The morning journal-courier., 1908-07-10
Famous Yale Graduate Who Fought Hazing at West Point Kills Himself
 in Philippines.
MEMBER OF LIT. BOARD
Organized Platoon in Spanish -Ameri- can War and Entered Marine Servlce--Well Known
 Here.

A cablegram was received In the city yesterday announcing the suicide in the Philippine Islands of Capt. James Wallace Broatch, Ph.D.. of the marine corps. one of the best known grad uates of Yale who gained a national reputation because of his efforts against hazing at West Point. and who later assisted in organizing the Yale platoon. No particulars have been re- ceived concerning the suicide, but 1t Is known here by his fellow members of the class of 1891 that he has brooded for years over trouble he was in at West Point, and that this combined with the solitude and monotony of the Philippines, caused his final determin- ation to take his life.
 James Wallace Broatch was an Omaha boy, the son of w. J. Broatch, prominent merchant there. He came to Yale with the class of 1891 and was one of the most prominent men In the class. He Is said to have been easily the most brilliant man in 'sl, though the fact that he held aloof from the majority of the members kept him from being especially popular. He made the Yale Literary Magazine and wrote some very beautiful prose and poetry which has since been printed in book form.
 At the close of the junior year, sev- eral months after his election to the Lit. he decided to leave college and was given an appointment to West Point. His father had been military man, and his ancestors had served in the different wars. His first year at West Point he was severely /hazed, and he did not enter a protest. but when he became an upper classman he refused to take part in the practice, and ac- lively opposed 1t, both with the stud ents and the faculty. This led to bit- ter feeling between himself and the other cadets. so that he finally was forced to leave.
 After leaving West Point he did not give up his fight against hazing and supplied various congressman with jacts which brought about the great change of feeling toward the brutal hazings in the nineties. Beside giving the facts to the congressman he wrote magazine articles against hazing, and the investigations which followed in the next few years caused the ,expul- sion of several of the cadets.
 After Broatch had been active against hazing and later in magasine work, for several years. he returned tc Yale, did the necessary work to get his A. B, degree and then took threc years course for Ph. D. degree Ht became very well known In New Ha ven and especially at the Graduates club. He finished hls PhD. work witf the class of 1898. but in the spring ol that year came the opening of tn, war with Spain, and Broatch getting the fever helped organize the Yalt platoon and went with 1t as a member to Mantle. At Mantle after few weeks he saw that the platoon woult probably never engage in active ser vice, so he left there and went into tht marine service. Hisiwork at West Polni hurt him with the officers who hat been in sympathy with the other fac tion at West Point, and so the rela tions were very trying for him. H. worked his way up however. through his devotion 10 duty and his persona bravery. and after the war became z captain in the marine service. Wher he came back from the front he wal sent to St. Louis for some time Fl, was then transferred to Guam, wher he spent several years. and lately hat been stationed In the Philippines.
 Broatch Is said to have brooded ove his treatment by his classmates a Nvesl Point, and at his difference
 w.'t other officers. While there wa active work he was able to keep hi n.iaa off these troubles. but during tn .asr five years he had become nor s:a more melancholy until he finall, idoN n's life