Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-15
Mr.. briggs Denonnces West Point
Code of Honor.
PRACTICE OF ARRANT EDWARDS
PIebes Have No Chance in Fight
With Upper Class Men.
YOUNG BARNES TESTIFIES

WEST POINT, N. Y, January 15.-Cadet
Joseph F. Barnes of the District of Column
bia, who was one Of Cadet Keller's sec
onds and who seems to have more knowl-
edge of the code of the corps in regard to
fistic arguments than any other cadet at
the West Point Academy, continued his
testimony before the congressional inves-
tigating committee when the hearing was
resumed today.
Last night Barnes was sworn and exam
ined by Judge Smith, the representative
from Council Bluffs Iowa, and the young
man had quite trying time.
Mr.. Smith did not mince his words when
he endeavored to show the witness, who is
practically the eve of graduation, that
the first class men were arrogant, ignorant
and conceited in addition when they, as
class, commended the West Point system
of fighting against the better judgment of
the military officers of the academy and in
violation of all rules and regulations gcv-
erning the institution
Mr.. briggs Of Brooklyn took the witness
in hand today, and asked rim minutely
about the keler-Booz fight. While listen
ing to Barnes description of the ,fTalr the
Brooklyn representative intarrIpl21 the
witness and asked him: Under your In
famous and unmanly code of fighting, is it
not understood that an upper class man is
selected especially for the purpose of ad-
minis terlnfs {, sound druD0lny to the fOurtn
class mar Wbu is called out?"
'Yes, sir; il is understood when Il fourth
class man is called out he is to be whip
pei
A Shameful Code of Honor.
"Oh, so that's the CODE" said Mr.. briggs,
as he shook his finger at the witness, while
he arose from his seat beside the chairman
then leaning toward the witness, he shout
ed Young man, this dishonorable prac-
tice you have described would not be toler-
ated in any athletic club in the world. The
| upper class man who is a party to the call
ing out of a fourth class man for the pur-
pose of having him thrashed, is a coward
and the fourth class man who Is beaten Is
nothing else but a hero. This morning l re-
ceived four letters from Kansas, Massa-
chusetts. New York and Brooklyn. in all of
which the mode of fighting and hazing here
| is called brutal bullyism. That is too mild
| a description. I call 1t brutal cowa Fce,'
as he took his seat
BY Mr.. Wanger: Suppose that an oath
We're administered to a candidate when he
receives his appointment a cadet to this
academy, the provisions of which prohibit
| ed fighting, do you think it would stop the
practice?"
| .'Yes, sir l presume it would as I don't
believe any man would break his oath. But
| as for myself, I will say that if had to go
| back to the time of my appointment and
an oath was being about to be administer
L
resenting an insult, I would unhesitatingly
refuse to take it and content myself in
| some civil occupation" replied the wit
| ness.
"You expect to become officer very
| soon, do you not?' inquired Col Clayton.
| "Yes, SIR
'"Then, after you have become an officer.
| would you, in violation of your oath, ac-
cept or send a challenge to a duel fistic or
| otherwise?'
Would Resign in Order to Fight.
"If the provocation occurred in certain
| well-definied lines l would not violate my
oath, but would resign and send or accept
a challenge, in the event that l could not
| meet and shoot my man on sight
| Speaking of hazing, Mr. Wanger, address,
ing the witness, said:
| do you know one William Mckinley,
| now the President of the United States,
| when a member of Congress said that he
| would favor the abolition of the West Point
Military Academy in case hazing could not
| be stopped there?'
| "Yes, sir
| ..And the late James G. Blaine had the
| same IDEAS" said Mr.. briggs. And so also
| did Zachariah Taylor" added Judge Smith.