The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-27
WILSON'S DEMERITS
HOW SAVANNAH BOY, WHO WAS
DISMISSED FROM WEST POINT
FOR INEFFICIENT CONDUCT,
PILED UP THE ITO DEMERITS
CHARGED AGAINST HIM.

Dismissal Does Not Reflect Upon
Young Mans Morals Frequent
Refractions, Many of Them
ThOughtIess, Resulted in Dismiss
al-Was '|Sl1inned" by Some of the
Ohicers-GOt n Reverse" During
His Last Week at the Academy.
VIII Probably BE ReuppOinted.
The dismissal of Emmett Cheatham
Wilson, Savannah boy, from the
United States Military Academy for
ineficiency has oceasioned a sensation
among his friends in Savannah, and
conjecture as to the specific charges
on which he was dismissed have been
rife.
Young Wilson, according to reports.
broke all demerit records at the acad-
envy for rapid transit through the in
stitution, he being charged with 10
demerits in two months, of which num-
Der nearly all were received in the
second month. He entered West
Point, June 10, and terminated his
connection with that institution, upon
the recommendation of the academic
board, Aug. IS. following. Such a rec
ord. it is said, has never been equalled
in the history of the academy.
It is rendered almost sensational by
the statement of the academic author
tiles that it is not customary to give
dement's to a cadet during his first
month at the academy, and it is the
practice to be reasonably lenient with
him during the second month. 1t ap-
pears that nearly all of the dement's
given Wilson, more than enough to
necessitate his discharge from the
academy, were piled up within sin
gle month.
May Be Reinstated.
If Representative Lester, who has
been notified of young Wilson, failure,
should reappoint him, he can onty
enter the academy again with the con-
sent of the board which expelled him.
1t is not usual to disclose the nature
of the offenses committed by cadets
in such cases, hence the record is
made up with the simple statement,
Dropped for inefficiency."
But it seems that there are some
extenuating, circumstances connected
with the dismissal of young Wilson
which have not been made public Far
from his conduct being such as to
involve moral turpitude it is known
that he was never guilty of the re-
fraction of any rule which would dis
honor him. He simply received more
dement's than the laws of the insti-
tuition allowed. These dement's were
for minor offenses.
The family of the young man, when
asked for a, statement of the affair,
said that they had not been sufficient
ly informed to make one. The young
mans reports had always been the
best, and in his studies he had stood
well. In a letter received by the boys
father, the lad does not seem inclined
to criticise the. action Of the authori-
ties in dismissing him.
Objected to Bracfng.
There are some things that are known
in connection with the matter which
show conclusively that the young man
was not altogether to. blame. He did
not take kindly to the bra ing'' which
is given every plebe at the institution
On one occasion he turned his back on
an officer. The action was not in
tended as an aftront, as the young man
explained, but was mere thoughtless-
ness. In this way Wilson became a
mark with some of the men. Those
who have attended the academy know
what this means. For the slightest in
fraction of the rules he was demerit-
ed while other offenders went unde-
merited. This is known as SHINING"
Wilson seldom complained, though it
was inferred from what he wrote at
times that he thought he was being
singled out" On one occasion he was
demerited because at reveille he had on
but one cuff, while another cadet who
wore no cuffs at all and no collar re-
ceived no demerit.
Wilson received what is known as a
reverse" during the last week he was
at the institution. This is understood
to mean a larger number of dement's
than is allowed within a specified time.
What these dement's were for has not
been learned.
Is IA Bright Boy.
Young Wilson was appointed to the
academy by Hon. Rufus E. Lester. He
won his appointment in a competitive
examination. He is an unusually
bright and a very handsome boy. He
only missed one example in his exam
nation. 1t took his father, who was
for some time professor in mathemat-
les in the public schools here just two
days to solve the sum. His reports
have been among the best, though he
has written at times that he couldn't
keep from getting dement's.
Relatives of the young man say that
he is not quick tempered, but, on the
contrary, rather tempered, though
he is inclined to argue the point when
any question arises. He has never
complained of his treatment at the
academy, and, it is said, he is not the
sort of boy to complain even under
trying circumstances.
1t is probable that young Wilson will
be reappointed to the academy. 1t is
felt that he made an unfortunate start,
and that, with the experience he has
gained he will return and make a
good record. He is only II years OF
age. His father, who has been TAX
ing a special course at Johns Hopkins
Institute, is now in Baltimore. His
son Joined him there Immediately on