Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-12-16
ACADEMY HAzING
WILL BE STOPPED
Naval Authorities Hive Determined
on This Course.
BONAPARTE is FIRM
Secretary of the Navy Is Making an
Earnest Effort to DO Away With
This PeruiciOus and Dan
gerOus Practice.

Washington. Dec. 16.-Hazing of
every sort. il was announced Thurs
day. was s. 1mped out of the naval
academy, regardless of the number of
dismissals from the brigade of mid
shipmen necessary to bring about this
result. Two midshipmen will be dis
missed from the Academy within a few
days by the secretary of the navy. the
ones for haZing, and the others for
countenancing 1t by failure while on
duty to report its occurrence. O,hed
dismissals will follow as often as mid.
shipmen- are found guilty of hazing or
countenancing.
Aroused by the condition of affairs
which reports show to exist at the
academy, so far as the treatment of
fourth class men are concerned. Secre-
tary Bonaparte telephoned TO Rear Ad-
miral James H. Sands, superintendent
of the academy, a request to come to
Washington as soon as possible for a
conference.
When Secretary Bonaparte reached
the navy department Thursday. he re-
ceived an official report-from Admiral
Sands announcing the suspension OF
Midshipman Tremor Coffin, Jr., third
classman, for hazing Midshipman Je-
rome p. Kimbrough, fourth class man,
by forcing him to stand on his head
until he became unconscious and of
Midshipman Warren A. Vandervere.
second elias man. becaue while on duty
he oberved the occurrence and failed
report it.
The superintendent called attention
to the fact that Midshipmen Coffin
and Vandervere were guilty of viola;
ing a we'll known rule of the academy
and recommended their summary dis
missal in accordance with an act OF
congress approved March 3, 1903.
Secretary Bonaparte had confer
ence with Rear Admiral Converse.
chief OF the bureau OF navigation. and
a pla Of campaign was mapped out. II
was first decided that the law was
mandatory and that the recommended
ton of the superintendent would soor
be approved and the two cadets sum
marty expelled.
Meantime. however. the secretary
wishes to obtain rom the attorney
general an opinion regarding certain
phases Of the case. which. while ex-
ceedingly important. will not affect. It
is understood his final action APPROX
Ing the recommendation for summary
expulsion.
No secret was made at the navy
department of the Determination Of the
officials to make short shrift of hazine
running" and all such practices at the
academy.
If necessary. II is understood the
president will be APPEALED to pto veto
any bill that may be passed by con-
gress providing for the reinstatement
of midshipman expelled for hazing.
or countenancing It.
It is declared the purpose of the
members Of the investigation commit
tee to get at the root of the hazing evil
and to exterminate the practice I'm
manner as never heretofore
II is learned that the hazing of kim
brough was oven more brutal than was
at first supposed, r'ore dangerous in
Its natural results and more blame
worthy in its origin.
He was undoubtedly hazed because
he testified. under compulsion. beforr
the investigating board and implicate
some upper class men.
For this he was threatened by upper
class men that they would kill him anS
hei still under threat. It is said re
peated since the occurrence.
The father Of Midshipman Wander
we're does not regard the dismissal Of
his son as Just ana win fight ii before
the secretary Of navy and I'm case of
failure there. probably before congress
The naval academy authorities
state that there was no doubt of Van
dervere's failure to do his duty and
add that " Kimhrough had not re-
ceived prorer attention he probably
would have died.