The Van Buren press., 1901-01-19
THE WEST POINT INQUIRY.
The Congressional Committee Get
ting at the Meat of the
Hazing Business.
CONGRESSMAN DRIGGs IS INDIGNANT.
After Drawing Out the Admission
that Fourth Class Men are Caiiea
Out to be whipped, He Denounces
the DishOnOrable Practice In the
Most Severe Terms.

/
| Most Severe Terms.
West Point, N. Y, Jan. 16.-Cadet
Joseph +. Barnes of the District Ok
Columbia who was one of Cadet Nil
lers seconds, and who seems to have
more knowledge of the code OF the
corps in regard to fistic engagements
than any other cadet at the West
Point academy, continued his testi-
mony before the congressional inves-
tigating committee when the hear
ing was resumed.
Cadet Barnes ON the Rack.
Monday night Barnes was sworn
and examined by Judge Smith, the
congressman from Council Bluffs, Ia,
and the young man had quite trying
time.
Mr.. Smith did not mince his words
when he endeavored to show the Wit
ness, who is practically on the eve OF
graduation, that the first class men
were arrogant, ignorant and conceit-
ed in addition, when they as class
commended the West Point system OF
fighting against the better judgment
of the military officers of the acad-
envy and in violation of all rules and
regulations governing the institu'
ton.
MIR. briggs Took the Witness.
Mr.. briggs, of Brooklyn, took the
witness in hand and asked him mn
utely about the Keller-Booz Tight
While listening to Barnes description
of the affair, the Brooklyn congress-
man interrupted the witness and
asked him:
"Under your Infamous and unmanly
code of fighting is it not understood
that an upper class man is selected
especially for the purpose of admins
tering a sound drubbing to the
fourth class man who is called OUT
A Frank Admission.
"Yes sir, it is understood when
fourth class man is called out he is to
be whipped
"Oh, so that's the code?" said Mr..
briggs, as he shook his finger at the
witness, while he arose from his seat
beside the chairman, then leaning to-
wards the witness, he shouted:
"Young man this dishonorable prac-
tice YOU have described would not he
tolerated in any athletic club in the
world. The upper class man who is
party to the calling out of fourth
class man for the purpose of having
him thrashed is n coward, and the
| fourth class man who is beaten is
nothing else but hero. This morn
ing received four letters from Kan
sas, Massachusetts, New York and
Brooklyn, in all of which the mode OF
fighting and hazng here Is called
brutal bullyism. That is too mild a
description. ! call it brutal coward
ice."
supposing Case.
by Mr.. Wagner, suppose that an
oatn were administered to cadet
when he receives his appointment as
q cadet to this academy the proyi-
sions of which prohibited fighting, do
you think it would stop the practice?'
"les sir, | presume it would, as !
don't believe any man would break
his oath. l'ut, as for myself, ] will
say that If | had to go back to the
time OF my appointment and an oath
We're being about to be administered
to me which would prohibit me from
resenting an insult. | would unhesi-
tatngly refuse to take IL and con-
tent myself in some civil occupations"
replied the witness.
Questioned by Col. Clayton.
"You expect to become an officer
very soon do you not?" inquired Col.
Clayton.
"Yes SIR"
"Then, after you have become an
officer, would you, in violation OF your
oath, accept or send u challenge to !,
duel, fistic or otherwise?
IF the provocation occurred In
well-deined lines, | would not violate
my oath, but would resign and send
or accept u challenge, In the event
that could not meet and shoot ms
man on sight"
Speaking Of ha2ing, Mr., Wnngcr,
addressing the witness, said! "Do you
know that one, William Mckinley,
now president Of the United States
when member of congress, said thnt
he would favor the abolition Of the
West Point military academy In case
hozing could not be stopped there"
"Yes sir"
"And the late james &. Blaine, had
the same IDEAS" said Mr., briggs,
"And 80, also, did Iacharlah Tay-
lor" added Judge Smith.
The wltness,nt the request OF Judge