Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-09-07

Academy hSS reeCnCd point where Il
cannot be passed by Ter q number Of
years it has been perfectly welllSnown
20 people in touch with the Naval
Academy that hazing was still going
IN and that. except for a few years af-
ter the crusade of 1906. il was nearly
rs systematic and thorough as ever.
Midshipmen have not hesitated TO say
that they believe that every midship-
man now al the Naval Academy has
ben hazed and that all but a very few
nave taken Tart in hazine Certain in
cidents this year were of such q nature
that they c~uld rot be overlooked, ard
,n investigation was ordered by Ad-
miral Fullam and has just completed
iss work
|. 1t is known that several cases OF Sc
we're hazing were indicated. and that
quite large nun.be' of others of less
severity We're in evidence II was mis-
takerlv published that Midshipman
Wynkoop was hazed until he tainted.
Though the name of the victim was an
error, the incident was correct II is
known that ore MILDLY Is charg, q with
nazing a plebe" until he afinted bv re-
quiring long continued physical exer
cises of him. IN this connection it
may be noted that hazing Of a cruel or
brutal nature may be punished under
the law by imprisonment for a year, as
well as dismissal from the service.
II is understood mat the investigation
has had to do with only such bazing as
may have been committed since the
opening of the present academic year.
II will be difficult. in view of the situ-
alton. TO prevent al examination into
the whole practice at the Academy
The natural defense Of midshipmcn ac-
cused of hazing will be that they were
hazed themselves and that the system
is so universal that they thought they
We're carrying out the tradition ofthc
institution If this does not furnish
perfect defence, it will certainly be
used as palliation. There is little
ioubt that the whole matter will be
opened.
Those in position to know say that
the haZing system differs little from
that of ten years ago Probably il is
less systematized Undoubtedly, the
effort is made to have every new mid
shipman hazed IT probably succeeds.
but it is likely that the midshipmen re
ceive less hazing than they did form
erly, and it is insisted by most mid
shipmen that the hazing is seldom Sc
we're However, it can readily be shown
that some of the most objectiOnabye
features remain in full force.
New midshipmen are treated indie
Gently in the dining halt almost under
the eyes of officers; they are subject
to ''cussing out during which harsh
and improper language is shOwercG
upon them; and long continued and ex-
hausting physical exercises are re-
Quircd Cf then It is bard to say Just
why hte midshipmen show such attach
mont to the hazing system long iR dis
use among the advanced Institutions Of
learning-those most noted for the in
eulcatiOn of true morals and manners
but the attachement remains. The ma
jority think that the traditions of the
institution require that they undergo
it and in turn, inflict it when the sit
uauon changes Consequently, it is
found that the new classes submit
more willingly than ever to hazingnow
that the upper classes are not so able
TO enforce it as they were some years
ago
Certainly there is much to be done
at the Naval Academy. and Secretary Of
the Navy Daniels had, no dcubt, ocn-
sidered the step well when he selected
- go -,
portant posts in the service