The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-17
DENOUNCED In THE SEN ATE
BITTER ATTACK ON H4ZfNG PRAC-
TICES At VEST POINT

Mr. Allen Declares Brutality Exists
There Which Ought Not to be Expected
Gentlemen Compared With Some of
the Cadets-IndignitesI Imposed That
He Would Not Dare Mention -Mr.
Warranted in Killing the Hazers.
Washington, Jan. ia bitter denun-
citation of the hazing practices at West
Point was made in the senate this af
ternoon during the debate on the army
reorganization bill. Mr. Allen, of Neb-
raska, Mr.. Money, of Mississippi, and
Mr.. McCumber, Of North Dakota, STIR
red the members by their vigorous
words. Mr. Allen declared that brutal
tty had been developed at West Point
which ought not to be expected to exist
among barbarians. "This thing called
hazing-priZe fighting" exclaimed Mr..
Allen-"why, the prize fighter is "a gen.
tleman compared with some of those
young ruffians at West Point. Indeed,
life has been lost recently AS brief
review of the Booz case Mr.. Allen de-
clared that the first thing fourth class
man met at West Point was brutal as
sault and humiliating indignity.
"All these things" shouted Mr. Allen,
take place within the knowledge of the
officers Of the institution. These new
cadets are compelled to eat soap, they
are compelled to get down on their
knees and jump like a frog and they
are compelled to endure other indigni-
ties which I would not dare in this
presence to mention. Some of the reg
ular army officers say hazing cannot be
helped-that it cannot be prevented.
You place one of the old volunteer Off
GERS at the head of that institution,
and in six weeks he will put a stop to
it, or there will be some dead cadets
there.
This brutal outrage ought to be sup
pressed, and it can be suppressed Boy
or man, he who will use his superior
strength in humiliating or brutally
treating a weaker person is a coward.
And yet this bill encourages and sup
ports West Point as at present conduct
ed
with proper authority I would stop
that brutality at West Point" declared
Mr.. Allen, "or I would dismantle the
school and turn over to the various
states the education of the youth of the
country for military pursuits. I have
information which leads me to believe
that hazing at West Point is resorted
to for the purpose Of forcing out Of the
institution cadets appointed from civil
life in order to make room for the sons
of army officers And if they cannot
force out the cadet by humiliation and
intimidation they prescribe a course of
examination which is in their own
hands and which they could not pass
themselves and thus force the prescrib-
ed cadet from the school,"
Mr.. Gallinger interrupted to say that
the testimony taken by the investgat-
ing committee showed that young
Grant and young Sheridan had been
hazed quite as seriously as any others.
Mr.. Money of Mississippi, declared
that the hazing never had been war
ranted and that he knew Of some cadets
who had been hazed to the point Of dan
ger. 'They were hazed to a degree"
said Mr.. Money, with deep feeling, chat |
Wouit li1NC WeNi iuitSu tiiS iiNHCC III Mia
ing the hazers."
'"They ought to have been killed." in |
terjected Mr.. Allen.
"And I want to say" continued Mr.. |
Money, that if were a cadet at West |
Point and was hazed in so cowardly and .
brutal manner would kill the hazers
if the opportunity did not come for a
hundred years afterwards"
Continuing, Mr.. Allen said: "Those
cadets carry hazing almost to the ex-
tent Of taking life, and In one instance
recently they have taken life and the
from Mississippi (Money) says
that they have taken life in several in
stances"
Mr.. McCumber, of North Dakota ar
gued in support of the pending bill. In
he vigorously handled the
practice of hazing at West Point. THAT
practice" said he, "creates the worst
character of brutality and the worst
character of cowardice. Any bully who
is guilty of attempting to punish one
who is physically unable to meet him is
such a coward that he should be dis
charged from the service
INVESTIGATION At WEST POINT.