The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-27
lcLARksBURG.
The west Point ,Cadelship-
{ TWenty.hyeAp plicants-Inhar.
monions Action Of the Board,

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CtARxsBuRe, W. Va, July 20.
Correspondence Of tho Intsllissneer.
For the information OF the friends and
relatives OF the young gentlemen who
responded to the invitation Of Congress-
man Wilson TO attend the competitive
examination for appointment 10 the U.
s. Military cadetsbip at West Point,
held at this place yesterday, I have pre-.
pared the following brief report Of the
proceeding:
The Examining Board consisted Of Ave
members, as follows:
Professor J. c. Nash, Of Parkersburg;
Col. J. T. Basil, late Of the q. S. Army;
MIR. J. H. Willis, Of Clarksburg; Mr.. E.
NJ. Turner Of Clarksburg DR.. J. W.
Ramsey, OF Clarksburg, the latter acting
in the capacity Of medical examiner.
DR.. N. F. Hullihen, OF Wheeling, was
appointed by Col. Wilson, a member
Of the Board, but professional engage
men,s prevented his attendance, and Mr..
Willis was substituted in his place. On
assembling at the Academy building this
morning it was found that twenty-five
applicants had presented themselves TO
compete for the coveted prize.
Those from Wheeling we're: Mr.. Alon.
10 Wheat, Mr.. Wm. II. Seamon, Mr..
Robert L. Norton.
Parkersburg, Clarksburg, Weston and
other towns and counties Of the State
were represented by youthful aspiranis
for military honors.
Either owing to the Unexpectedly
large number Of candidates 10 be exam.
ined, or on account OF the inexperience
Of some Of the gentlemen composing the
Board in conducting contests OF this char
acter, considerable confusion appeared to
prevail and as no preliminarymeeting had
been held by the Board for the purpose
OF efiecting an organization and estab.
fishing rules and methods Of procedure,
II soon became apparent that The exami-
nation would be necessarily incomplete
and unsatisfactory. This feeling deyel.
oped itself with considerable strength
when Mr.. Turner, acting independ-
emily Of the other members OF the
Board, selected number Of diff.
cult problems in mathematics and
instructed the young men TO prepare
their solutions and hand them in al 4
specified time, with their signatures at
tached thereto. This proceeding was so
maniiestly unfair and improper that
Professor Nash promptly retired from
the Board. declining to serve further I'm.
less a different system OF examination
was adopted which would Theoretically
seal every avenue TO fraud, and make the
contest what Colonel Wilson prom
ised it should be, namely. fair
and impartial investigation Of the ca
pabilities Of the several candidates,
and the selection Of the one who
proved. himself best qualified 10 fill the
place. The peremptory withdrawal Of
Professor Nash, and the pointed expires.
sion Of dissatisfaction on the part Of sew
eral other interested parties, brought the
proceedings TO premature close, and
there being nothing else TO do, Col. Will
son addressed the young gentlemen pres.
ent, reviewing the situation, and repeat
ing his desire that the examination
should be conducted in spirit Of justice
and impartiality. He then proposed that
the applicants should decide for them.
selves whether the present examination
should be continued, or future time and
place be appointed TO decide the
contest, The latter proposition was
finally agreed upon, and the represents.
tive OF our district at the Military
Academy for the next four years will
probably be chosen at Clarksburg on the
9th OF August. Col. Wilson was present
during the entire.proceedings Of the day,
aud was evidently much chagrined at the
failure OF the Board TO accomplish the
object for which they convened, and no
doubt regrets that some bad feeling has
been engendered by the conflicting views
and inharmonious action OF the members
OF the Board. Possibly this feeling is
shared by many others who were wit
nesses Of this examination, but however
much the result may be regretted it ap.
pears TO be the general verdic. that the
course OF Professor Nash was entirely
justifable under the circumstances, and
il is TO be hoped that Col. Wilson in re.
cognition Of this fact will reappoint him
a member Of the Board to assemble again
in August next.
The unusual interest manifested in
this examination, as evidenced by the
large number Of cohtestants.ior the place,
indicates a revival Of military ardor
among our young men, and it is crafty
ing TO know that determined effort will
be made to do impartial justice to all the
youthful scholars Of the district who may
desire to GEEK "the bubble reputation
even at the cannons mouth"