The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-24
THE WEST POINT REPORT.
Annual Statement Of the Superin-
tendent Of the Academy.

HazinG Discussed Mt Considerable
Length by Colonel MiIIs-A Refer
ence TO the Recent Decentralization.
The Health Of the Cadets Good.
The question of haZinc ut West Point
is the subject OF lengthy consideration IN
the annual report of Col a. T. Mills.
Superintendent of the United States Mil
itary Academy. made public today
In this report Colonel Mills gives a his
tory of the practice OF hazinE and its ef-
feet upon tho military training Of cadets.
The discipline OF the corps Of cadets
has greatly improved during the year.
says Colonel Mills and is now I'm an eE-
CeIlout state. II Is believed no military
body OF its size exists which ,NcoIs il IN
soidierly appearance and in the perfection
OF drill and military exercises, as well
as in the higher requirements % devotion
to duty This satisfactory cOunition has
been attained by firm adherence TO the
measures adopted during the past three
years to create among the cadets a higher
SOldieTly regard FOR their obligations. i'm
particular those pertaining TO hazing.
While these measures and the subject
itself have been fully covered i'm previous
reports TO the War Department. both
will be reviewed here al considerable
length on account Of their Importance.
Such review. il is hoped. may in a meas
ure correct some OF the many erroneous
impressions given and prejudices excited
last winter by the sensational manner in
which a section Of the public press OK
plotted certain allegations regarding a
former cadet. These allegations made il
appear that the responsible officers Of the
institution were utTelICt and Indifferent To
their duty and the cadet body the oppo-
site Of what its members in reality are
manly young soldiers. well qualified with
but very few exceptions, To be representa-
tivcs Of our country and serve in its ar
mics.
.'Hazing and its attributes alone gave
grounds for the criticism which was di-
rected at the institution early i'm the year.
In one form or another the practice has
existed for many years BY repressive
measures it has often been reduced to
mild forms. but with any relaxing Of
these measures it has taken on renewed
life and new features. In recent years.
due I'm measure to new conditions. il
had developed TO an cNton, OF severity
never before attained, ] believe. and in
cases It was carried 10 extremes. All ca
diets have not been i'm sympathy with the
practice. nor INDUCED in it. and but few
in any class have carried it 10 a point Of
brutality
Effect of HnzinG Recognized.
From the assumption of my duties as
Superintendent the extent Of Jhe practice
and its effect ON The military training Of
cadets and the welfare of the institutions
were recognized. Lieutenant Colonel
Helm, commandant Of cadets, and al that
time Acting Superintendent. had been ex-
crting all the powers Of his office to sup
press il. His efforts were continued
throughout his tour as commandaut Of
cadets. and were aided and seconded by
me, and every endeavOT was made TO
eradicate the practice. The utmost yigi-
lance was eXacted Of the officers. under
whose immediate supervision cadets live
10 report violations of the many orders
covering the subject. Every offence es-
tablShed or any act having in any way q
bearing on haZing was summarilv and
severely punished. The privileges and
responsibilities Of cadets were increased
ana persistent personal aud-Official en-
Sedlor was made 10 create among them a
hC5itny sentiment against the practice
ne prlnclpal obstacles encountered in
combating haZIng We're. 4 defect in the
regulations which previous superiutend-
ems, as well as myself, found operated
10 prevent obtaining the necessary evi-
dence to proceed against the cadets who
INDUCED in il; a strong class and CORDS
Ieellng among cadets, the fact that the
majority Of cadets had come to believe
that haZiug was one of the traditions OF
the institutions and that more OF less of
II was a necessary part of the training
required 10 hold the body Of cadets to
the perfection Of drill and appearance
and, finally. public sentiment outside of
the cadet body. instead Of being arrayed
against il, seemed. from the c0mrnenda-
tory talk reaching cadets and articles
that often appeared in print, rather TO
favor it.
When public attention was called to
the subject Of haZlng at the Military
Academy by the allegations above refer
red to much had already been accom-
plishcd TO abate the practice The harsher
forms had been voluntarily abandoned by
cadets. and a strong and rapidly growing
sentiment against the practice had been
created among them. The firm attitude
Of the War Department IN supporting the
authorities IN the eudeavors they were
making had A most salUtary effect. and
the department also had so strengthened
and changed the regulations Of the
Academy that their application with the
coming Of this years new class would
have insured a total suppression Of the
practice with its attendant evils Il is 20
be regretted that this most desiraLl- end
was not 10 be attained without publicity
while the evidence adIEc.d before the
military court Of enquiry and the Con-
greSsiOu1l committee last winter showed
that the allegations IN the case which led
10 tho enquiries were not true, the evil
dence laid bare the fun extent Of The
practice as it had existed. and thereby
resulted I'm much good by the public COM
demuatiou It evoked, and also by the wise
legislation that followed the COnErsssI0l-
al committees report.
''Thc question u the further cout'ru-
nnca Of any form q hazirg was definitely
settled in May last Notwithstanding the
lessons Of the winters sCarchiug ur-
ouiries IL was evident. when I'm March the
candidates for admission appeared To- take
their limitations. that some III. mHfEs of
the fourth class felt that attention. either
than that exercised bE authority, should
BE- given To these prospective newcomer
and one Cf that class was severely pun
Better for the Blood Than sarsapa-
rfIla
For those living IN the malaria districts Grove
Taecless Chill Tonic