Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-06
SOBER M|DD|ES NOW
Water Wagon at Annapolis
Driven by Capt. Bowyer.
THIRSTY ONES IN PERIL
One Cadet Dismissed for Intoxica-
ton on Duty.
ANOTHER SAVED BY CLASS
Comrades Offered to Take Pledge.
Authorities Hesitate to Enforce
Law Against Selling to Minors.
ANOTHER SAVED BY CLASS

Authorities Hesitate to Enforce
Law Against Selling to Minors.
Capt. John NJ. Bowyer. the new super
intendent of the United States Naval
Academy, is working hard to break up
the rum habit at Annapolis and to COM
pei all midshipmen at the academy to
ride on the water wagon.
He has already dismissed one midship-
man whom he considered undesirable"
and promises to deal out the same maxi
mum punishment for intoxication on duty.
Even If a midshipman becomes illuminat-
ed while off duty and away from the
academy it will go hard with him.
All this comes out through the publ-
cation of a portion of the hearings be-
fore the House committee on naval af-
fairs. The committee is with Capt Bow
yer in his attitude on this question and
will back him up to the limit. He also
has the unqualified support Of the Navy
Department.
Bowyer's Statement to- Committee.
Capt. Bowyer made the statement to
the committee that the law against the
sale gift of liquor to minors in An
napolis is not enforced. so far as he has
knowledge. and liquor is sold there to
both minors and candidates. He ex-
presses belief that the authorities of
Annapolis in his Judgment, would like
to stop it if they could but do not like
to take the necessary action
In order to eliminate drinking Can't.
Bowyer explained that he is prepared to
dismiss peremptorily; that he has placed
the members of the first class at the
academy on their word of honor to aid
the academy officials in wiping out in
toxication, and that in future cases of
this sort It is his intention to order a
court of inquiry in an effort to place the
responsibility upon the saloon keepers of
Annapolis for the. sale Of liquor to stu
dents at the academy.
Courts OF inquiry are by recent law
authorized to compel the testimony Of
civil witnesses. 1t Is under this plan
that Capt. Bowyer announces his inten-
ton to proceed.
Two Cases of Intoxication.
The fact that there has been consider
able indulgence in liquor at the Naval
~ in the testimony of Capt. Bowyer, but
Immediately aroused the attention Of the
members Of the naval committee.
yer had completed the explanation Of his
estimates and was about to leave when
he was called upon by Chairman Foss
for general statement on the condition
Of affairs.
How are the young men getting
along?" Mr.. Foss asked.
They appear to be settling down very
nicely" responded Capt. Bowyer, land
getting along as well as can be expected.
when 1 first came to Washington,
after taking command I told nv he
chief of the bureau OF navigation that
must look out for good deal Of drinking
that seemed to be going on down there.
I took it in hand and there have only
been two cases.
Zone occurred on the practice cruise,
the person being midshipman OF the
second class. He had been on watch in
the fireroom and got his liquor from an
enlisted man.
''He got drunk shortly after O'Clock
in the afternoon, not having been ashore
at all. He was found in that condition
about a:15 in the evening. showing that
his drinking had been kept up during the
interval He was dismissed
Not Allowed to Take Pledge.
Capt. Bowyer told the committee the
other case occurred Thanksgiving day.
1.-The class" he said, took action In
relation to this case and asked me to al
low them to pledge themselves In his
behalf that none of the class would drink
during the remainder of the time they
were attached to the academy il I would
let him of.
Il am opposed to pledges. however.
do not think 1t is fair and proper for all
the other members OF a class to be put on
a pledge because one member has misbe-
haved himself
$50 i told them that II they would
make a statement that they would put
themselves on the side of the authorities
to help break up drinking among mid
shipmen that would be all would ask
them to do. They did so.
There were certain mitigating circum-
stances in the case Of the midshipman
in question who had been found intoxi-
Gated. He was not on duty; he was on
liberty, and had visited certain friends
of his in town and had taken too much
refreshment in the way of eggnogg. So
accepted his excuse in part, and re-
duced him in the ranks and gave him
a number of dement's
Il think the first class has now taken
hold of the matter just as II they were
officers, and that they are trying to pre-
vent any intoxication. But the difficulty
out OF town and to minors"
What do you suppose 10 going to be
the career Of that boy? How old is he?"
Representative Bitter asked.
Nineteen years DID," replied Capt
Bowyer.
what do you suppose will be the ca
reer OF a man of that kind?'' repeated
the representative. adding. 'how much
use is he going to be to the navy II he
has contracted the rum habit when he is
boy?'
Capt. Bowyer replied:
LAS I understand it. he is under
pledge to his classmates"
Two Cases Of Hazing.
He was then asked by Representative
F'oss whether there is any hazing at An
napolis and replied:
There have been only two cases OF
hazing-two people together. who belong
ed to the second class: two second-class
midshipmen
They spoke to fourth-class midship-
man, and one of them said: You go to
until coxzao,