The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-29
He Tells OF His Experiences While
a Cadet at Academy and His Diff
cuItieS While Its COmmandant.

Hazlng at West Point is discussed by
Major GeHeral Wesley Merritt. L. s. A..
ia Ieslie's Weekly. General Merritt was
formerly superintendent of the United
States Military ACADEMY lie says in
part:
when / was cadet at West Point
from 1855 TO 1861 was opposed 20 hazing,
both as a 'plcbee aud as an upper class
man, though / had 10 endure "a good deal
of what was termed yanking.
That consisted OF pulling a sleeping
cadet out of bed and dropping him on the
floor. This. as a rule. did ITO harm,
though / remember one fellow cadet who
was rather seriously hurt. Yankiug
amounted only 10 pleasantly. of course
but IL was annoying and unjust when
added TO all the hard work that tho
plebes' were required TO perform through
the day.
Il recollect that three of us occupied a
tent together and that we took turns IN
sleeping in the most exposed position.
That was in the bed at the front of the
tent. one night. when ] was awarded
-wAat-.S4ss -eanaidn1nd- the safest place
tho bed at the rear sank 60 sleep with
a bliseful sense OF security. The next
thing that ] knew / was flying through
the air and landed jarringly on my back
ANOTHER form OF hazlng I'm those days
consisted OF the unmorciful chatting OF
new men but | always endeavored to
give back as much rs | received.
no FIGHl-NG IN THE OLD DAYS.
Fighting, in the sense OF today, had
not been instituted then. There was no
'scrapping committee, and combats be-
tween representatives. Of classes were un-
heard Of During my whole time at West
Point / had but one fight, and that was
with a fellow classman over a personal
matter.
THE new kind OF fighting is to be UNI
sparinGly condemned. as the man who
has been at West Point a year, and has
been training all that time, il sure TO be
better qualified for personal encounter
than a man of the same height and
weight who is fresh from home. For this
reason a fight between 'pleoe' and sec
ond years man amounts to piece OF bru-
tality.
There are a great many army officers
though there were more formerly than at
prcsent--who heartily lavor hazing on
the principle that IL IS In the interest Of
discipline and teaches the future o.dcer
10 obey without hesitation.
zone OF the chief difficulties that en-
CNnhifftl WNen SUPERINTENDENT VI iHt
academy from 1850 TO 1857, was that quite
nuinhef-eEthe younger officers were
diamctrically opposed To my views on
hnzing--so much 80. in fact. that ! could
not obtain their cheerful acQuiescence in
what / was trying to do TO stop the prac-
tice
Il found, TO put the matter plainly, that
had 10 deal with old 'cranks and young
'cranks The older ones were some OF
the members of the academic board, and
the younger ores were cadets who
thought they knew II all
'For the first three vars ] was very
much Interested in my work. Daring the
last two years there was SO littlo cooper
alton with me an my efforts to abolish
hazlng that | became very tired of the
post, and was glad when my appointment
as "A general officer relieved me oi the SUI
pcriutcndency.
"Wm hazing over he stopped 81 West
Pointg not unless drastic measures arc
cnniryod The superintendent must be a
man who iS bitterly opposed 20 h1zing.
and 7 believe Colonel Mills thoroughly
rroets tho requirement. When he makes
a recommendation IN the war depart
ment 70 dismiss q cadet from the service
that recomme ndation should he promptly
and favorably acted upon.
when n young man goes to West Point