The state herald., 1901-03-01

The press of the country has had much
to say for some time in criticism OF the
brutal practice of haz:ng that has pre-.
vailed in the Military Academy at West
point. A bill to prohibit hazng ia be-
fore the house. In tue recent discussion
OF this bill in committee OF the whole
house, 1t was made quite evident that
the majority in the house we're disposed
TO take the position OF apologIsts for the
students who engage in such brutal
sport as hazing and, while willing to
provide for some punishment for engag-
ing in 1t, yet seemed to be unwilling to
make tho punishment so severe as to IN.
sure the prohibition OF the practice OF
hazing. Congressman W. T.. Hepburn
who is very outspoken in his dsnuncia-
tion OF hazing made short speech on
the bill that seems TO have created quite
a sensation. Mr. Hepburn served III tue
army during the civil war and rose to
the office Of colonel but was never stu
dent OF the Military Academy. In his
speech he SAID:
"Mr. Chairman, there IS something
very peculiar about this matter OF hug.
ing. I do not know that can under
stand il. know that not long ago,
when there Sere rumors IN the public
press that hasing was perpetrated at the
Wsstpoint Military Academy, q gentle
nnn hign in authority, who had bad op.
portunity to observe, and who ought to
have known what he uas talking about,
rushed into print to declare iu the most
solemn way that nothing OF that kind
existed in that institution. Yet . CON.
mitte- OF tins House developed the tact
that under the administration Of that
man there we're Al cases Of these brutal
prize hghts put up" by the upper class
men sgainst the youugsr-put up with
the svowed purpose in every instance Of
beating, whipping, overcoming. cowing
the younger. 'Noue Of It exists, says the
Superintendent we find IL cases,
ssy our committee. The gentleman from
West Virginia MIR. DaytonL speaking
for the Committee on Navsl Affairs, hur-
ries to inform us that there is no hazing
at the NnvIl Academy; and yet the ssn-
t!s,nan from New York compsls him to
admit that upper class men told him
ths, ha,inR was concurrent With the
interyies.
whist does all this mesui Why 10 il
that gentleman make these declarations
OF denial in tho pr.Nencr Of tho fact.
want certain fixed, severe punishp. .cnt
Tor this kind Of brutality. Isay that in
n school OF brutality like this at the A.
csdemy you can not breed tho kind Of
men who Should command Americna
citizens IN the Army or the Navy Why
Ia 1t that the Navy Department, is now
1000 short o. It's complement Of men?
Why IL It that short time ago thcre
were 1000 dcs-rtions from tho Federal
Armys II WAS because these men-A.
mericans-arc compelled to serve under
The petty 'yrapts who are schooled iu
tyranny and oppression ut our acad..
MES.
"'Ah,' says aome gcntleman, there
will be punishment by these honorable
gentlemen Of tbs Army and the Navy
! have In my pocket list Of - Of the
vessels OF the United States that other
have been cast away or have been run
npsn ro~ks or shonls or shor,s.- destroy.
Ing In many instances In toto the y.n.
ssls; aud yet In but . solitary case hap
ono OF all those responsible received even
Tho slight comparative punishment Of
dismissal from position that bo has
shown bimsrli to be untitled TO occupy.
] have the record Of % cas.a since tho
civil war closcd. And thers have bc.n
no adequate punishmep,s. With ono ~.
cept'op the sevcrcst punishment that
naval officers have inflicted upoa =
brother naval officer for tho lo-a Of bss
ship has been suspension, with shore
pay Tor tho period d three ycars; In
other words, the officer hus son. ON
drawing his shore pay as a pun,sbmeu,
for the loss Of his ship, whom It is IN.
truth that even N China. when All officer
lo"es his ship, the unwr,irp Law OF pub
Ito OPINION compsla bis auio,dc. but
here ~hso sship has bren caat away
and. 80 IN four OF five cases, has been a
total ioss, nothing at all Ia done In some
in-'anees' and In other in.tancss tho
of'iccr simply losss lie promotion during
. nsriod Of rstircmcnt ., about sa.3 a a
year. 7 want 70 ,er y iissd mud certain