The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-20
WILL GIVE UP HAzING
WEST POINT CADETS REACH THIS
CONCLUSION.
WILL NOT HAZE ANY MORE.
A SIGNED STATEMENT PRESENTED
TO THE COMMITTEE.

Recognition of Public Opinion.
Pursued Their system From the
Best Motives, But VIII Respect the
Deliberate Judgment of the PeO-
pie - Will Not Call out Fourth
Class Men Any MOre-The Commit
tee Very Much Pleased with the
Action of the Cadets.
West Point, N. Y, in. 19-The con-
gressional investigation of the West Point
Military Academy has borne fruit rather
Unexpectedly. Tonight when the con-
gressmen were hurrying their inquiries
to a termination the cadets of al four
classes held a meeting in Grant Hall
and unanimously decided to abandon ex-
ercising and hazing of every form, as
well as the practice of calling out fourth
class men. This is exactly what Gen.
Dick and the other members of the Con-
gressonal Committee have been trying
to impress on the cadets who have testi-
fed before them, as the only course open
to them if they desired to see the fair
name of the United States military acad-
emy unsullied and above reproach.
The communication was addressed to
Superintendent A. L. Mills, who only got
back from Washington this morning and
he quickly brought it to Gen. Dick. I
At the conclusion of the testimony he
fore the Investigating Committee tonight
tn communication was handed to Gen.
Dick, chairman of the committee. 1t
read as follows:
West Point, N. Y, Jan. 10, 19O1.-To the
Superintendent of the United States Mill
tary Academy: Sir-Having become cogn-
liant of the manner in which the system
of hazing as practiced at the military
academy is regarded by the people of the
United States we, the cadets of the
United States Military Academy, while
maintaining that we have pursued our
system from the best motives yet rea,i8-
ing that the deliberate judgment of the
people should, in a country like ours, be
above all other considerations do reafirm
our former action abolshing the exercising
Of fourth class men, and do further agree
to discontinue hazing, the requiring of
fourth class men to eat anything against
their desire, and the practice of calling
out fourth class men by class action.
and that we will not devise other similar
practices to replace those abandoned. Re-
spectfully submitted,
For the first class:
Nv. R. Bettison, president, class, 1901.
For the second class;
'B. o. Mahaffey. president, class 1902
For the third class:
Quinn Gray, president, class 1903.
For the fourth class:
Joseph A. Atkins, representing class 1904
After reading the communication, Gen.
Dick said
This voluntary act of the corps has so
impressed the committee that they have
every reason to believe that in spirit and
letter 1t will be carried out by those ca
diets who are now at the military acade-
my This action of the men is greatly
commended by the committee, and will
be read by the country with feelings of
merited appreciation"
He thanked Col. Mills for the kindness
and courtesy shown the committee since
they came here. lie also said that the
committee would go back to Congress
with the kindest feelings and best wishes
for the academy and all connected with
it, The committee then adjourned to meet
again in Washington at 10 o'clock on
Monday morning.