The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-09-10
CADET HAzING MIDDLE
AT WEST POINT ACADEMY
Plebes Give 4SiIent Treatment
to a CIaSsmate.
UPPER CLASSES INDIGNANT
A Queer Situation Has Developed at
the Military Academy-Hardes
Test to Come Under Colonel
HowZe's Rule.


West Point, N. "a mild instance
Of attempted hazing which occurred
1t the Military Academy recently has
caused some curious complications.
1t has been reported that the Com
mandant, Colonel Robert Lee Howe,
has threatened an entire class with
dismissal This, however, Colonel
Howe characterized as nonsense.
The curious feature abouc the sit
uation is that the lower class man,
The man upon whom the hazing was
attempted, apparently had the sym
pathy of the upper class men, While
the cadets who are opposed to him
are the members of his own class.
This is the first trouble that has
arisen from hazing since the close
of the Congressional investigation.
sHazing is almost unknown at West
Point now" said Colonel Howe.
The trouble centres around first
year man, Cadet Book, who halls
from Missouri. An upper classman,
Cadet Sherman, of Georgia, appar-
GnjlJ unQCl IOOh " GIVO DONh biAS
sbracing up" exercise. This is about
the mildest form of "hazing" there is.
1t is about on par with calisthenic
exercises in gymnasium. AS the
story is told here, however, Cadet
Book refused to obey the upper class
mans order. The incident occurred
while the corps was on its recent
practice march. Cadet Sherman, it
Is said, called at Books tent later
In the day, and again ordered the
plebe to "brace up" Book again de-
clined, and, according to the stories
current here, his stubbornness re-
suited in various forms of petty an
noyance.
1t has been said that Cadet Book
voluntarily reported the matter to the
authorities. This is denied by all
hands here. Colonel Howe, it is
said, learned about the affair when
he was examining into charges that
had been preferred against Book for
some minor neglect of duty. The
Commandant took prompt action in
regard to Cadet Sherman, infiicting
rigorous punishment in the way of
extra hours of duty and curtailment
Of privileges.
Then it was that the plebes took
the affair upon themselves. They de-
cided that their classmate, Book,
needed discipline, and they proceeded
to give him the silent treatment. }"
In other words, no member of his
own class speaks to him. They ig-
more his presence entirely.
The upper classmen viewed this
action on the part of the plebes with
establishment. They take the view
that if anybody disciplines Book, it
shall be themselves, and that the kim
iergartners have taken altogether too
much upon themselves. In other
words, the plebes in assuming the
right to punish one of their own mum
Der for a matter that concerned an
upper classman have infringed upon
the privilege of the upper classmen
themselves.
Colonel Howe said when seen that
he had no doubt the trouble would
adjust itself. 1.-THE upper classmen, +"
he said, have taken the matter in
hand, and they will undoubtedly
settle it, Book is fine, strong young
man and will win the esteem of his
fellows. The accusation that he is
a tale-bearer is entirely unfounded.
But the whole incident is one that we
cannot afford to treat too lightly.
1 am confident that the upper class
men will find some way of showing
the plebes that they are in the wrong,
and that the incident will be closed in
a few days. / have made no threats
OF dismissal or punishment.