: Briefs and references.—Gibson, p. 43: Briefs and references.—Robbins, p. 44: Briefs and references.—Thomas, p. 184: Briefs.
Is capital punishment justifiable? Rowton, p. 48: Speeches and references.
Ought the death penalty to be retained as the punishment for wilful murder? Ought capital punishment to be abolished? Matson, p. 160: Briefs and references.
Card-playing. See [Dancing and card-playing.]
Carlyle and Emerson.
As a thinker and writer should Carlyle outrank Emerson? Matson, p. 346: Briefs and references.
Cathedrals, Nationalization of.
Askew, 1906, p. 35: Briefs and references.
Catholic church. See [Roman Catholic church.]
Caucus.
Present system of caucus nomination ought to be abandoned. Brookings, p. 27: Briefs and references.
See also[ Primaries.]
Celibacy.
Celibacy of Roman Catholic priests. Askew, 1906, p. 36: Briefs.
Censorship of fiction.
Askew, 1911, p. 34: Briefs.
Censorship of the stage.
Askew, 1911, p. 34: Briefs.
Central America. Antiquities.
Are there good reasons for supposing that the ruins recently discovered in Central America are of very great antiquity? Rowton, p. 231: References.
Central banks. See [Banks, Central.]