The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-26
RUSH TO PRESIDENT
TO BEAT DISNISSALS
West Point Cadets Expelled
for Hazing Try in Vain TO
Interview Roosevelt.

I'VE have already tried to see the
President: we wanted to beat the dis
missaI papers there. The Secret Ser
vice men wouldn't let us by"
Cadet william T. Resell. one Of the
eight West Point cadets whose disnissaI
was unhesitaungIy and unqUaHhediy ap-
proved by President Roosevelt yester-
day afternoon, thus expressed last night
the temporary despair into which the
dismissed cadets and their relatives had
been plunged by the rather unexpected
action OF the Chief Executive.
That the eight cadets, anticipating the
order Of dismissal. spent Tuesday storm
ing the entrances TO the Presidents re
treat at Oyster Bay IN a vain hoge that
they might gain his ear before the
papers were laid before him. was con-
drmed last night by Cadet ROsseI, the
only cadet now remaining in Washing
ton The others. after spending the
greater portion Of the week importuning
Secretary OF War Wright and other in
dueutial friends for reinstatement, have
departed for their respective homes.
Parents Still In Town
Gen. William Male. father OF Cadet
Male, Of CUlpeper, Va, and the Rev.
William X Weaver father Of Cadet
Weaver, Of Pittsburg. are also SIN II.
the city, but they said last night that
in the face OF the Presidents action
they were for the present uonplUssed
as to what course 10 now pursue. and
that no decision had as yet been
reached.
THE old guard never sUrrenders.
thOUgh-e said the Rev. Mr. Weaver,
and we hope 20 md a way TO get the
boys reinstated-"
we tried to see the President last
Tuesday" said Cadet ROsseu, who act
ed as spokesman for the dismissed
young men when they invaded the Of
fee Of Secretary Wright and manfully
admitting that they were guilty OF haz-
ing, asked reinstatement on the ground
that the punishment was too severe
we believe If We could get to see
President Roosevelt and lay our case
before him in advance Of the arrival OF
the Official documents he would not deal
so summary with the case. The Secret
Service men. however. would not let US
BY. We stayed there all day Tuesday
and then had 10 hurry on to Washing
ton, as the second best thing 20 do, and
see Secretary Wright We couldn't
even get 10 see Secretary Loeb. but
one OF the Secret Service men finally
agreed TO take our card 10 him Per
haVs ne got It; anyway, we didn't s-e|
the President and now he has ordered
our dismissal"
The Rev. Mr.. Weaver called attenIio1
at this junctuTc 70 the fact that n Q
President was on his vacation ana that
he had been Informed by an influential
Congressman THAI it was impossible TO
see Mr.. Roosevelt except by appoint
mem.
7 wish mis- vacation had extended
further and he had refused 70 approve
the dismissal order then" rather sue
emily remarked General Male, who,
like the parents of tire other dismissed
young men, is plainly perturbed over
the status Of affairs
Minister Weaver Demands Justice.
I'VE have made no plans for the fu-
ture," said the Rev. Mr.. Weaver. ''ex-
cept that we are going to DO some
thing. just what it is hard to say. We
claim this: that If these eight boys
have received justice. then the same
justice might properly be melted out to
every member of the three
upper classes. They are all techni-
caIly guilty Of hazing and the officers
know it. We admit the technical guilt
Of our sons, but the hazing INDUCED in
in this instance was Of a most mild
form and the punishment is excessive.
Furthermore, the officers are fully
aware that this so-called hazing goes
on there all the time and if they would
pursue the investigation further and
distribute the punishment with i'm
Partially. almost every upper class
man would leave West Point.
I'VE have no criticism. Of course, to
make Of the Presidents action It only
seems hard that our eight boys should
be singled out. why we do not know. to
bear the brunt OF a practice shat had
been in vogue as long as the academy
has stood and viii be - long as II
exists. This is indeed a serious matter
for these young men. Ny son and Cadet
Rosseu here were som to have gradu- !
ated and the dismissal is a hardship. |
I have two sons already In the service, !
one a first class man at Annapolis. an
other in service on the Minnesota"
General Male acqUiesced in the posi- /
ton taken by the Rev. Mr.. Weaver and 1
said that influence would probably be
DTOu6hl ~ beaA 10 LAY the mater De-
fore Congress He agree 4 that Il might |
yet become as famous as the Browns
vile case. Captain Male seems 10 feel
deeply the humiliation Of his sons dis
missal for the mere exercise. as he ex-
presses it. Of a few harmless pranks
that are accepted as a matter Of course |
by the entire school and which do not
constitute hazing in the more brutal /
sense.
There is not plebe in the acade- !