Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-04

Presidents Statement.

OYSTER BAY. l.. l.. August IA
statement has been issued by the Presi-
dent announcing that he has taken no ac-
tion in the case of the West Point cadets
suspended for engaging in hazing. The
statement was given out by Assistant Sec
retary Forster, Secretary Loeb being
away on his vacation. 1t Is as follows:
No action whatever has been taken by
the President in the cases OF the cadets
the statements that they were originally
ordered dismissed and that they had been
ordered kept being equally erroneous. An
appeal was originally made to the Presi-
dent to interfere. He declined to take any
action OF to interfere in any way until the
Secretary of War had expressed his opin-
ion, the view of the department then be-
ing. seeminRly. 1hHf. the cadets should be
turned out. but the Secretary not having
come to any Anal decision.
The Secretary then notified the Presi-
dent that instead of making any report he
would like to discuss the matter with the
President in person. He accordingly came
on and the discussion was held, but no
final decision was reached, the Secretary
stating that he was not able to make a
final and definite recommendation as to all
the cases. and preferred to make none as
regards any until he could do 1t as re-
CARDS all.
THE President has not yet heard finally
from the Secretary, and therefore, Of
course. has come to no final decision. This
Is the first announcement that the Presi-
dent has made In the matter at all. and
he has never at any time come to any de-
ciston one way or the other, excepting to
state that he would probably follow the
views of the department."
Loeb's Previous Announcement.
Secretary Loeb was asked July 25 by
the newspaper men if the President had
approved the recommendation of the mill
tary board at West Point that the cadets
accused ot hazing be dismissed. Mr. Loeb
was very emphatic in his reply. He said
in substance:
The President has already signed the
report. He is strongly opposed to hazing
IN the army and navy. anu he is going to
put his foot down hard in an EFFORT to
stamp 1t OUT
After the cadets had first gone to WASH
ington to plead their cause before Secre-
tary wright, and later had come to Oys-
Ter Bay In a vain effort to obtain an
audience with the President, Mr.. Loeb
was again asked. July rs. IL the President
had taken any action in the matter. and
ne once more said to the newspaper men:
The President has signed the order
recommending the dismissal and the mat
ter is now up TO Congress, as only a spe-
cial act of Congress can bring about their
reinstatement"
Conference With Wright.
Secretary Wright arrived at Oyster Bay
July 81 and was asked If he had come
to discuss the cadet question with the
President. He replied that such was the
case. and that in the morning. on his re-
turn, he would have something 10 say
about it.
On the morning OF August 1, after
spending a night at Sycamore Hill and
after long conference. In which AS
sistant Secretary of State Bacon Joined,
secretary Wright informed the news
paper men that the question had been set
tied; that both lie and the President had
decided that dismissal would be too Sc
we're punishment for the cadets, and that
although the President had signed the or
der before he Ohe Secretary had actually
promulgated 1t, the matter was now set
tleo and the cadets would soon return to
West Point.
Secretary Wright went on to pay a com.
pliment 10 the cadets and ended up by
saying that after their reinstatement they
would be properly disciplined according
to the methods of the Military Academy.
Wright's Statement.
The War Secretary was very explicit In
his statement of what had taken place al
the conference with the President. and &c
the point-blank question as to whether
or not the cadets were to be re:nstated, he
replied. after carefully Weighing hi.
words:
You can say that the men will be re
instated."
The Presidents Denial.
The widespread criticism Of the Presi
dents attitude stirred him nothing elss
has done since the departure last summer
of the battleship fleet on its round-the
world cruise. Unfortunately Secretar,
Loeb had started on his vacation. and th'
President could not learn IL what the Sec
retary was quoted as saying was true. HI
summoned Assistant Secretary Forste
and asked him what had taken place BE-
tween Loeb and the correspondents. Mr.
Forster was not present at the interview
and could not enlighten the President. I
was then that the President decided 4
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