The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-27
SIT IN JUDGMENT
ON Y. NJ. |. CADETS
Members of Board may Es-
tabliSh Precedent to Main
tain Discipline
BELIEVE CLEMENCY
DESTROYS DISCIPLINE
Officials Remember That
Three Dismissed Classes
Have Been Reinstated
Since 1880

President Rorer A. James. of the
board OF visitors OF the Virginia Mill
tary Institute. will rap his gavel in
the State Corporation Commission
court room at o'clock Monday af-
ternoon calling the members OF the
board to order for the purpose of
deciding whether the dismissed third
class shall be reinstated and open
ing what will probably be the most
important and memorable meeting Of
| that body in the history of the ia
nous school.
The future policy Of the institute
regarding its discipline will be de-
eiaed, and IL Is likely that prece-
dent will be established by the board
| In refusing to allow the reinstate-
ment of the 'mutinous and insubor-
/ dinate' cadets despite the almost
| overwhelming influence which has
been brought To bear in an effort to
procure feniency for the students.
Friends VIII Re There.
In addition to the distinguished
and representative Nirginians who
compose the board. there will be
present AS participants and specta-
tors OF the proceedings scores of pa
rents. guardians and other relatives
and friends OF expelled cadets anx-
| ious to intervene in behalf of the dis
missed class and present the case OF
| the students In such q light that the
| board will aseaansenaseS. their RETURN
| to the school.
While no definite plan OF procedure
! has been mapped out. members of
/ the board expect President James to
| open the meeting with n brief sum
mary ~ the case. II IL likely he Will
! be followed by Superintendent Mich
+ xsst4., b.. &c lausa n
! ing up to the dismissal OF the class.
I giving voice to his opinion concern
I ing the reinstatement of the cadets.
He will he followed by those who
( wish 10 make plea for the students.
! The plan to hold the meeting In
( the Office OF Superintendent OF In
4 suFance Button was changed in view
( Of the fact that there will be present
many more persons than were at first
/ expected. 1t liz believed that there
will be ample space in the Corpora
/ tisn Court room for all who wish
! To attend.
/ To Have Full Attendance.
! Among the members OF the board
4 who will. be presen nj. are -. Presidep T.
Rorer A. James. OF Danvilie, Colonel
! Joseph Button, OF Walkers Ford !;
General Charles J. Anderson. o: Rich
moBd; General G. c. Vaughan. of
| Franklin: Adjutant- General w. w.
Sale. of Richmond; Captain Thomas
4 l.. Tate. Of Draper: Edward Eehols.
/ of stanton. j. Ii. Eggleston, Jr.. and
! George L. Browning. OF Orange.
! DIR. j. f. Bransford. of Bon Air.
who is in Augusta. Ga. is not likely
! to attend the meeting. Colonel
l Francis l.. Smith, Of Alexandria. has
written to a fellow beard member
/ stating he is unable to attend the
meeting because OF illness,
While the opinion generally pre-
/ walls that the board will refuse to
reinstate the class member Of the
board said on Monday afternoon that
no prediction of the probable decision
| OF the board is worthy OF serious con-
! sideration.
Fourth Class Dismissed.
There have been four classes dis
missed from the Virginia Military In
| stitute for ofrenses similar to that
| which resulted in the dismissal of the
third class few days ago. In 1850
| the third class was dismissed and
later reinstated. In 1899 the first
/ class was expelled for insubordinate
conduct but was later allowed to re-
| turn 10 the school.
In 1907 the third class was dis
| missed for firing bombs from the
roof of the academic building with
| the exception of few students who
took no part in the escapade. The
| dismissed students were allowed to re-
turn.
(, This ieniency on the part of school
officials. II is said. has resulted in a
lack OF discipline which will seriously
impair the work of the institute unless
the students are brought to realiza-
ton that unseemly conduct will not
be overlooked. In the belief OF mem
bers of the board. the students of the
recently dismissed class expected they
| would be given the same consideration
extended to the classes previously ex-
PEELED.