Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-12-18
VIEWS OF THE MIDSHIPMEN.
AROUSED OVER METHODS TO
WIPE OUT HAZING.
The Hazed Midshipmen Have Been
Discharged From The Hos
pital At Naval
Academy.

The views of the midshipmen ON the
present movement against hazing were
rather freely ventilated in town by
these who took advantage of Saturday
and Sunday liberty. There is no queS.
tion that they are thoroughly aroused
over the superintendent direct and
forcible methods.
A few have stated that "a number Of
the midshipmen are thinking of going
TO the superintendent or the baard OF
investigation aud announcing that
they have all had part in hazing
This would. of course, necessitate the
expulsion of all who took the stand If
any are expelled. The threat is not
taken very seriously even among the
midshipmen themselves, however.
The same thing was said when the
dismissal of Chaffee. Lofiand and
Little was anticipated, but nothing at
all materialized when the dism issal
really did occur.
1t also became clear from the talk OF
the midshipmen that the general opin.
ion is that Cooper, who was stricken
with paralysis while in class room, is
generally believed TO have been
hazed. The fact that Cooper is not
able TO place an injury or strain OF
any kind as a possible cause of his
condition seems TO bear this theory out
Medical men say that il is possible
that a hemorrhage of the brain (th6
primary cause Of paralysis might bs
induced in a youth of seventeen by
over study, but they admit that it il
most unlikely. Midshipman Kim.
brough and Cooper were both dis
charged from the hospital this morn.
ing and it is thought that they will
both be brought before the board OF
investigation.
Nothing of late years has stirred
the whole body of the midshipmen ia
such an extent as the methods by
which Admiral James II. Sands. su-
perintendent of the Naval Academy,
is striking at the practice of hazinp
at the Academy. Not even the deatl
of Midsnipman Branch, after his fight
with Meriwether and the subsequent
court martial of the latter has stirred
the corps to such an extent, the reason
being that almost every midshipmaI
is personally in danger through the
present crusade.
It has in some manner been giver
out that the board of investiS cation
detailed by the Secretary of the Navy
at the request of ADMIRAL Sands. viii
not confine its attention TO recent
affairs, but will embrace in its inves
LEGATIONS any hazing by midshipmer
now in the Academy, even IL il oc
Cured a year or two ago. This may
or may not be so, but the rumor has
aroused and frightened the midsbip-
men.
Particularly are the members of
NHn al rnrg,I rIa 4 q,
this regard. liz is known that the
members of this class have been more
active than most graduating classes
have been in former years in hazing.
They are also the ones who are gen
orally on duty in the quarters and Ad-
miral Sands action in the case of
VanderveeT, whose offense was failure
to report hazing and not hazing itself,
shows that if hazing continues they
are in danger of dismissal for similar
oeffuses.
The protection Of hazing by mid.
shipmen on duty has been the life of
the practice and unless they can be
made to carry out their obligations 70
the authorities on this matter, hazinR
will not be stopped The testimony
in the Meriwether court martial
showed clearly that the midsipmen
protect hazing and fighting, holding
that though they are duty bound,
their obligation to their comrades is
greater than that to the authorities.
A number of the midsipmen said
in public place in Annapolis on
Saturday that the whole body of mid
sipmen or at least the first class was
contemplating going boldly to the su.
perntendent and informing him that
they all had participated in haziDg
This threat was made some years age
when Little, IiohRnd and ChaffeC
were in danger of expulsion, but moth
ng came Of it.
1t was said that no itrepaTable in
jury would be done 10 the nation j
the whole student body put themselye
in position to be expelled, though
Of course it would be embarrassing 4
a certain extent However, there ar
thousands of graduates of technia
schools and college men who could
fitted for commissions by one year
training, just as civilian appointee
in the Army are. It WAS also sal
| that if that was the only way to &c
rid of fhaZing it would be worth th
extra trouble in order 20 get entirel
new student body which would no
be affected by the hazing and fightin
traditions OF the present.