The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-22
West Point Correctional Measures.

Keep MS seat.
West Point Correctional Measures.
The testimony taken by the Investigate
ing board in connection with the hazing
of Cadet BOOK tends to show that Booz
was not popular. was considered by some
a coward and did not have a particularly
high standing in his class. All this may
be true. but 1t may be asked
why student who may be held
in low esteem by some of his fellows
should be subjected to indignities at their
hands. 1t is no excuse for many Of the
modern college pranks that a certain
crude idea OF justice and social necessity
is at the root of them. There is whole
some notion that graduates Of our insti-
tutions Of learning. and especially those
strong, manly fellows and not milksops;
but 1t is a fact becoming more generally
recognized that In order to make them
such 1t is not necessary to keep alive a
lot of semi-barbaric customs which never
did and never will Indicate true manli-
ness. and which have been countenanced
because of a ridiculous idea that they
would serve as a means for ascertaininx
the stun Of which a student might be
made.
Several OF Booz' classmates say that he
was cowardy: but 1t may be asked IL his
cowardice was of more offensive eharac-
ter than that which distinguishes brutal
undergraduate bullies who feel author
lied by the traditions OF an Institution to
exercise vicious tyranny over those who
may chance to be members of lower
classes. The author OF Tom Brown drew
clear picture OF class distinctions and
privileges as they existed in the old Eng
lish schools and the publication of the
book no doubt did much to correct some
of the abuses which had been held in
high esteem for years During the past
fifty years there has been a great i'm
provement in the code which is supposed
TO determine the relation one set OF stu
dents shall bear to another. The strong no
longer tyrannize over the weak. and many
brutal and absurd customs have been
stamped out. In nearly all OF the Ameri-
can institutions Objectionable hazing has
been completely abolished. and 1t has not
been observed that the students are less
manly shan III the days when the men,
bers OF one class were. privileged to heap
indlgnities upen those of another. Even
at West Point the more brutal pranks
have been given up. and when the present
investigation has closed II Is probable
that the so-caled correctional measures,
now recognized there will be eliminated
as essential to proper military eduea-
tion.
There Is a word 10 be said ON the other
side about hazIng as conducted at West
Point and Annapolis, when free from
brutality. which does not apply as closely
20 other colleges. The cadets at these
Institutions are entering upon their life
work The boys who meet there will al
Ways be Intimately associated together.
Tho senior I'm rank at the academy viii
be the senior In rank OF the boy who
enters after him. for the remainder OF HIS
life. unless Some extraordinary happen
ing promotes the younger. The ordinary
form Of haEing which consists In COM
pelllng the newly entered tad 10 pay ex-
trsordinary Difference to the cadet who
ranks him by year, 70 respond promptly
to his commands. 70 address him with re-
spect. and generally 10 recognize hts own
nferiority, is really no more than an ex-
aggerated caricstars az the attitude which
he will be required 10 assume towards
his saperiors in rank when on duty during
the years Of his military service. II is
irksome 20 "A high spirited LAD % compel
him TO what ne feels are Illuminating oh
serysnces; vet Il rarely does him any
harm. Indeed, 1t is hard To ind graau-
ate OF either Institution who does no,
heartily aver that the hazinE which he
received ON entering the service did him
soad. The young men who resent this
cadet discipline the most. and who con-
sequently get the largest share Of il. are
those who have the aaventItious advan-
tagss of great wealth. or whose families
occupy high social or official position.
They are promptly brought to . realizing