The Washington herald., 1908-08-04

oyster Bay. y Z. Aug 3-Pfesident
Roosevelt caused to be given out at the
executive office to-day the following
statement discIaiuling having taken any
action whatever II the matter Of the re-
cent dismissal Of the eight cadets from
the Military Academy al West Point on
charges OF hazing-
NO action has been taken by the
President in the cases Of the cadets. the
statements that they we're originally or
dered dismissed and that they had been
ordered kept being equally erroneous
An appeal was originally made 10 the
President TO interfere. He declined 20
take any action. or 70 interfere in any
way until the Secretary of War had ex-
pressed ms opinion. the view OF the de-
parmea- then being. seemingly. that the
cadets should be turned out. but the Sec
retary not having come 10 any nnaI de-
cision-
No FinaI Decision Made.
The Secretary notified the President
that in making any report he would Ike
10 discuss Jhe matter with the President
In person. He accordingly came on. and
the discussion was held. but no final de-
cision was reached. the Secretary stating
that he was not able 10 make q fuaI and
definite recommendation as 10 ali the
cases, and preferred 10 make none as
regards any until lie could Go f. as re-
CARDS all Tie President has not Vet
heard finally from the Secretlry. and
therefore Of course, has come 90 no dnaI
decision This IS the first announcement
tlar the President has made ir the mat
ter at all. and he mas never at any time
CO r. 20 any decision one way or the
other excepting 20 -r7.s inst he would
probably follow The views 1E the depart
meu-~
Loeb Is Blamed Again.
In view Of the foregoing statement. It
is Interesting 70 note THAI on July .
Secretary Loeb announced ~ the execu-
tive othce that the President had sp-
proved the dismissal Of the cadets. This
statement was given d prominent place
IN all the next mornings newspapers.
but Secretary Loeb did not in any way
intimate that the report was Inaccurate.
and q few days later. on July .. while
discussing The approaching visit Of Sec
Tetzry Wright, lIr. Loeb. when asked
what bearing the visit might have upon
the cases Of the cadets. suggested that
since the President had approved the dis
missals. it would be difficult 10 reopen
the matter without q special act Of Con
sress- This statement also received wide
publicity. and no suggestion Of its mac
curacy came from the executive Office
Secretary Wright reached oyster Bay
late in the afternoon Of July 81. He inri-
mated at that time that some new action
IN the matter OF the dismissed cadets
might be expected. but refused TO discuss
the situation uuuI he had seen the Presi-
dent The next morning. after having
spent the night at Sycamore Hi. Secre-
tary Wright said that the cadets were
10 be allowed 10 return TO the Military
Academy, and that The penalty for their
offenss would be such disciplinary punish
ment as the officials OF the Academy
thought proper
Wright Confirmed Statement.
While he was being interviewed secrs-
tary Wright was asked explicitly by the
reporters II they might announce the. re-
insJateDent OF the cadets. and he replied
IN the affirmative When questioned as
10 the means that had been found TO
open the cases after the dismissal had
received the Presidents approval. secre-
tary Wright explained that, although the
President had approved the order Of dis
missal. he fSecretery WrighO had never
promulgated the order. thus leaving the
matter open for reconsideration sr any
tine This was done at the Presidents
request according TO Secretary Wright
who said that the President had request
cd him 70 come 10 Oyster Bay 70 talk the
matter over
Secretary WrigEt's statements were
communicated TO the Executive Offices by
the reporters, but no statement concern
Ing the matter was given out there until
to-day.
As Secretary Loeb left Oyster Bav last
Friday for a months vacation. he could
not be questioned to-day concerning his
authority for the statement that Presi-
dent Roosevelt had approved the dfsn1fs-
sal Of the cadets.
Il was officially learned TODAY AZ the
Executive Offices that six Of the dismiss
ed cadets had visited oyster Bav shortly
after their dismissal and had tried 10 on
tain an audience with the President
They were told that the President would
not see them and advised them TO make
their representations 10 the War Depar+-
melt.
WRIGHT DISCUSSES CASE