New-York tribune., 1912-02-21
.HOBOKEN HAz|NG AWFUL
Freshmen Had to Roll Pennies on
Floor with Their Noses.
PRESIDENT ADMITS WORST
But Head of Stevens Institute Is
Not Going to See Taft About
Terrible Sophomores.

The famous hazng incident OF Stevens
Institute of Technology, In Hoboken' ana
the subsequent threat of the thirty-seven
sophomores to strike If any one was pun
ished were explained last night as vastly
exaggerated by President Alexander Z.
Hunphreys at the annual dinner OF the
alumni association of the institute at the
Hotel Astor.
And I'm addition to this official explana-
tion Of the circumstances which surround
cd that awful incident which had shocked
a Brooklynite to such an extent that he
wrote to Mr. Humphreys that the guilty
men ought to he put I'm Jail and that Pres
idpnt Taft should look into the matter
there was the story of the real happen
ings passed around the tables by men
who ought to know, for they were right
there and saw IL. The worst that hap
pened was that sophomores broke few
doors and, gaining entry to the rooms or
the freshmen. made them go down on the
floors and push pennies with their noses
and other tricks of similar ingenuity. 1t
was said with some emphasis that no
freshman had been submitted TO a snow
bath
DR. Humphreys brought the whole affair
I'm the light of humor with his first words.
He read a few newspaper clippings in
which he had been berated energeticaly
for his failure to uphold discipline in his
college. and the alumni applauded him en-
Enthusiastically when he explained what was
actually done. He said that, in the first
instance there was no squesling by any OF
the freshmen, and, even il any one Of them
had desired to say something, he would not
have permitted him TO do so, because he
did not encourage the squealing practice.
Then everybody got a hearing. he said.
large number OF the students had
signed a petition generously taking the
blame upon themselves. and the men whom
he described as having evidently been the
ringleaders told the whole truth.
The consideration that dictated leniency
end the only consideration, Or. Humphreys
said. was ;hat through II the desire for
absolute elimination OF hazing could be in
creased. man who Joined a fraternity. he
said. voluntarily gave himself TO an initia-
ton and submitted himself to certain in
Glgnites. hut there was no other occasion
for an exercise OF the hazing idea
Dr. Humphreys then turned to the dis
cussion OF more important problems and
particularly a greater Stevens Institute.
He said the curse OF all American educa-
ton was superfciaIty, and that not per
cent of boys should 60 to college. To hold
out this goal Of the college to poor boys,
he said. was in many instances equivalent
TO disqualifying them for earning a living,
because they were taught all kinds Of
cultural education without having received
tho proper Foundation.
I'VE pride ourselves on our public
schools" he said but | honestly believe
that there Is no civilized country that Is so
far behind as we are. when we consider re-
suits We don't teach efficiency I'm our
schools. There are educators who think
that all education and culture is found
within the college walls. They forget that
all we can do is TO lay solid foundation
and let the man, as he must do. learn his
profession. after he leaves the college"
There were nearly five hundred alumni
present. John w. Lieb. jr.. vice-president
OF the New York Edison Company. was
toastmaster. other speakers were JaSes
r. McCleary. ice-president Of the Ameri.
can Iron and Steel Institute; Job T..
Hedges. William +. Zimmerman. OF Pitts
burg and Nicholas II. Hill
Among those present were Admiral
George W. Melville. the Rev. Or. william
r. G. Jenkinson. James Bertram. George
Dinkel. Captain c. A. Carr. Franklin X.
Kirkbride Howard T.. White Commits
sioner J. f. Sague. H. II. Adams and A. ID.
Chandler.