St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-12-26
General News.
The Hazing of Cadet BoOz.

The investigation of the alleged hazing
of Cadet Booz at West Point has occu-
pied the public's attention to consider
able degree during the past week. Booz,
it will be remembered, died at his home
in Bristol, Penn, OF tuberculosis which
disease his friends claim, was the result
of hazing which he received while a
cadet at the United States military acad-
envy during the year 1898. The case
caused considerable comment which has
resulted in the appointment Of two
special committees of investigation one
military commission appointed by the
War department. and the other from the
national house of representatives. This
committee will meet at Philadelphia on
Ian. 8, and proceed to Bristol, the late
residence of the cadet, the next day to
begin the inquiry on Saturday or Sun
day. They will go to West Point and
continue the inquiry on Monday, Jan.
7.
The military commission has been in
session during the past week. The testi-
mony given before the commission by
the dead cadets family and friends
would not seem to establish the fact
that his treatment at West Point was
the direct cause of his death. The story
of the affair as told by his friends is
about as follows: He was a boy of
strong religious convictions and at his
home was an active worker in church
affairs. When he was about to leave
West Point some of his associates pre-
scented him with Bible. At the acad-
envy his devotion to the book made him
special mark for the jokes and sneers
of his fellow cadets. 1t is told that Booz
was ordered to refrain from his devotion
al observances and when he refused was
compelled to fight. In the contest he
was defeated, and because of his unwill-
ingness to continue the battle he was
charged with cowardice and compelled
to drink a quantity of tobacco sauce.
The alleged hazing continued until after
a stay OF tour months at the academy,
Booz resigned. claiming detective eye
sight, and returned to his home. The
session at West Point was Of several
days duration. A large number OF
Boozs classmates and Others were ex-
amined, and from the testimony taken it
appears that Booz was an all-around
unpopular man. That his devotion to
the Bible in no way accounted for his
treatment. In the examinations, special
inquiry was made concerning the atti-
tude Of cadets toward religious matters
in general. 1t was shown that the ma
jority of the corps were members OF the
Y. M. c. A., and that no one was modest
ed on account of his convictions in
this matter.
The witnesses admitted that Booz
was hazed, but denied that his treat
ment was unusually severe. He was
subjected to the rough handling usually
given new students, and perhaps, on &C.
count OF the manner in which he received
it, the hazing was continued a little
longer than usual Instructors testified
that in some branches oil the work Booz
was deficient in scholarship, but the gen
eral drift of the evidence would seem to
indicate that the lie at West Point was
not exactly suited to boy oil Boozs tenn
pertinent and tastes. Tobacco sauce is
favorite means of hazing, but a lew drops
is said to constitute the maximum dose.
chairman being Maj Gen. Brooks, and
the outcome of the investigation will be
watched with interest.
The Vice. Crusade in New York.
The crusade against vice in New York
is now thoroughly organized and the
war is on. The committee OF fifteen ap-
pointed some weeks ago to direct the
crusade met last Wednesday and formu-
lated plans Tor carrying on the work. A
programme OF action was adopted
which if carried out to the letter will
doubtless make the metropolis an I'M
pleasant place for evil doors and those
officials under whose protection, it is al
legged, vice and corruption have become
so rampant in the city. The programme
formulated is as follows:
First-To institute searching inquiry,
uninhuenced by partisan considerations,
into the causes OF the present alarming
increase of gambling and the social evil
in this city, and to collect such evidence
as shall establish the connection between
existing conditions and those who, in
the last analysis, are responsible tor
these conditions.
Second-To publish the results OF such
Investigations in order to put our fellow
citizens in possession of facts and to en-
able them to adopt such corrective
measures as may be needed.
Third-To promote such legislation as
shall render it less difficult to reach OF.
tenders, and as shall put an end to the
shifting and division of responsibility in
the local administration OF the laws re
lating to vice and crime, to the end thai
public officers and their subordinates
may be held to a strict accountability
for th,ir acts.
Fourth-To suggest and promote the
provision of more wholesome conditions
and surroundings, in order to lessen the
allurements and incentives to vice anC
crime.
Murder i'm Washington.
Frank H. Morris of OHIO, auditor to
the war department, was shot and in
stantly killed Saturday afternoon b,
Samuel Mcdonald, also of Ohio, recent.
a disbursing clerk of the treasury, in tn
formers office at the Winder Building, il
Seventeenth street. Macdonald after
ward shot himself and slashed his throa
with penkne. The assassin had recent
ly been reduced in rank and it is sal
blamed his victim for the reduction
, Macdonald was under the influence c
liquor at the time the shooting occurred
!: Great Strike at Antwerp.
The dock laborers' strike at Antwerp