The Washington herald., 1908-07-25

History may give no record OF a West
Point cadet showing the white feather
but last night three cadets were put OF
the run by a man in quest Of news. He
attacked the enemy in the Y n c. A
building and routed the cadets 10 a finish.
Learning that George " Chase, IT.,
William T R0sseI. r.. and James A Gil
Ie>2ie. all OF the West Point Military
Academy. had registered al the Y II c.
A, and knowing the three young men TO
be three Of the eight who were recently
sentenced 20 De dismissed from the uni-
tary school fcr hazing. a reporter OF The
Washington Herald went 70 the Y. " c.
A 20 interview them. They fed into the
street
A chase followed. the cadets making
good time through Lafayette park. where
they were overtaker- Asked # they were
really the dismissed cadets, one OF them
cEi-ruped-
Better look II directory
say not So answered the reporter.
i looked In directory before I saw
you"
Get @ telephone directory came the
reply.
IhereUpon the three young men again
took 10 their heels. as r running to catch
a car They sped through The streets
until they reached Franklin Park. into
tie dark mesaes Of which they darted
and disappeared At an early hour this
morning they lad not returned 10 the
y. n c. A
See Secretary Wright.
The eight cadets appeared in washing
ton yesterday with an appeal 20 the Sc
retarv Of War for their re.ustatsn.ert !
The Secretary had 1ust returned 20 the
city a few minutes fore their call and
he told them franz.y he knew nothing
about the Circumstances Of the case. and
would not be able 20 answer definitely
until after he had consulted The voluui-
nous report Of Col Hugh L Scott. su-
periutsndent Of the Academy. and passed I
IL % the President Secretary Wright was I
in the best Of hUmor. and told the peni- /
tents he was sorry 10 ind them in such I
a plight.
You look Ike fine. courageous fellows.
and you don't look 10 me as If YOU would I
vvillfully tra-sgress the law OF the rules .
Of the ACADEMY Now. boys. tel me al 4
about IL What's the troubIeg'
Several OF the cadets started 70 answer
IN unison, but William T. RosseI got the
say, and declared he was best entitled 10
speak for the offenders. because he was
ready % admit he had been the worst OF
all His frank1ess won Secretary Wright.
who couplimenred him on the manly way
in which he had stated the case. The
spokesman said the offense hardly
amounted TO hazing. which was the
charge upon which they were dismissed.
and that every one Of the cadets dis ]
missed had been subjected 20 the same
kind OF treatment and had borne It IN
Secretary Wright Is not certain that
under statute he has the authority 70
modify The punishment in any way. It Is ,
his understanding that the law Is maada- :
tory, and that he must either approve or
oisapprove Of the findings OF the court
marital and the order Of Col Scott pur- Z
suant thereto. after which his conclusions :
80 10 the President for review. L
Called Upon Friends. q
Before going 10 the War Department
the discharged cadets called on some Of
their Influential political friends. one OF
whom was q member Of the Military At
fairs Committee in one branch OF Con-
Sress- They expressed themselves as. az
yrieved az the summary manner in which / ?
hey had been dismissed and. incidentally r
he fact came out that before the order u
II dismissal was made. representafivas Z
rom each OF the four classes al West
Point went 10 Col Scott and agreed 10 q
]ledge their honor there should be no
more haziug while either OF the present Il
lasses were at the Academy, provided II
he order Of dismissal was not made. n
But the profered pledge was not ac- Il
eDted by Col Scott. The dismissed West 4
'ointers considered this a great hard ?,
hip =
II IL the opinion OF men who enfov an ~
mcial relation with the Academy thai II
be cadets VIII not be restored 10 their
lasses unless It IS done by an act Of Con 2
ress- JnofiiciaIly. the report las come
D Washington that the charges AGAINST
hem are really more serious than they
ppear from the newspaper. stories of tl. A
flair. The Offense is not alone bazfpy
u they have been guilty. It is alleged
the sraver offense Of wiIlfuI insubordi- fl,
Z atlol- Inc law Is very explicit in pro az
--li's d penalty, and was passed after 8
D exhaustive Investigation Of the bazinr -
.actices al the Military Academy 50
I furthermore, Il IS learned several mem
rs or Congress have received letters Ia
ON pie1es wlthin the last month giving ",
7 lof fliiaJlon regarding hazing at West "
7int- Some OF the men who have re of
-Veo these letters have stated their in II,
nLon OF bringing the matter 10 the no
tenIio1 OF Congress Even II the cadets or.
no nave been dismissed should be re- bf,
2red by executive action. the matter no
)uld stiu be more likely 10 come before
'ngress in the form Of a demand for
'ngressional Investigation A man who
red as member of the Congress com Ev
bO
Continued on PaEe 2 CoJun,r ite
az