The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-09
HAZING ENQUIRY REPORT.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page)
pie. TO the president OF the third class
that some fourth class man has refused
to obey any CT the unlawful and Illegal
orders of an upper class man, or has in
some other important respect violated
the upper class code, all OF which, it
must be borne in mind, is in direct con-
fiict with the regulations and rules OF
the Academy, the president calls his
fighting committee together, and, if it
thinks the charge true, it orders the
fourth class man called out and names
the man who is to whip him
There is usually an appearance Of fair
ness about this in that an effort IS made
to have the eomba Atlantis as nearly the
same weight, height, and length Of arm
as possible, and the upper class man Sc
Iected cannot weigh above ten pounds
more than the lower class man, and must
not greatly exceed him in height or length
Of arm. There is no fairness in it, in
fact. however. as most Of these fights
take place while in camp, ana when the
fourth class man has been IN camp but
a few days and during that time has been
drilling four hours a day with a regula-
ton gun, and Is usually so exhausted as
to be weaker than when lie came to the
Academy. The evidence shows that many
camp thinner and lighter than they en-
tered. On the other hand. the upper class
man IS hardened by more than a years
careful athletic training
While upper class cadets insist that
these fights are fair. they substantially all
agree that the object Ct tns1e fights is to
punish the lower class man and the upper
class man who is 10 figat is selected with
| he intention and purpose OF having him
whip the fourth class man. 4 conclusive
proof OF the unfairness and inequality of
these fights IS found in the fact so Tar as
appears in more than forty conducted
since June. 1891 the fourth class men
have have Won four and Two have been de-
ciared draws II IS perhaps fair to say
that the fact that upper class men win an
overwhelming majority of these fights may
not be due wholly to superior strength or
/ talent. but in part to the fact that the
upper class men have greater familiarity
with what is expected in such contest
have more class and personal pride, and
fight With more vigor and tenacity-
Some OF the Witnesses testified that If
fourth class IG2n his conscientious con-
g:ctiOnS against fighting ne IS not bound
10 fight if he. in general lives up 20 the
ike high ideal This is largely theoTet-
icaI however. as the evidence shows no
case Of a fourth class man asking to be
excused on this ground. There is also
testimony that IN enc case after = fourth
q ass man had fought more than once
chivairic upper class man Announced that
he had fought enough. ald u there were
10 be any more fights he would take The
lower class mans place Unless excused
because Of his conscientious convictions,
CT because SCIGe upper CIEssmGu mas thus
volunteered 20 fight his battles for him q
four n-class man IS not al liberty 20 de
cline challenge TO figh. sent Oy an uppar
class fighting committee. bul must accept
or be cut by the entire school both the
upper class men AID his own
Fights 4" "a Finish.
At The fights. aside from tns principals
AID heir seconds. are the referee. ti-ae-
Keeper. and sentlnels-usualIy four All
Ct these except The fourth class nan and
his tso seconds are upper class men.
Ne Dc rot find. how ever that there has
ever been any Unfairncss upon the part OF
the referee as against the fourth class man
in bis rulings. Tee sentlnEis are % posted
as 10 preclude all possibility OF anyone
catching the parties in the aar or lighting.
Wien the fight takes place out Of doors
q ring about TWEEN y-four feet in diameter
is marked of hut in barracks and ia the
gymnasium the ring is usually. Of ueces-
siIv, smaller. Each of the COZ. 1atants
strips of everything bur a pair of trunks
and . pair of rubber-SoIed shoes and the
fight commences with bare fists. and is
conducted according to Marquis Of Queens
bury rules. with 2-minuJe rounds and
i-iainute rests
In one respect the fight Is governed by
West Point. as distinguished from Mar
quis of Queensbury. rules. 4 fight TO a
finish has a more vicious meaning here
than elsewhere. Theoretically when a man
IS clearly whipped his seconds may throw
up the fight The record shows. however,
but one instance Of this being attempted,
ana IN that the principal vas the upper
class man in the fight and refused to abide
by his seconds advice 70 show his grit
and courage the defeated party, although
helpless 50 far as lighting is concerned.
must ncminaIly 90 or so long as by any
possibility he can come back TO the ring,
even though he is incapable Of do-ng any