The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-02-11
SCORES OF METH
DDS USED
10 Punish and Humlliate
Lower Class Men at
West Point

Washington, Feb 1.-THE ocm-
mittee appointed 20 investigate hazing
at West Point made report today.
The report first discusses tho class
distinctions betwce nthe apprehension
aud the beasts and "piebes as The
now arrivals and under clossmcn are
called and says
'"rhe upper ciassmen have graduag.
evolved an entire code of unwritten d As
governing their relations with fourth
classmcn. as well as the whole course
"a conduct which should be pursued by
the latter under the code mo- friend
ships 49, formed hetwee nthe upper
classmeu lid the lower classmen; they
have 10 social Intercourse or relations
Except where the parties have been ac-
iiuainted before entering the academy
the upner-ciossmnn treats the fourth
cinssman as unknown q stranger and
and Inferior The fourth-classman has no
right TO snoak socially 20 the uppro-
oiassman, ana when nc speaks to him
on business he addresses him as
mister or "sif" 80 fourth classman
shogild gaze. stare or even look squarely
at an uppcr-classman. but drop his eyes
when ga ones presence. and failure 20
do so is punishable offense.
'After the fourth-classman goes into
camp. each "a assigned TO some upper
ciassman as special duty man, and as
such must discharge the duties Of
body or tent servant. lie must sweep
bis supcrors tent, put up and take
down his bed, adjust the flaps OF his
tent carry water and discharge other
similar duties. The upper r-ciassmer
pronting no doubt, from what they have
learned from their predecessors and the
aid OF their own fertile ingenuity have
resorted to 100 or more distinct meth
ods OF annoying ana harrassng fourth
classmen They are divided into three
general classes;
Tirst things done professionally for
the good Of fourth-classmvn or OF the
service.
second thinss done to punish fourth
classmen for violations of the upper
ciassmen code
'rhird, things done apparently without
purpose. except 60 annoy or for the
mere amusement OF upper-olassmen.
The committee then describe in detail
bracing eagling. wooden wllymg. choo
ohooing dipping, sitting on hoyonett
eating aulnine, standing ON head -
bath tub fun OF water, and many other
forms Of hazng.
"As This system grew and became more
oppressive it became necessary TO have
some effective means 10 coerce ohedi-
enco 10 these unlawful behests Of uppcr-
clnssmcn. and 90 meet this demand q
system Of fighting has gradually grown
up which IS shocking Ga its character
Each OF the uppcr-classmon has q reg-
uiar fighting committee, and whenever it
is reported for example, TO the presl-
cent Of the third class that omo fourth
clnssmgn has refused Ia obey and OF
the unlawful and Illegal orders of
npper-classman, or has in some other
Important respect violated the upper
class code all OF which, it must be
horne in mino, IS IN direct conflict with
The regulations and ules OF the acad-
emy. the p resident calls his fighting
committee together, and II Il thinks the
charge true Il orders the fourth-class
man out and names the man who IS 20
whip him.
Tho committee say:
"a Tight 10 "a hnish has more vicious
here than elsewhere. Theoretically
when "a gnan IS clearly whipped his Sec
onds throw up The hght The records
show however, but OF one instance of
this being attempted. and IA that the
principal was the upper-classman in the
nght. and refused to abide by his sec-
onds advice no show his grit ana cour-
age tho defeated pasty although help
less $50 Gar as fighting WAS concerned
rnuat nomlnnlly 80 on 30 long as by any
possibility he can ome back 10 the
rnp, oven though he is incapable of
doing anything but take punishment.
Many OF tho witnesses say that he must
fight until knocked insenabe others
say that OF course ne would be exc
cused when physically Incapable OF
coming up again.
'In The opinion OF this committee,
when the system Of fighting has been
destroyed, the worst forms OF hazing
must die with e. such fights as these
arc foioniea in many OF the states.
whoy have gone on for years et West
Point. and no one has been punished
during the period covered boy the inves-
tieauons nf your committee and the
time has aow arrived when congress
must decide whether the fghts substan-
italy everywhere else treated az high
crimes. shall continue 70 80 on at the
military reservation az West Point
IN ls OF course, impossible 20 deter
rhine just what has been the effect Of
mis- long course OF cruel and annoying
treatment upon fourth-classmen. We 40
know that several. notably, Cadets Mac