Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-11-21
The Cadetship Examination.

pcared in the Dubuque papers since the
examination of candidates for the West
Point and Annapolis cadetships in this
city last week, the report Of the examin-
ing board does not give entire 'satisfac
ton in that city. There were two candi
dates from there, aId out of the circun.
stance that both did not get cadetships
the papers are trying to manufacture
grievance The Times, in what it has
to say upon the subject, is generally fair
and courteous, while the Herald as was
to be expected, makes it tho occasion for
characteristic blackguardism and false
hood. The latter we can afford to pass
with contempt, but we propose to exam.
inc the grievance as stated by the Times.
1t says:
| OF the fifteen candidates, Howe stood
first; Hethcrington second, and Hodges
third Mentally, Howe stood 90, and
physically %; Hetherington, mentally IS,
and physically 90; and Hodges, mentally
81, and physically about 90.
There were but three of the candidates
competing who were DESTROYS for the
| Annapolis appointment, and the other
two fell so far behind young Hetherington,
there was no alternative but to give him
the recommendation This left the West
Point vacancy to Howe and Hodges; and
here is where the local prejudice of the
members of the board came in. Howe
was entitled to it by his scholarly quail
fications and his high physical standard,
but the majority of the examiners couldn't
think of seeing the Dubuque boys carry
ing off both prizes, SO awarded it to the
candidate next below him.
With the exception of the fling at the
examiners, the above is substantially cor
rect; but the complaint Of injustice made
upon the facts as stated, is mot good, for
the reason that it is based upon the as
sumption that the award was to be made
on the technical mental standing and
present physical condition of the candi-
date solely, without regard to any other
consideration whatever This. assump-
tion does not find warrant in the circular
issued by Mr.. Donnan, neither, to our
mind, is that rule essential to the proper
carrying out of the object of the examin'
ton. We infer from their action, that the
board first ascertained who among the
candidates stood q reasonable probability
of passing the rigid examination at West
Point, and from these made the selections
subject to modifying conditions. One of
the rules of the War Department regard
ing the qualification of cadets is rs fol
lows:
"The conditions of body and mind con
sidercd together should be regarded, rs
well rs general proficiency in the studies
az whole. Especially should natural
ability and manifest aptitude for acquir-
ing and applying knowledge, take precc-
dence Of mere scholastic finish and read
mess of answer to formal problems.
| Where there are no other special cOnsid-
erations to he regarded, it is better for
| candidates to be nearer the minimum than
the maximum age
| TiuuiIlS AO SupNllCA HArA e~'hss "
aptitude for study in young Howe oyer
Hodges, and no advanced requirements
| or physical yigor not accounted for by
| his two years more of age and training,
| the board taking into consideration that
Hodges was nearer @he minimum age;
that Dubuque had no special claim to
both cadctships; and, moreover, that on
the score of general fitness for the place,
and probability Of his acquitting himself
with honor in it, young Hodges was the
peer of his Dubuque rival; for these and
possibly other good reasons, the board
recommended his appointment. While
we should have INDUCED in no qucruious
complaints if young Howe had been sue
ccssful, we certainly think that the board
came to the proper conclusion under the
circumstances, and will he justified by all
fair. minded men, when those circum
stances are known. 1t should be stated
here that no local influences were brought
to bear upon the board to influence its
action. Prof Pickett was the chairman,
and may have participated in the discus.
sions in favor of the decision as it stands,
but he did not vote upon the proposition
to select young Hodges, pro or con, and
no considerations were urged except
those brought forward in open iscus-
sion.
The trouble with our Dubuque friends
| in their illusions to this matter is that
they set up two standards; merit, which
they assume was represented solely by
the Dubuque boy, and locality without
merit, which they implicitly allege, was
all the claim possessed by the other candi-
| dates. The article in the Times from
which we quote the above, starts out with
an implication that the very fact that tho
Dubuque boy had fallen behind, suggest
ca the necessity tor special investigation
! to discover the reason for it. 1t seems to
have been regarded as foregone conclu.
sion that in a contest with n lot OF coun
try youth, the city boy was sure to be
successful. This inability to recognize
merit without Dubuque label is by no
means n new manifestation from that
quarter.
THE Cry FOR HELP.-We hope that
our readers will attentivcly pcrusc the
appcal for aid in behalf Of the suffering
settlers Of OsccQla county, published on
the second page of this issue, and be pre-.
pared to respond literally to the demand
for succor. Other communities arc mo.
wing in the matter, and our county and
city should not be backward in the good
work Times arc hard, but Providence
has blessed us with an abundance to cat,
and surely we will not turn deaf ear to
the plea of the starving and naked pio-
nccrs We suggest that some of our
benevolent and public spirited citizens
move tor an organized effort to collect
and send a generous donation from our
county.
In this connection We NOTICE in the