Evening journal., 1905-11-10
BRUTALITY AT
NAVAL ACADEMY
Death of Midshipman After
Fight Recalls Congress
sional Probe
RAILROAD RATE ISSUE RESUMED

Annapolis Naval Academy, from in
juries received in a fist fight with Mid
shipman Minor Meriwether, Jr.. win
serve to recall to Congress what is be-
lieved TO be the sole remaining brutal
practice. in vogue at this institution.
For many years hazlng was practiced
here, as at West Point with all the
banbarities the devihsh ingenuity of
young brutes could conceive, under the
pretepse that this was the only way
in which newcomers could be taught
proper respect for their seniors. Army
and navy officers in charge OF these
institutions winked at these practices
ana the students grew more and more
bold until it appeared to the outsiders
that they were running the academies
instead Of the officials.
FINALLY matters came TO such apass
that Congress took hold OF the case and
the brutallties revealed by testimony
before an investigating committee
much more resembled an account of the
festivities of a tribe Of Congo negroes
than OF the intellectual pastimes Of
civilized white men studying to become
officers Of the United states Army and
Navy. heard much Of this testimony
ing. II developed however. that hazing
IN this form was at that time confined
almost wholly to West Point and Con-
gress took such a decided stand that it
has now practically disappeared from
both institutions. BY this, 1 mean
+ "hazing' where a gang of rowdies take
one or two young cadets and put them
through a series OF stunts calculated to
exhaust them and to humiliate them.
But there remains the "hst-hght"
which being one of-the cherished tradi-
tons Of the academies, win probably
survive even the shock attending the
death Of one Of the participants in the
latest exhibition of manly prowess.
The rules for these fights ars simple.
II cadet believes his honor" has
been injured by the actions Of another,
ne challenges him to battle the rule
being that the contestants shall fight
stripped TO the waist for twenty-eight
rounds. if they are able to go that far
When it is considered that most prize
hghts are limited TO fifteen to twenty
1nNe rounds, when men trained to an
tedge meet In the squared circle" the
brutality of expecting a couple of
youths Of less than twenty to fight
tWenty-eight rounds without any train
ng. is striking. The injured youth was
farried TO his room and the affair "con-
fealed' which is to say that while il
vas generally known. it was not re-
Il ported officially, until the next day,
N 90 late 20 save his life.
Now what was an this about? Had
i iidshipman Branch insulted Midship-
4 nan Moriwether by rejecting on his
A honor or That of his family or friends
r IN any other way known to civilized
d Peings2 Nol While engaged in his Of
icial duties he found that Meriwether
Il yas violating some of the regulations
the Academy and in duty bound
\ Is an officer reported him to his super
N prs. For this he was beaten 20 a pulp
4 ~ Meriwether in the presence OF e
Fl lang of his fellow students VINO doubt
II sss applauded the punishment adj
"a linistered TO a cadet waose Only Of
tnse was that he did his duty rs On
ihcer aud met his death ike a man.
is pqss'b bla, thoush not Drooable. that
Ne participants H. this disgracsful
ptsode win he punished by expulsion.
ut IL so, it s doubtful IL this wiu he
iica9ious in breaking mp the practice.
= No sooner win they be expelled than
the influence they can command
81 il be eXerted 60 secure their rein
81 atement, while those who have less
n olitical influence win not. IT seems
81 S though Congress was due to stop
a rize-fighting as well as hazing at our
a ational educational institutions for
"a pere are other ways for gentlemen to
g title their disputes rather than meet
g i'm the ring in cold blood.
S There viii probably be a strong effort
n ade this winter to secure the restora-
N on of the army canteen. Nearly an
be officers of the army favor il on the
b ound that it makes life more attrac-
n I've to the soldiers and is most effective
Fl a preserving discipline. Under present
Dnditions the soldiers not being able
get anything intoxicating i'm camp.
N hen they do get to drinking outside,
d equently take too much, and while
lder the influence of the vile con-
y pctions served them I'm the dens which
81 lrround the forts. not only commit
q any crimes and misdemeanors, but
] an easy prey to sharpers and their
male aceomplices.
Il iThere is no doubt that the great
flmber of desegtions from the army is
rgely due to this cause. the coldiers
81 booming intoxicated away from their
Il mmands and remaining so until
hamed or afraid to return. Congress
n IS so far been dominated by the in
q iIence Of those who prefer to see the
4 fmy demoralized and the nations in
a rests suffer rather than the common
u ldier should be able TO purchase beer
d lder the nations flag. and it viii prob
q ply remain so.
4 frhe contest over the question of
gulating RAILROAD rates win begin in
a rnest with the meeting of the Senate
B bmmittee on Interstate Commerce on
a e fifteenth of this month. The advo-
81 ties of legislation are certain the
a touse VIII pass whatever bill is pre-
4 t.nted 10 it. with the understanding
a lat it meets with the approval Of the
4 resident. The stumbling block in the
nate and the gateway to that body
through the committee on commerce.
4 tempts have been made to forecast
q fe action of the committee but these
& for little owing to the wide diverg-
Ice of opinion among those who favor
q me action. No doubt a majority Of the
81 mmittee feed the time has come to
tye the country what il wants in this
a 4nnection, but scarcely two agree on
W this can best be done The task