realize exactly what must be proven to make their position secure, there will be really no debate, for the two sides will never meet in a clash of opinion.  They will pass each other without meeting, and instead of a debate they will present a series of argumentative speeches.  This failure to state issues clearly and to support or refute them convincingly is one of the most common faults of all debating.  In ordinary conversation a frequently heard criticism of a discussion or speech or article is “But that was not the point at issue at all.”  These issues must appear in the preliminary plans, in the finished brief, and in the debate itself.

The only point in issue between us is, how long after an author’s death the State shall recognize a copyright in his representatives and assigns; and it can, I think, hardly be disputed by any rational man that this is a point which the legislature is free to determine in the way which may appear to be most conducive to the general good.

     THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY:  Copyright, 1841

Mr. President, the very first question that challenges our attention in the matter of a league of nations is the question of whether a war in Europe is a matter of concern to the United States.  The ultraopponents of any league of nations assert that European quarrels and European battles are no concern of ours.  If that be true, we may well pause before obligating ourselves to make them our concern.  Is it true?

     SENATOR P.J.  MCCUMBER:  The League of Nations,
     1919

The best method of finding the issues is to put down in two columns the main contentions of both sides.  By eliminating those entries which are least important and those which have least bearing upon the present case the issues may be reduced to those which the debate should cover.  Any possible attempt to cloud the issues on the part of the opposing side can thus be forestalled.  All the speakers on one side should participate in this analysis of the proposition to find and state the issues.

The New York Tribune, by parallel columns, brought out these chief points of difference between the Paris plan and Senator Knox’s for the League of Nations.

THE KNOX PLAN THE PARIS PLAN

League formed of all, not Under Article VII it is provided
a portion, of the nations of that no state shall be
the world. admitted unless it is able to
                                   give guaranties of its intention
                                   to observe its international
                                   obligations and conform
                                   to the principles
                                   prescribed by the League
                                   in regard to it’s naval and
                                   military forces and armaments.