The times., 1901-05-22
CADETS TO BE DISMISSED.
Secretary Root UphoIds Colonel Mills
in West Point Cnse.

Secretary Root UphoIds Colonel Mills
in West Point Case.
The finding of the court of enquiry
which last week investigated the recent
outbreak among the cadets at the West
! Point Military Academy was yesterday
approved by the Secretary of War. This
action was taken after a conference
of two hours with Col. Albert L. Mills,
superintendent of the Academy. The re-
suit of the courts finding is that five
cadets will be dismissed and six sus-
pended, while a number of others will be
subjected to minor punishments for their
connection with the affair.
Both Cadet Sheridan and Cadet Mac
Arthur were Implicated, but not to such
an extent as to warrant their dismissal
or suspension. They will. however, be
punished either bS curtailing their liberty.
depriving them of privileges, or by brief
arrest.
Colonel Mills account of the trouble.
as he related it to the Secretary of War
is that one of the cadets had been caught
'bracing' one of the other cadets. This
was regarded as a violation of the agree
ment between the cadets and Colonel
Mills that there should be no more haz-
ing. and the cadet was punished for the
offence. His classmates became fndig-
nant at Colonel Mills action and claimed
that their understanding of the agree
ment reached at the close of the Booz
! Investigation was that 'bracing was
not included within it's terms.
So incensed were the cadets over the
punishment of their comrade that they
determined upon a demonstration of
their feelings, and. gathering in the
Academy grounds they quickly trained
the sunset gun upon Colonel Mills quar-
ters. This was regarded by Colonel
Mills as an act of INSTRUMENTATION, and
when reported to the Secretary of War
court of enquiry was ordered to convene
at West Point.
The War Department authorities ex-
planned that by having the trouble
investigated by court of enquiry
it would not be necessary to court
martial the offending cadets, but
would permit the dismissal of the guilty
by the Superintendent of the Academy
himself Had the offenders been tried
by court-martiaI the action of the court
would be subject to review by Lieutenant
General Miles, the Secretary of War, and
the President in turn before TIE punish
ment could be inflicted. AS the law
authorizes Colonel Mills to dismiss sum
marily from the Academy any cadet vio-
lat1ng its rules and regulations it was de-
termined to follow the procedure which
would allow the latter course
Accordingly, announcement will be
made tomorrow at West Point by the
Superintendent of the Academy Of the
dismissal of five cadets and the suspen-
War has approved the finding of the
court of enquiry, it will not have to go
to the President for final action, and the
dismissais and suspensions will probably
stand.
Colonel Mills explained yesterday that
the trouble among the cadets originated
IN the fact that he had endeavored to be
lentent with the young men and in order
to enable them to have some freedom had
agreed to draw a line between certain
chafnng and hazing proper. After he
mad expressed his willingness to do this
the cadets selected committee of
twelve to draw up and sign the agree
ment with the Superintendent. The COM
mittee was formed of three cadets from
each class, who named Cadet Douglas
Macarthur as their president.
What followed has rever been made pub
lie until yesterday morning. when Secre-
tary Root was shown copy of the agree
ment. This is a remarkable document,
and, as the cadets allege was drawn up
without the knowledge or consent Of
either the Congressional Committee which
investigated TIE Booz case or the Secre-
tary of War. 1t was because of alleged
repeated violations of this agreement by
Colonel Mills that the cadets showed
mutiny.
The agreement follows and defines the
relations which shall exist between the
upper class men and ''plebes:
The following Is our understanding of
our rights according to your resolution in
regard to abolishing hazing and your in
depreciation of the regulations of Janu-
airy 10, 1901.
Upper class men may chaff but not Of
fend proper Self-respect of plebes. This
does not refer TO conceit.
"Plebes will not be entitled to recogni-
tion until June.
"Plebes viii attend no social functions
or hops.
.'Plebes shall maintain the class distinc-
tion.
'.Plebes shall be braced according to the
orders of the superintendent in Camp
WansbOrousb.
only oficial relations shall be neces-
sary between upper class and fourth class
men
Glass fights must be abandoned.
"Only justification for fights is an in
suit, which should be resented on the spot.
Rat funerals, while offences, shall not
be considered haZing.
Fourth class men may be asked to do
such errands as may be done as favors,
but there shall be no compulsory sweep
ing of rooms.
THE order with regard to the bracing
of fourth-class men shall be regarded in
or out of ranks, as the rule of this ad-
ministration.
Liberal construction will be placed on
the regulations and every man will be
governed by his own conscience.
Anything tending to reduce the sub
ordination of fourth class men will be op-
posed
This document was signed by the twelve
cadets for the Military Academy and by
Colonel Mills, for the West Point Ad-
ministration. Colonel Mills, the cadets
claim, has never lived up to his agree
ment while on the other hand the cadets
have carefully avoided infringing any one
of its clauses
Colonel Mills stated yesterday that
nearly all Of the cadets had written to
their Representatives and had openly
threatened to have him removed. Secre-
tary Root is reported as being very indig-
nant at this method Of remedying the
trouble.
In taking action, therefore, the Secre-
tary of War has practically given notice
to the cadets of the Academy and to
the Congressional Representatives. upon
whose recommendation they were ap-
pointed that he is determined to support
Colonel Mills In maintaining discipline