The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-01-03
CHANCE 70 Be SOLDIERS
DELEGATE WILCOX TO APPOINT
CADET TO WEST POINT.
Examinations to be Held Next March
by Special Board Appointed by War
Department.

The news that the territory is en-
titled to a cadet appointment to the
national military academy at West
Point, New York, has aroused the
greatest interest among the young
men of the this section. They can well
take an interest in the matter for il is
privilege which any youth could
seek to gain. The matter is in the
hands of the Independent Home Rule
p9rty but thus far no definite action
has been taken to inform Delegate
Wilcox of suitable applicants.
Something should be done promptly
however. The territory has plenty of
young men who should be qualified to
pass the examination for entrance, and
with such an appointment would go the
additional honor of being the first to
represent the new possessions of the
United States, in the national school.
Every congressional district is en-
titled to two cadets, one to West Point,
where the military art is learned, and
another to Annapolis, Maryland, where
he youth are taught the art of the
navy. II states there are also two
cadets appointed at large and in addi-
ton there are a limited number APP
pointed at large throughout the United
States without reference to any sec
ton. The appointment in each dis
trict is made by the Congressman of
that district, who makes the recon-
mendation to the secretary of war.
1t is not necessary however to hold
any competitive examination for APP
pointment. The Congressman has the
right to name whom he chooses and
this candidate presents himself before
the special examining board and takes
the examinations, physical and scholas-
tic If he fails, the appointment is
conferred upon an alternate who is
generally named by the Congressman
along with the first appointee. The
alternate then gets the chance of en-
tering. If both fail, the appointment
remains untitled until the ensuing year
When Mr. Wilcox asked that board
be appointed to hold an examination
he was evidently governed by the de-
sire to ascertain who were the best
qualified to stand the final test before
the military examining board. 1t
would not be creditabe to the territory
for her to send back a young man who
was unable to stand the examination
and the desire of Mr.. Wilcox was nc
doubt, to have the youth tested in or
der that he would be better able to
determine who could pass the severe
examination for admission.
He asked that such examination be
held in time to send the results to him
by January 23rd as the appointment
mas TO De IN the nandS or the war De-
partment by that date. AS a matter OF
fact Mr.. Wilcox has the right to name
whomsoever he chooses without any
competitive examination.
! Some times for political reasons such
examinations are held but often the
| Congressional delegate make the
| straight appointment. This appointed
| is then subjected to the official eXamin
alton.
| Until recently whenever any appoint
ment was made, the lucky candidat,
would go to West Point and be eXamin
ed for admission. If he failed, tn
alternate, would be given the chance
to enter and if both failed the appoint
ment went over until the next year
The trip to the East involved consider
able expense so within the last thre
or four years the government has beef
appointing a special board of arm!
officers to conduct the examination OF
I questions sent from West Point.
Evidently Mr.. Wilcox must have beer
| informed that such board will be ap
pointed here to examine the candidate
next March and his desire is to Secur
the most competent youths to tax
this final examination. The prelimi
nary competitive test is purely unofti
cial merely serving as a guide to tn
| Congressman in making his appoint
ment