“The reference to the source of authority should be definite. Such vague phrases as the following, common though they are, are worthless as proof : —
Statistics gathered with great care show —
It may be said on substantial authority —
Many prominent men agree —
Competent authorities say —
We could give hundreds of cases to show —
Recent writers on this subject declare —
One had better not pretend to prove anything than to seek to cover bare assertions with such flimsy material.”

Source: Argumentation and debating, 1908, p. 59; as cited in: Branham (2013, p. 77)

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William Trufant Foster13

American economist 1879–1950

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William Trufant Foster13

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