Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-02-10
WORST FORM OF HAZING.

The committee held that fighting is
the worst form of hazing. The report
says that such fighting as that at West
Point is felony, according TO the
statutes in many of the States, and that
the time has come when congress must
decide whether fights, which are high
crimes elsewhere, shall continue at
West Point.
The committee finds that Cadets
Macarthur, Broth and Burton were
hazed into commissions, others were
hazed until they tainted, while others
were hazed until they were sick.
The hazing of Cadets Booz and Breth
are deliberately treated, but the COM
mlttee does not attribute their deaths
directly to hazing. The report adds:
But while we cannot fix upon haz-
ing the responsibility for these two
deaths, the possibility that it fastened
them and the blot it throws on the
otherwise fair and glorious fame of the
academy; its conflict with proper train
ing and and discipline, and unftness
IN this new century, urges the adoption
or reasonable measures for its eradica-
ton and the promotion of discipline at
the academy
The bill submitted contains eleven
sections against hazing and provides
means for it's detection and punish
ment Dismissal is provided for taking
part in fight or a challenge, directly
or Indirectly, or for any form of an
noying, harrassing or bracing of ca
diets. Cadets dismissed are made ineli-
gible to appointment to the army, navy
or marine corps. Provision is made
for courts of inquiry, courts martial.
closer association between officers and
cadets and other means for effectualIy
stopping the practice of hazing.
THE CLASS DISTINCTIONS,
The report first discusses the class
distinctions between the upper class
men and the beasts" and "plebes" as
the new arrivals and under classemen
are called, and says:
The upper classmen have gradually
evolved an entire code of unwritten
laws governing their relations with
fourth class men, as well as the whole
course of conduct which should be pur-
sued by the latter. Under this code
no friendships are formed between the
upper class men and the lower class
men; they have no social intercourse
or relations. Except where the par
ties have been acquainted before en-
tering the academy, the upper class
man treats the fourth class man as
unknown, a stranger, and an inferior
The fourth class man has no right to
speak socially to the upper class man,
| and when he speaks to him on bust
ness, he addressed him as Mister or
sir. No fourth class man should
gaze, stare, or even look squarely at an
upper class man, but drop the eyes
when in ones presence, and failure to
do so is a punishable offense''
After the fourth class men go into
camp each is assigned by lot or other
wise, to some upper class man as a
special duty man, and as such must
discharge the duties of body and tent
servant. He must sweep his superior s
tent, put up and make down his bed
adjust the flaps of his tent, carry wat
er, clean braces, brasses, breast plate
and other trimmings, guns, bayonets
and swords; clean and care for his
clothes, taking out dirty collars and
cuffs and putting in clean ones; take
dirty clothes to the Landry and bring
clean ones back, make out hop cards,
copy reports and discharge other sim
liar duties. The upper class man,
profting, no doubt by what they have
learned from their predecessors and
! the aid of their own fertile ingenuity.
have resorted to more than one humid
red distinct methods of annoying and
harrassing fourth class men.
THREE GENERAL CLASSES.
They were divided into three general
classes:
First Things done professedly for
the good of fourth class men or of the
| service.
Second Things done to punish
| fourth class men for violations of the
| upper class code.
Third. Things done apparently
without purpose, except to annoy OF
for the mere amusement of upper class
| men.
| The committee then describe in de-