New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-05
CADET HAZERS ANXIOUS
YEAR FOE THEIR FUTURE.
TRENDS of West Point Men See
Var Department officers.
IRON The rribune Rureau.l

ffrom The Tribune BUREAU
Washington, Aug. A-The War Department au-
thorities have already heard from the friends Of
the cadets at West Point who believe that sheir
future at the Military Academy is in jeopardy
ar result Of the recommendations of the special
board OF officers detailed by the superintendent OF
the academy TO ascertain who responsible for
the recent hazing The disposition OF the military
authorities in Washington is 10 encourage Colonel
H /. Scott. the superintendent. IN every way pos
sihie tn his plans for preventing the practice of
hazing
1t is appreciated here that the question involves
many niceties of definition II is almost impossible
TO draw the line between wholesome and legitimate
nun, in which young men may properly engage, and
the sort OF misconduct which is regarded cruel
and oowardly and which represents an unfair ad
vantage taken by senior cadets their juniors.
For time there were indications that hazing. sc-
cording 10 the latter definition did not exist among
the cadets.
Since President Roosevelt exercised clemency in
behalf Of West Pointers who were convicted of
haZing' the officials at the Military Academy have
reported a tendency the part of the cadets TO
regard the regulations rather lightly. This was
ioneseen Dy the superintendent when he urged Mr..
Roosevelt TO approve the recommendations Of dis
rnissal. Colonel Scott maintained that If the
academy authorities reversed the cadets
would get the impression that It necessary
only TO exert sufficient influence TO have the most
urgent Of academic recommendations ignored. and
the most conclusive OF official findings in q West
Point report aside
This prediction appears 70 be borne out by the
situation as II now develops in these latest cases
which are soon TO engage the attention OF the Sec
Rotary OF War Army officers generally are mani
Testing keen interest TO observe what viii be done
in the matter. and some Of them go so far as 10
assert that the discipline Of the Military Academy
is seriously involved in the question.
On July o. 1905 eigh: cadets of the Military
Academy suspended for hazing members Of
the fourth class They were William T. Russell
appointed at large and Harry G. Viewer. of Illinois
members Of the first class: Byron O. Jones, New
York; George W. Chase, New York; William w
frdde. Alabama, Isaac spaulding. Oklahoma. Will
lam Nole, Virginia. and James A. Gillespie, Of
Pennsylvania. members of the third class. This
action followed months work by investgat-
ing board
Two days later it was announced by Secretary
Loeb al Oyster Bay that President Roosevelt had
approved the action Of the West Point authorities
and that the men would be permanently dismissed
Then On August IL was given out that President
Roosevelt had seen Secretary Wright of The War
Department, TO whom the cadets had appealed, and
and had decided that the offence OF the boys had
been a mild ore. Secretary Wright said after the
conference that the President had come 10 the
conclusion that dismissal was too severe
Considerable public criticism OF what was con-
sidered undue lsniency followed Then on August
8 President Roosevelt gave out Official statement
denying that he had yet come 10 any decision
regarding the and that ali other reports had
been errors There followed conferences between
President Roosevelt. Secretary Wright and Colonel
Scott. in which Il suggested that all the men
be suspended for year and then renstated. Colo
mel Scott, however. insisted that for the sake OF
discipline more drastic punishment was needed.
Accordingly on August p II was decided TO dis
miss the two hrst-class men and suspend the other
six without pay allowance.
Secretary Wright. in explaining the apparent dis
crepancies in statements. said the President on
nrst receiving the report from Colonel Scott
ommending dismissal, had been inclined uphold
IL but had directed the Withholding OF the order
OF dismissal pending further investigation. In this
way, he said a wrong impression had gone forth.
one OF the forms of hazing practised was 20
compel ''plebes" late the first roll Of drums IN
the morning 20 gather each hundred ants in the
company streets and store them IN their lockers
u Anotller was TO make the victim hold HIS toes
against the underside Of the table while he ate
sbracing' knucking," tagging" cleaning rooms
ano earning socks were also enforced. In 1901 Con-
sress passed law forbiddng all forms Of hazng
81 the naval or military academies.
Colonel Scott himself during hts cadet days was
set back year for hazing