The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-23
Report of Colonel Mills, Superinte1d-
ent, Which the Secretary of
War Based His Action.
ALL QUIET AT WEST POINT
NO DEMONSTRATION WHEN THE DIS
GRACED CADETS LEFT.
Col. Mills Upheld in His Efforts to
Maintain Discipline Among
the UnruIy Youths.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-The names OF
the cadets who have been dismissed from
the Military Academy as the result of the
recent disturbance there are as follows:
Henry L. Bobby, Nebraska; John A. Cleve-
land. Alabama; Trangett f. Teller, New
York; Raymond L. Linton, Michigan;
Birchie o. Mahaffey, Texas. All these
cadets are of the second class:
The following cadets have been suspend
ed Olan C. Aleshire, Illinois; Benjamin F.
Mcclellan, Mississippi; James A. Shannon,
Minnesota; Charles Telford, Utah, all of the
second class. Also, Thomas n. Gimperling.
Ohio, and Harry Hawley, New York, Of the
third class. These cadets are suspended
without pay until April l, 1902.
The order of dismissal is signed by Secre-
tary Root and states that it is issued "by
order of the President upon recommended
tion of the superintendent of the Military
Academy" The same language is used re-
garding the suspensions. There was no
court-martial of these cadets, but under the
law the secretary has the power to dismiss
| or suspend cadets upon recommendation of
the superintendent A board of officers in
this particular case was appointed, which
made a thorough examination of the dis
turbanoe. The board reported the facts to
the superintendent and the superintendent
made his report and recommendations to
| the secretary of war, and upon this report
| the secretary acted.
COLONEL MILLS'S REPORT.
Following is the report of Col. A. l.. Mills,
| superintendent of the West Point Military
| Academy, upon which was based the action
| of the secretary of war:
| 81 have the honor to report that at dusk
| on the evening of April 16 1901. Immediately
after the dismissal of the battalion of
| cadets its return from supper, a large
number of cadets became engaged in an
| inSubordinate demonstration directed at the
| superintendent of the Military Academy.
| The demonstration took place in the main
| sallyport of the cadet barracks, then in
| the area of the barracks, in the sink, on the
| plain north or barracks, and, finally, in
| front of the superintendent's quarters. 1t
| consisted of cheers, ending with the names
| of two recently punished cadets; several
| profane yels directed at the superin-
| tendent. and the moving of the reveille gun
| from its accustomed place to a position on
| the plain Immediately in front OF the super
intendents quarters, at the door of which
the muZZle was pointed.
THE pretext for this demonstration was
| punishment awarded Cadet Robert r.
| Ralston, second class, in orders published
| at parade that evening. The actual cause,
as> established by the testimony OF TIE
cadets under oath, taken by the board of
officers convened the following morning,
| and which has made a long and exhaustive
| investigation into the AFFAIR, was the resent
| ment of group of insubordinate cadets of
| the second class at measures taken by the
| superintendent to enforce the law forbid
| ding hazing.
when the civilian candidates reported
at the Military Academy for the March
| entrance examinations ii became evident
| that members Of the fourth class were dis
| posed TO improperly interfere with them.
| On March Cadet j. b. Richardson was
detected molesting one, and was punished.
On March q, 1901, Cadet Lieutenant Myron
1 for
| 'bracing' fourth-class men in the manner
| condemned in the report of the congress
| here last winter. On April 16, 1901, Cadet
Robert r. Ralston, second class, pun
ished for a fragrant neglect OF duty.
| 1.-The evidence taken before the board
shows that the group of cadets referred
TO, resentihg the first and second of the
| above punishments, began to engage IN
| ent's actions were criticised and con-
demned. and ugly terms applied to
him before other cadets. The evidence
| shows that the demonstration was first
| proposed in ranks at parade. Immediately
| after the order Furnishing Cadet Ralston
was published, by the cadets prominent in
| the group. and the arrangements for IL
were completed by them in the mess hall
at supper
| taken by the board of Investigating off,
| GERS. 1t supports the findings and shows
| that considerable has yet to be accom-
| plished TO implant in cadets the essentials
| of good discipline when matters concern
| ing the proper treatment of new cadets
| are concerned This has been a task which
| has engrossed my attention for many
| months, and in endeavoring 10 attain the
| desired end and secure from cadets a rea-
sonable regard for the obligations under
which they serve, the measures resorted TO
| have covered the several fields of personal
| representation and persuasion, published
| orders and warning punishments of differ
ent grades of severity Punshments which
| seemed to have accomplished the end in
| view have been invariably remitted when
| the fact became plain.
| The superintendent then names five of
| the cadets recommended for dismissal and
suspension, and adds: "Of these cadets.
| those belonging TO the second class have
| all been prominent in the insubordinate
| group of cadets TO which reference has
been made. Cadets Gimperling and HawIev
| were engaged last summer with other ca
| diets of the third class in a disrespectful
| demonstration against an officer. The pun
| ishment awarded the participants was re-
| mitted on the voluntary expression OF re-
| gret from the class for the ma tier and its
promise to abstain for the future from
such affairs.
with reference 10 the other cadets who
| participated in the affair adequate punish
ment can be awarded them here. Many
| undoubtedly had no intention OF being In
subordinate IN their action. ana each will
| be dealt with according TO his conduct
taking this fully into consideration.
| There are other subjects. such as class
| meetings and similar matters, which the
| evidence and findings show, require atten-
| ton. These will receive careful attention
here. and then other steps will be taken
| within the powers of the superintendent to
break up class organizations factors in
discipline. The main issue, however, il
| clear and has no particularly new phases
| Ii Is simply reaction within the present
| second class which perpetrated the hazIng
| outrages of 1899. and the turbulent element
| always strong In H. has got control Of
| the better element-a fact which has been
| materially aided by the removal OF the re-
straining influences OF the hrst class by its
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