New-York tribune., 1908-08-04
NO ACTION ON CADETS
THE PRESIDENTS DENIAL.
Contrary Reports Erroneous, He
Saus-Hasn't Made Decision.

Oyster Bay, Aug. S.-Whether the 0lsnl5Stt4
from the West Point Military Academy of the
eight cadets found guilty of hazing is to be
made permanent the young men reinstated
through action of Congress or Executive Glenn
ency is still undetermined. This attitude of the
government is set forth in official statement
issued to-day by President Roosevelt through
Rudolph Foster assistant secretary to the Presi-
dent, who is the acting private secretary in the
absence Of Secretary Loeb who is on his Vaca-
ton.
The President characterizes as erroneous
trary announcements made earlier by Secretary
Loeb and Secretary of War Luke E. Wright
To-day's statement explains that the President
has not yet heard finally from the Secretary of
War to the latter's recommendations in the
matter and that therefore the national Executive
has reached no final decision. By Secretary
Loeb the President had been represented as ap-
proving the dismissal of the cadets Subse-
quently, and following a conference with Mr.
Roosevelt. Secretary Wright told the newspaper
men that a decision to reinstate the offending
cadets had been reached.
THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT.
The statement issued by the President is as
follows:
No action whatever has been taken by the
President in the cases of the cadets the state
ments that they originally ordered dis
missed and that they had been ordered kept
being equally erroneous
An appeal originally made to the Presi-
dent to interfere. He declined to take any ac-
ton or TO interfere in any way until the Sec
retary CT War had expressed his opinion. the
view of the department then being. seemingly.
that the cadets should be turned out, but the
Secretary not having come to any final decision
The Secretary then notified the President that
instead Of making any report ne would m ao, IKE 10
He accordingly came. and this discussion was
held. but final decision was reached. the
Secretary stating that he was not able 10 make
a final and definite recommendation as to all
the cases. and preferred to make none as re-,
CARDS anv until he could do 1t regards all.
The President has not yet heard finally from
the Secretary and, therefore, of course, he came
to no final decision This is the first announce
ment that the President has made in the matter
at ALL and he has never at any time come to any
decision way or the other. excepting to state
that he would probably follow the views of the
department.
In the course of his daily talk with the news
paper men July % Secretary Loeb said that
Mr. Roosevelt had set his approval upon the
findings of the board of inquiry, the report OF
which had been forwarded from the War De-
partment IN Washington for his examination.
Secretary Loeb added that this action was final
and explained that the cadets could be REIN
stated only by act Of Congress. The President.
Mr. Loeb said had strongly approved the
papers. which had then been returned to Wash
ington-
RECENT HAPPENINGS IN CASE.
On July 27 dispatches from Washington said
that Secretary Wright expected to go to Oyster
Bay the latter part of that week TO confer with
| the President on pending matters of Importance.
These dispatches also contained the Information
that the papers in the cases Of the eight cadets
| whose dismissal recommended by a board
appointed by Colonel Scott. the superintendent
of the West Point Academy. had been returned
to the War Department from Oyster Bay bear
ing the approval Of President Roosevelt Of the
findings and sentence of the board. The dis
patches added that Secretary Wright had not
issued his order dismissing the cadets. and that
he might not do until he had discussed the
matter with the President. who had expressed a
wish to talk the matter over with the Secretary.
The report of the board was received in
Washington at the War Department early in
the week of July 10. while Secretary Wright
was in Tennessee. Assistant Secretary Robert
S. Oliver, acting for the Secretary, forwarded
the papers in the case to Oyster Bay. Upon
his arrival at Washington Secretary Wright
found the eight cadets waiting in his office.
General Wright after hearing frank confess
sion from the young men, promised to give the
whole matter careful consideration. Upon in
quiry he then found that the records in the
case had already been sent to Oyster Bay.
Secretary Wright arrived at Oyster Bay late
last Friday afternoon. He remained over
night at Sycamore Hill, and on the following
morning, just previous to his departure, he
| talked with the newspaper men. To these men
the Secretary said that as result of his con-
ference with the President the eight cadets
would be reinstated in their classes, and that
their punishment would be administered ac-
cording to the regulations Of the academy
Secretary Wright added that he had not pre-
vously promulgated order for the dismissal
of the men, but, at the request of the Presi-
dent, had allowed the matter to remain open
until the President and he could discuss the
affair together.
Following the publication generally OF Secre-
tary Wrghts statement that decision had
been reached that the cadets should be rein
stated, there was some criticism of what was
considered by some weakening of mill
tary discipline and a desire to set the matter
right is supposed here to have called forth the
official statement that the President had reached
no conclusion in the matter and that his views
had been erroneously expressed by others
President Roosevelt, 1t is announced, will not
attend the national encampment OF the Spanish
American War Veterans at Boston the last week
of this month. as has been reported.
Washington. Aug. S--When seen tonight as
to the statement given out at the executive Of
fees IN Oyster Bay to the effect that the Presi-
dent had come TO no decision In regard to the
dismissal Of the eight West Point cadets charged
with hazing, Secretary Wright said:
Whatever the President says is right. do
not wish to discuss the matter further"
In regard to the statement accredited TO him
on Saturday TO the effect that President Roose-
welt and he had decided to reinstate the dis
missed cadets, Secretary Wright explained that
the decision might not have been definitely
agreed upon.
T int liant +f,n