The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-28
BOARD REFUSES
TO REINS I A TE
\. N. |. CADE IS
Pleas for Mercy Made
by Parents Prove
Unavailing.
MAY COME BACK
NEXT SESSION
Their Re-Enlistment Will Then
Be Dependent on Record-State
Cadets Lost Appointment.
Affecting Scenes at Capitol
as Friends and Rela-
tives Speak.

In the fncc of tho tears OF parents
+ and eloquent pleas for mercy from
friends and attorneys, the hoard OF
visitors Of the Virginia Military ln.ti.
lute inst night UNA nimousIy refused ia
rcfnstntc my OF the eighty membere
of the third class OF the Institute, which
was dismissed on February 70 for
mutfny. Those who appeared for tn.
former cadets were accorded full time
I'm which to state their case, and the
board showed the greatest sympathy
Tor Individual cases where the hnrd-
ships were fully recognized.
General Il. ". Nichols. the superin-
tendent made clear and dispa ssion.
ate statement of the case. and took
occasion to pay a high compliment to
the class as whole, for its position
against hazing. for Its Intellectual at
tainmcnts. and for It's good behavior,
heretofore. Further, he stated that the
onenge for which the class was ex-
pelled was committed entirely under
mistaken sense Of honor. But he was
forced to say. and was upheld in HE
View by the board, that The boys had
been guilty OF one objectionable sin
In military school-thc crime OF
mutiny, which is not TO be tolerated
in any institution purporting TO be
conducted with discipline. especially In
United States save the Military Acad-
envy.
May Start Anew.
The refusal to reinstats does not
prejudice the case OF any dismissed
cadet to apply for re-cnlistmcnt next
September as a new student. Each ap-
Splication will then be considered on It's
merits. each student admitted Will be
placed In classes In accordance with
K the results Of his entrance eMamina ton
and his former record Will be consulted
With a view TO barring him II tiis Is
: not satisfactory But their expulsion
stands; they have no standing In tho
school, and the State cadets lost their
appointment Under the circumstances
Il is not believed for moment tina
any one OF these can again secure tn.
tree tuition which he has forfeited
through his own conduct
To those who attended the
hearing, the difficult situation Of
the members Of the board Of WISH
tors was fully apparent. Tremend-
Gus pressure was brought to bear upon
each one Individuals Letters and
kilograms and personal appeals for
clenency deluged every member The
heartbrcaking stories of widows ana
OF parents who arc struggling TO give
their boys an education in the school
which is the pride OF the South. and
enough to wiring the hardest heart. But
the board stood firm for what 1t be-
lieved to be right, and it's members
will at least have the approval of their
own consc!ences They fully manifest
ed their possession Of that quality
known as backbone
Text of Resolution.
Fl The boards resolution was as fol-
lows:
"The board, having heard the report
Of the superintendent concerning the
causes which led UP to the dismissal
Of eighty CADETS on February 10, 20 and
81, 1911, and having nlso listened 70
the arguments OF parents md friend.
of the said er-cndets applying for re-
inntatement, mud having mnturcIy con-
sidered the entire subject, ungunlfhcdly
Endorses the action of tho supcrtnten-
dent, and In OF tho opinion Tint tho
discipline and hest interests OF the Viz
Einin Military Institute would not lie
promoted by Reinstatement OF my of
the snid dismissed cadets, md The
bOard In therefore cOnAtraIned to deny
Haid requests. This decision OF the
board, however, shall not prejudice the
case of any Of the cndcfs heretofore
referred to, who shaIl have the right
to apply for resent lHtment fn the Vir-
Einfa Military Institute Mt the begin
ming of the next academic year, the
tinEent upon review Of the cln.s
standing and conduct by the superin-
tendent, who shall have full authority
In each cnsc."
Nine Of the eleven members were
present when Chairman Rorer y. James
called the board of visitors to order
at o'clock yesterday afternoon. They
were. Rorer a. James. Danville; Col
onel Joseph Button, Richmond; Cap
tain Thomas l. Tate Pulaski; former
Lieutenant-Go Edward Echols
stanton: Superintendent of Public In
struct!on J. d. Ggglcsttn, Jr.. Rich
rmond; Adjutant General w. W. Sale,
Richmond; George w Browning,
Richmond; General c. &. Vaughan. Jr
Franklin. The courtroom Of the State
Corporation Commission, where the
meeting was held. was filled With rcla-
tives and friends of the eX-cadets
Statement or Case.
M Superintendent l.. w. Nichols was
asked to make statement OF the
whole affair as an introduction He
told of the troubles which led up 10
the dismissal oCthe third class. 1t be
gan. lie said. with the displeasurc OF
the boys at what they regarded as
'the overzealous actions of some of the
cadet officers. This was manifested in
the throwing or bombs and attempted
''roughing'' OF the officers. The third
class boys blamed the second class men
with these disturbances. which the lat
ter class denied. SIS
"a This situation had been going on
for about three days when the attcn-
5tion Of General Nichols was called to
continued on Second Page.l