advantage can fairly be gained from
position.

The phrasing of the main issues, too, will vary with the side on which
you are arguing them. Here, again, you must take every fair advantage
that is to be gained from position. In the main issues of the question I
have been using for an example, as they are stated below, it will be
seen that main issue 1 on the affirmative and main issue 3 on the
negative cover very nearly the same ground; but if you were arguing on
the affirmative you would direct attention to the shortcomings inherent
in the system of government, if on the negative, to the temporary and
removable causes of them. Whichever side you were arguing on there is no
reason that you should lose the advantage of so phrasing the issue that
you can go directly to your work of establishing your contention.

In the argument on introducing commission government into Wytown the
main issues might be as follows:

The main issues as chosen by the affirmative:

1. Is the admitted inefficiency of the city government at present
due to the system of government?

2. Will the adoption of the plan result in more economical
administration?

3. Will the adoption of the plan result in more efficient service
to the city?

4. Will the direct responsibility of the mayor and councilors to the
citizens be a sufficient safeguard for the increased power given to
them?

The main issues as chosen by the negative:

1. Is there danger in putting such large powers into the hands of so
few men?

2. Will the new plan, if adopted, permanently raise the standard of
public servants?

3. Is the inefficiency of the city government at present due to
temporary and removable causes?

4. Has the plan succeeded in other places largely because of its
novelty?

5. Will the liability to recall keep officials from initiating new
policies for fear of unpopularity?

In some cases it will be hard to reduce the number of issues to a
manageable number; in others, for special reasons, it may be possible to
treat a part of them only at length. In such cases one can always adopt
the device of an imaginary "next chapter" or "to be continued in our
next." In considering how many issues you can deal with satisfactorily,
however, you must not leave out of account contentions on the other side
that must be refuted; and in choosing among the possible main issues you
must always ex