The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-08-05
Confusion of Tongues Over
West Point Cadets I'm
tangled by Statement.
No One Was Called Liar in This
Episode.
EVEN LOEB's STORY CORRECT

W btohf AhHs Os"AlitE NOin-
ment had been heard on all sides
here relative to contradictory state
ments made by President Roosevelt.
Secretary Loeb and Secretary OF War
Wright In reference to the dismissal
Of eight cadets from West Point for
hazing, some Hight was thrown on
the matter by Secretary Wright
There Is no question of veracity
whatever" Mr.. Wright said. What
the president SAYS is right, and is not
in contradiction to Statements made
either by Secretary Loeb or by
myself"
Secretary Wright then explained
that the misunderstanding arose from
a series of condolences. for which no
one was to blame In the first place.
the report of the board recommend
ing dismissal OF the cadets reached
the war department while General
Oliver was acting secretary of war.
General Oliver did not act on It, but
forwarded Il without comment to
President Roosevelt.
The president then, Secretary
Wright says. Endorsed the report OF
the board and sent the paper to him,
who had just returned TO the depart
ment.
"The president, however, request
ed that no action be taken until
had consulted with him." Mr.. Wright
continued. "The presidents approval
of the boards yeeommendation for
dismissal did net mean that the
cadets were sentenced, because the
presidents action had no legal effect
until the secretary OF war had passed
on the matter and this General
Oliver had not done"
Prior to receiving this communion
ton from the president the cadets
had visited Secretary Wright. ex-
planned their case and impressed the
secretary of war with their frankness
Secretary Wright therefore was in
cllned TO be as lenient as possible.
and when he. conferred with the pres
ident at oyster Bay It can be as
sumed that he urged leniency.
CAS- the matter now stands" Sec
rotary Wright told your correspond
ent, 1--WE are looking over the papers.
examining the testimony, and will
take action later"
The Loeb Statements.
As explained to the press. Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Secretary Wright
and Secretary Loeb were all accurate
in their statements, although to all
their were contradictory.
Secretary Loeb's first statement on
July 25 was: "The president has
ALREADY signed the report. He Is
strongly opposed to hazing in the
army and navy. and he is going to
put his foot down in an exort to
stamp II out"
Later on. the same day. Secretary
Loeb said: "The president has signed
the order recommending dismissal"
Both these statements, It now APP
pears, were accurate. The report was
signed by the president, but had not
been signed by General Oliver as act
ling secretary OF war when it was
transmitted to oyster Bay. The re-
port did recommend dismissal, but
the presidents Endorsement did not
make the dismissal sentence eff
lective.
Dismissal Too Severe.
On August Secretary Wright in
ltlmated that both he and the presi-
dent believed dismissal would be too
severe punishment for the cadets
This was after the matter had been
lthreshed out at Oyster Bay, and did
not indicate that no punishment
would be melted out to the cadets,
nor did It imply that the more guilty
ones might be dismissed.