The sun., 1909-05-07
BEAR CAUSES COURT.MARTIAL
SHIFT IN MASCOTS LED TO
r,pT. FRANkLIN'S TROUBLE.

Arm, Theory OF His Court.dartiai-He
and Col. scett Have disagreed cve.
MANAGEMENT OF Athletics at West
Point. where He's Been Commissary.
WASHINGTON, May 6.-According to
amy officers here the West Point turmoil
rbicb will result in the court-martial
+, New York in the latter part OF May
II Can't. Thomas Franklin all began
with teddy bear-a real. live teddy bear.
The bear played the part OF a mascot
,tbe Army-Navy football game in Phila-
dolnhia in November, 1907. and did IL
60 mserably that West Point lost the
,.me Capt, Franklins court-martial
r,ovs largely out Of the fizzle that that
oontemptible bear specimen made. The
amy folks say that if the West Point
boys had stuck to the old reliable army
mule for a mascot perhaps Franklin
might have escaped the coming trial.
The mule wasn't used and the bear
VAS The army lost the game and in
the row that followed some one thought
Il wise to look up Franklin's record as
,ommissary of the cadets mess for six
wears. Franklin WAS one OF the hckers
about the bear.
When the big football game OF 1907
was played on Franklin Field the army
reople were surprised to see new kind
of mascot led down the army side OF the
field Some one had sent out to Michi-
gan and had got a wee brown bear. with
enormous ears that stood out like bats
wings, and had brought him on with a
keeper for the game, He was led down
the line and the West Point boys were
surprised. SO were the army officers
present At once the inquiry was made
as 10 why timid, scared bear was brought
on the field for an army mascot. Only
few knew. and they kept still. The
rest feared it would be an omen OF bad
luck. Soon a whisper went around that
the bear was ordered when it was thought
that President Roosevelt would atten d
the game, and that possibly he might
regard the matter as a delicats compli-
ment Then. too. it was whispered that
the President mi ght ask about it. and
who could tell what might follow in the
way Of promotion.
After the bear had been introduced
properly he was taken of to corner and
then the old time Navy goat. with horns
gilded and his butting apparatus in fine
order. was led out. Great enthusiasm
greeted Mr.. Goat He was proud mas
cot His head was up and he was ready
to slam into a locomotive. There was
nothing cringing about him. dapper
midshipman led the goat across to the
Army stand. The West Point boys arose
in body and saluted and shouted. Then
the midshipman took tho goat down the
line TO where little Teddy covered. There
was an introduction. Mr.. Goat said
how by lowering his head and making a
nlsh. Teddy scampered and whirled
his chain about his keepers legs and the
keeper went to grass amid the howls OF
5000 spectators. 1t was surely bad
dgn for the Army. Events proved 1t
70, for the Navy won a to 0.
The West Point folks went home. sore
about that bear Soon there came a
peeting Ct the Athletic Association.
L had become known that the treasurer
he'd paid a sum amounting to several hum
cred dollars for car fare, keepers pay, DC.
for the use Of that teddy bear. 1t came out
that Col H. l.. Scott. the superintendent
at West Point, had approved having the
rear brought on and had told the treas
urer Of tine athletic association to pay
the bill II is asserted that there was no
authorization by the executive committee
70 ncur such an Indebtedness and that
one Of the rules OF the association was that
all Indebtedness should be authorized
beforehand Col. Scott was not an officer
Of the association and it was said that
he had no right to order the treasurer
10 pay such a bill, to the everlasting dis
grace Of the time honored mule as a
mascot
At the meeting Of the association those
VINO were sore about that bear listened
intently for an item in the report about
the bear. 1t was not there. There was a
miscellaneous item and-the bears cost
was included in that. Forthwith there
was n demand for more details. Capt.
franklin was the leader in that demand.
The treasurer said he did not have the
items for the miscellaneous heading. Capt.
Franklin moved for a recess and said
that the treasurer could get the items
from hs Office in five minutes. There
was a rumpus over it. Col. Howe pre-
sided and wouldn't put the motion. There
were some frank remarks to the effect
that any man who wanted to advertise
should pay for it himself.
That storm blew over. Then came
another when Capt. Franklin wanted
I" know about the rumor that Col Scott
had had about six hundred tickets for
The game and had given them away
fvshly. Franklin said the commandant
undoubtedly had many demands for
tickets which he ought to crafty, but a
AAed number ought to be established
Col, Howe refused to entertain a
motion TO that effect and said that he never
would put il while he remained presi-
cent ot the association. 1t is asserted that
franklin told him that some time he
might not he president and that the time
ieht come that very evening. Fifteen
minp''s later Col. Howze was defeated
l"r pres dent Of the association and the
iirger trouble was on.
tol scott. it IL asserted, felt humil-
a'ed hy the reflections made against him
AID especially by Franklin's outspoken
remarks He made change in the
Ia