Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-27
The United States Senate on the West Poinl
Situation.


legislation regarding the military
academy nj West Point which viii
constitute penal offcnses Of the pranks
and boyish horse play which might
come under its provisions. There Is
not the slightest disposition among
tie members Of that body to condonc
in any way the reprehensible hazing
practices which have in the past been
In vogue in that institution. or to re
fleet in any way upon the conclusions
reached by the congressional com
r.ittec who spent 50 much time in a
thorough and searching investigation
Of its affairs. There is. however. q
disposition 10 credit the students at
West Point with sincerity in their
determine ton. reached in general
mass meeting on January 10. To do
.way in the future with hazing prac-
tlces. and a feeling that il may be
wen. while providing all proper regula-
lions. to abstain from harsh measures
until the effect Of this determination
On the part Of the cadets themselves
has had time to be thoroughly test i.
The military academy bill as IL
passed the National House ~ Repre-
@cntatives was an appropriation
measure pure and simple. When il
reached tn. senate the following
proyIso was added as an amendment:
That the superintendent OF the mill
itary academy shall make such rules
to be approved b. the secretary Of war
~ nazinE. and any cadet found GuHty
~ participating in. encouraging ar
cnuntonancins any such practice shat
be summarily expelled from III"
academy ana shall not thereafter b"
rcappoint.d To the corps Of cadets or
hc eligible for appointment as com
mlssion-d officer In tn" army ar navy.
with this amendment the bin went
to the conference committee u the
agreement which 1t reported back not
only embodied the original provision
against haziug. but went further ana
presented a code 81 ali the things
which should be held To merit the in
niciion ~ the penalty provided. This
report was vigorously contested in the
senate. with the result that il was L.
f-ate,: by n decisive vote.
Among tho=. who spoke In Opp0si-
ton to the report 81 the committee was
Senator Hale. ~ this State. The
Senator did not have amy apologies t.
make whatever for the hazing prac-
t!ces at West Point. but he believed
that the punishment provided was *
treme Neither did h. think il a wise
plan To assign officers to that institu-
ton for thu purpose of maintaining an
espionage upon the students which he
declared To- be "a system Of harHing
ana waiting ana watching and spy
ing" He was frank TO say that he did
not believe a resort To methods Of this
character to be in any wise necessary.
We have all Of us" h. said. been 50
alarmed and shocked by what has oc-
CURED at West Point-it is such
wrong to the sense OF the country, ana
has so aroused the Indignation of Con-
gress that Il stop is 10 be put to it, but
we do not need such an offensive code
in order to give us peace and good or
der and provide manly conduct on the
part Of the students AT West Point.
We owe something to them. They
commit their lives to the service of
the country. They are the selected
men who. when the time comes in peril
and war. move gladly to the front and
responsibilities OF arduous campaigns.
nd We ought not to do anything shat
shall strike at the proper spirit of that
institution. We can disavow any COM
plicity or sympathy with hazing, and
can treat it properly" The views of
Senator Hale prevailed Very largely in
the Senate. for when the conference
report was finally voted on, that body
decided q to IS TO reject it, Tn
questionably some provision will be
made for preventing the hazing prac-
tees at West Point. but il will prob
ably be such Il one as shall be in har-
mony with manly spirit and not cal
culated 10 provoke a malicious and
hypocrtical system OF spying and tale
bearing.
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