The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-06-11
WEST POINT
Was Not Attacked by Mrs.
Elizabeth Fairfax Ayres
Yesterday,
MILITARY POST YET SAFE

/
Scott, of the military academy, and
Lieut.-Col. Robert l.. Howse, COM
mandant of cadets, are away from the
reservation, but Mrs. Elizabeth Fair
fax Ayres, of Virginia, did not march
from Larry o'Flynn's at Highland
Falls to attack the unprotected post.
Col. Scott Is In Trenton, N. j., and
Commandant Howse at the jamestown
Exposition In charge Of the cadet
corps. IL was announced at the
officers club today that neither would
hasten his return to the post on Mrs.
Ayres' account. In fact, the oficers
Of the military academy are inclined
to discuss Mrs Elizabeth Fairfax
Ayres, OF Virginia, as one who has
brewed fine tempest In q teapot.
Ever since the famous Easter parade
when Commandant Howse objected TO
the girls wearing the cadets over
coats, and sent a sergeant to pluck
the garments for the good OF discip-
line, the academy has buzzed with the
sayings and doings OF the same Mrs.
Elizabeth Fairfax Ayres, OF Virginia.
II was she who protested heatedly
against the action of the commandant
in despoiling the young women OF the
overcoats during the downpour OF very
wet rain, and II was she, according 10
the officers, who saw TO IL that the
story got into the newspapers, with
trimmings. Just about that time Mrs
Ayres, who is the wife OF Col. Charles
q. Ayres, Just returned from service in
the Philippines, got the idea that her
son, Henry Fairfax, a second class
man, was being unjustly disciplined.
She made up her mind that he was
being punished persistently for faults
he had not committed at all, or for
faults committed by the other cadets.
She not only got the idea firmly fixed
In her head, but she began TO talk
about II, She hinted that IL was
ease OF Jealousy, and that "tin SOL
iiers" we're envlous of the brilliant
record OF her husband. Col.
Charles, and were trying to get even
by demeriting the boy whenever half
chance offered. BY special permis-
lion, Mrs. Ayres was living on the
with her daughter, Emily,
md was constantly meeting officers OF
he post. II wasn't long until Com
nandant Howse and Captain l.. W.
oliver, who Ia assistant Instructor In
actics. felt that they had cause 10
Of her attitude toward them.
was observed that Mrs. Ayres sell
ON permitted an opportunity TO pass
( speaking her mind briskly to those
Ulcers. Along In April Captain
liver wrote letter TO an oficisS in
be war department. declaring that
Irs. Ayres had subjected him to q
attack. and haQ referred
lsultingly To Commandant Howse.
lie complained that Mrs. Ayres had
cen very unfair in her conversation
18th him. and he said In view OF those !
acts, and aside from the personal in
llt, he did not think II for the best |
lterests OF discipline TO have an OFF,
er subjected 20 criticism from a
erson who employs such language
nd means to show her disrespect as 9
Irs. Ayres has" G
lie asked that some action be taken D
} prevent a repetition OF the incident.
Howse endorsed the let e
IT strongly. He wrote In his en- !
orsemeDt that the conduct OF Mrs. 4
yres had been reprehensible, and at a
mes In the presence of the cadets, re- a
arkably vicious. He said further u
lat the Characterization OF Mrs. a
yres In Captain divers letter and d
his own endorsement OF that let a
r was by far too mild. Col. Scott. h
lperintendent of the military acad- /
ny, wrote letter at the same time L
Adjutant General Ainsworth in II
He stated that Mrs. c
yres had attacked the commandant Il
cadets In the area OF the cadet bar II
eks with the most opprobrious epi- n
cts, and In the most undignihed b
amer. He wrote further that Mrs. h
yres had aired her grievances in Il
sw York newspapers. She had never u
lticized him SO far as he knew, Col. h
OFT wrote, but she had attacked Cen oi
al Mills, his predecessor. Col. Scott p'
ggested that the war department Of
ke some action in the matter, and Vi
nted that II might be fine thing IL In
e department would get Col. Ayres al
make his wife behave. Lieut.. Col. ty
sphen G. Mills, inspector general W
me to the academy from Washing I'll
1 soon after, and made q thorough 81
'estigation. The result was that he IL
that Mrs. Ayres be not ds
rmitted TO enjoy the privileges OF th
ing on the government reservation OF
West foint, while her husband was bt
In his regiment in the Philippines, IL
d that the trouble had arose chieny pI
/ OF her criticism OF Col. Howse, be- hi
use OF his course in refusing to al hs
v the cadets 10 lend their oyerc,,ats ol
young women who were watching m
, parade on . cold day. The war u
partment has refused 30 far abso- b
ely to discuss TIE case ef Mrs. Y