The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-28
tho reinstatement OF secret societies.

tho reinstatement OF secret societies.
which ore now forbidden.
The, audience was dcluged in tears
over the tragic appeal made by
Charles F. Mansfield. Assistant Attor-
ney-General OF Illinois who came from
Monticello. in that state to attend tho
meeting. He pleaded for his own boy.
saying 1t had been the dream Of his
life that he should be educated ut the
institute. He was overcome with emo,
ton, and SO were many of those pres
ent when with all the force at his
command no asked for nothing but
mercy for hts boy. General Nichols
sdded his personal tribute 10 young
Mansfield, whom. he said. was ut the
head OF his class and OF perfect be-
harior.
Take Back as Class.
General John E. Roller. OF Harrison.
burg. ono OF the few surviving gen.
cral officers OF the Confederacy, asked
that the boys be taken back as class
and not individually. going further
than the other speakers in this re.
gard. He thought the class might
have q grievance, and related an occa.
sion when a friend told him that the
drill was too much like martinez treat
ment. The generous thing, he thought.
was to readmit the men as body.
The great majority of the cadets,
said General Roller. We're destined for
civil life. and he did not see the neces-
sity for such rigid discipline in times
of peace.
Walter E. Addison. of Lynchburg
spoke against placing the brand OF
shame OH the boys. who had no wiser
head to counsel them and no oppor-
tunity to consult with their parents
They were, he said irresponsible 10 Il
large extent. and without the balance
of older people. They were not guilty
OF cheating or grave offenSes OF that
sort. but only of mistaken sense OF
honor. He asked that the board tenn
per Justice With n reasonable degree
of mercy.
Three Generations.
After DR.. J. j. wiltshire. OF Balti-
more. had said a few words along the
same line, Dallas Flanagan spoke for
his son. Both these men came from
their homes to attend the meeting.
Mr.. Flanagan told how his father and
himself had both been educated at the
institute. and how both of them had
been dismissed and later reinstated
through the mercy OF the board and
he asked that the same mercy be en-
tended 10 the third generation. lIe
thought penalties would not deter boys
from doing what they thought right.
and that the enforced dismissal would
not DO Il guarantee against future
trouble
Judge George l. Christian repre-
sented a kinsman lie said the par
ents would be the ones punished by
keeping the boys away until Septem-
Der. lIc thought the cadets should
have been heard after they came to
their senses. He did not think final
Judgment should have been pronounced
until the accused had been heard. As
matter Of fact, he believed the dis
missal would cause some ennity to-
ward the school
II. NJ Dickson. OF Norfolk, talked
along the same line.
J Boys Tried to Command.
. In conclusion General Nichols made
answer to Judge Christian. He said It
was deplorable that he did not know
of the complications i'll the case In
time to take the matter in hand. when
lie might have Strengthened it out BY
advice The action of the boys them
selves prevented this The command
ant OF cadets reported 10 him that the
boys had said they would not return
executing on the terms they had laid
down. General Nichols then sent his
adjutant 10 see them. and met q dele
cation from the class coming to the
institute with the ultimatum. It was