The first mention of the Webster Club currently unearthed was in the 1941-1942 school year. With the “Junior Websters” and the “Senior Websters” as well as the “Aladdin Club,” Marquette University High School gave students ample opportunities to participate in competitive speech.
Junior Websters
Looking back upon a busy year under the tutelage of Mr. McGloin, S.J., and Mr. Higgins, S.J., the junior websters find that they have engaged in over fifty debates during a season terminated by the St. John’s tournament.
Senior Websters
“City Champs” and “Second Place Winners of the State Contest” were the titles conferred upon the Senior Websters, titles which fittingly crown a year of strenuous activity by Mr. McGloin, S.J. and his proteges. In the state contest Buellesbach was judged the best debater.
After over one hundred and forty debates the ranking of the teams is as follows: 1st, Cassidy and Whalen; 2nd, Prier and Buellesbach; 3rd, Papke and Krumenacher; and 4th, Duffy and Swietlik.
Aladdins Club
The Aladdins Club is the official Speech Club for the upperclassmen of the school. The meetings feature debates, open forums, discussions, and lectures. The speech subjects this year were chosen with taste and discrimination and several guest speakers were well received.
While the Webster club limits itself to debating, the Aladdins have devoted themselves to all forms of public speaking.
—Flambeau, 1942
Roster of Students & Coaches
Coaches
Students
Not available.
National Tournament Locations
National Forensic League:
Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison, Wisconsin
The national tournament was suspended. The student congress met in the Wisconsin State Capitol and received a letter of commendation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
—National Forensic League
National Policy Debate Resolution
Resolved: That every able-bodied male citizen in the United States should be required to have one year of full-time military training before attaining the present draft age.
This topic was debated again in 1945-1946.
High school students in Wisconsin, participating in organized forensics, will debate compulsory military training during the school year now opening. Members of the Wisconsin high school forensic association will use this topic: “Resolved, that every able-bodied male citizen in the United States should have one year of full-time military training before attaining age 24.” This subject was a wise selection since it will help to focus the attention of youths in high school age upon a question in which they ought to be vitally interested. It may also clarify the thought of many adults on a question which up to now has been unduly influenced by the war. Before many months of the postwar era have passed it may be found even by proponents of compulsory military training that it is not as pressing a problem as it appeared to be when the war was at its height. Given to the youths to discuss who will be obliged to do the training, we predict that sound arguments will be found against such a program that can become the basis for adopting a more feasible way of accomplishing the same end.
—The Waukesha Freeman (“A Good Subject For Debate,” September 05, 1945, Page 8)