Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-08-08
And again:


Instead OF obeying the orders OF
/ the sperintondent and going TO their
homes the eight proceeded I'm a body
TO Washington. 20 appeal TO the Sec
rotary Of War. Mr. Wright had Just
returned and knew nothing about
the charges against them. He re-
ceived them in his Office in the War
Department and listened attentively
TO what they had 20 say. Cadet Rus
sell acted as spokesman for the par
~ and his franknoss. I'm describing all
that occurred won the admiration OF
the Secretary. In the meantime the
charges had been forwarded 10 Pres
/ iuent Roosevelt with the rcCommen-
dalton of Col. Scott that the guilty
cadets be dismissed"
The President approved their dis
missal but before the order had been
promulgated by Secretary Wright.
/ the President asked the Secretary TO
| come 20 Oyster Bay and talk over
the matter with him"
These cadets then were guilty OF
hazing. which under the new rules
In the Military Academy is akin TO a
felony in civil life. They we're gull
~ also OF disobedience of orders.
which is equally as serious IN the
code OF military discipline. But Pres
ident Roosevelt's Democratic appoin-
tee, Major General Luke +. Wright
virtually held up the Presidents or
der just as Secretary William II.
Taft held up a similar order In the
brownsville affair.
The difference is that IN the white
cadets cases. the action OF the Sec
rotary of War was not only sustained
but the white cadets were restored
TO service. In the case Of the col
ored soldiers. the action OF the Sec
rotary Of War was not sustained. and
the colored soldiers were dismissed
from the army.
This is the way Secretary Wright
explains it:
Secretary Wright said to-day that
he discussed the matter thoroughly
with the President, and that both he
and Mr.. Roosevelt were Of the opin-
ion that dismissal was too severe n
punishment He said that the cadets
acted IN very manly way in telling
him all about the ofIenses with which
they We're charged Cadet Russell
declared himself responsible for the
hazing, the Secretary said"
Then follows a statement which
Will hardly cause surprise. Here #
is:
The decision OF the Secretary Of
War and the action of the President
Is expected 10 cause strained rela-
tions between the Secretary of war
and Col. II. l.. Scott, the superinten-
dent at the Military Academy. Not
only had Col. Scott gone on record in
suspending the eight cadets but he
had publicly expressed his gratifica-
ton over the editorials in various
newspapers sustaining his action. In
TINS connection he wrote on July 27:
Il take pleasure in informing you
that the stand you have taken a.
gainst haZing at the United States
Military Academy has had marked ef
rect IN strengthening the hands of
the authorities here. In matters so
deeply rooted as this one, an editor
iai is often more convincing than
regulation
The town of Highland Falls is
said to be in thorough sympathy with
the efforts of Col Scott, as the resi-
dents assert that hazing has been 20
ing on in secluded parts OF the re-
seryauon, and that the hazing has
not always been the forcing of men
to pick up and count 100 black ants.
Recently an under classman was
Ill for several days from having been
compelled TO drink a bottle Of tabas-
co sauce. Still more recently a par
~ OF women in Highland Falls ac-
cidently stumbled over a hazing par
~. The sight they saw caused them
10 denounce the cadets.
President Roosevelt, IL was said
had knowledge in a general way OF
the condition of affairs, and that it'll
was this fact that led to his approval
OF Col. SCOTS order. His resembling
it at the request of Secretary Wright
has caused much comment.
Secretary Wright. when asked al
he had talked any politics with the
President, said the subject had been
mQnfiOnc6 huf ha fOnpH The D-o-t