Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-31
Col. Mills Thinks Conditions
Cannot Be Bettered.
Deems it unwise for Congress to
Make More Stringent Rules.
The Military Court Finishes Hearing Evidence
al West Point.

hCZinE at the West Point Academy,
was called to order at $50 A. Nj. Sat
urday, Lieut.. Col. Otto L. Helm. COM
mandant of cadets, resumed his testi-
mony.
He produced the superintendent
sick report which showed that Cadet
Boose had reported sick only once
while he was at the academy. He was
excused on that occasion from one
drill The records made it clear that
Boose had never been absent from,
breakfast, dinner or supper while he
was cadet at West Point.
In telling of the agreement made by
the fourth class men in 1892 among
whom were cadets Macarthur and
Grant, not to submit to hazing, Col.
Heinz said: Il called the class toCeth-
crit was a very large onc-and OK
planned to them the rules and regula-
tons prohibiting haZing. / told them
that if they would agree not to submit
to haZing and promise not to haze any
one themselves they would rid the
academy of foul blot on its reputa
ton. Soon afterward they appealed to
me to be released from this agreement.
but refused.
Il also heard" continued the wit
ness, that candidates preparing at
Highland Falls were being hazed. and
l made an investigation. the outcome
of which was the severe punishment of
the guilty cadets
During the examination of Col Heinz
number of women were accommo-
dated with seats in the court room and
the gallery. Among them We're Mrs
Grant and Mrs. Macarthur.
After brief adjournment, Former
Cadet Smith of Carbondale, H.. was
called and sworn. In reply to Gen.
Clous he said:
Il was admitted to the academy in
June, 1898. and remained until l was
discharged III January. 1?00.i'
Did you know Cadet Boose. and if
so do you know of his being hazed?"
Yes. | remember seeing him holding
hout dumbbells and doing wooden will
lies. There were several of us there
but none was exhausted. We We're eX-
ercised almost daily. Cadets Meyer
and Nelly exercised me frequently
Boose never complained to me of his
treatment. | saw him in the mess hall
but did not sit near him. A few drops
of pepper sauce were given to me by
Cadet Caples to swallow. 1 made all
the motions, bat did not swallow it."
This concluded the testimony Of
Smith, from whom it was expected
the court would hear Il great deal
about hazing in the camp in 1888. His
evidence was very disappointing.
Cadet Truman W. Carrithers of Hi
nois, was the next witness.
when did you come in to the acad-
envy" asked Gen. Clous.
IN July, 1899, SIR
Did you ever engage in a fistic con-
test here?"
Yes, sir; / was called out for dis
Obeying upper class men and general
freshness. My opponent was Mr..
Channon of the present second class
What was the RESULT
Il got knocked out, sir"
Did you receive any injuries?' in
quircd Gen. Clous.
Yes sir. | had an abrasion on the
forehead and my jaw was broken. !
was laid up in the hospital for two
weeks in consequence.
Col. \. l.. Mills, superintendent of
the academy, was then sent for, ana
after a few minutes delay he came
into court and was sworn. Speaking
of "bracinG' the superintendent said:
Il do not consider 'bracing' as haz-
ing, but it amounts to it when carried
to excess and causes physical pain.
The superintendent told of his haV-
ing secured the oath of a society known
as The Hold Carriers which existed
among candidates for admission to thls
academy who were at a preparatory
school at Highland Falls. about two
miles from West Point. 1t was a so
ciety composed of and formed for haz-
ing candidates. The witness said II
was of such a vile nature that he knew
he had a good weapon in his hands.
He submitted it to the cadet body, with
the result that when they saw what
hazing entailed, the graduating class
of 1900 declared that they would aboi-
lsh hazing and wrote him to that erect
Col Miles read some letters which ne
had written to the war department IN
his efforts to abolish haZing at the
academy, containing such suggestive
words as brutal treatment of cadets
and secret outragcs,' referring to the
encalnpment of 1899.
Col. Mills cited cases where cadets
had been dismissed for haZinS lower
class men. He said they had invar1-
aoly gone to Washington where Il
eltdI zeal OF influence WIS eAeitcu -
bring about their reinstatement; but
IN every instance Col. Mills said, he
was ably supported by the war depart
ment and the dismissal was ratified.
In reply to Gen. Bates the witness saiu:
1 do not think hazing can be enectuahS
stamped out as long as human nature re-
mains as it is. Even in the colleges anu
schools and business centers it Is carried
on For instance the initiation oil mem
Der of the Stock Exchange is marked pA
rough usage of the newcomer but
think that by vigilance of the authorizes
at this academy and the cooperation q.
the cadets themselves it can pc keps
within such bounds that no injury Woui"
result"
As to the abolition of fighting amons
cadets. Col. Mills said that where thsIe
were so many young men living toge tt
under the same roof it was natural 'hd'
nights should occur.
Col. Mills took occa sion to deny the aS
curacy of an interview with niW' pu;o
liShed in a New York paper. Dec; .. ~
Which the inference was palpable TIA. -,
was in favor of fStic encounters petMetn
cadets and that he would not lnNestiSa'o
them
Referring to the case of Oscar l.. bo ~ !;
he said: 'At no time since boo.e ielt ~ ~