New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-27

papers were not Of much Importance
Nevertheless, ne recognized that GER
tain questions tested the knowledge OF
studies in certain classes.
Asked if he had noticed the line
thine. 2 hours and 20 minues. Bell:
1896 A. NJ" he said he had not no
ticed il, though it was on at least
four of the papers he had in his pos
session. He did not have any idea
who sent the envelope. He had re-
ceived about fifteen such anonymous
envelopes.
Meanwhile there occurred another
astonishing incident. On the morning
of May "a it was discovered that some
exceedingly adrot and skilful person
had broken into the Department of
Physics and Electrical Engineering.
At the rear of the room three drawers
had been broken open. In order to get
at these drawers it was necessary 70
remove a heavy iron bar laid across
the three drawers and locked to one
of three heavy steel staples to which
the bar was fitted. All three drawers.
including the one in which the ex-
aminations were kept. were sprung and
opened by means of some powerful in
strument. This discovery was made
on the morning of the oath. The ex-
animation was held on the 25th.
A few days before this examination
Midshipman C. c. Gill approached an
employee of the Physics Department
and offered him $50, and finally SIS,
for copy of the examination. When
the employe reported this attempt at
bribery Midshipmsn Gill said he was
merely running" him. Gill was dis
missed.
A few days after the annual exami-
nations Midshipmen Cronan and Byers
were caught in the Offices of the De-
partment of Mathematics, the door to
which one of them had unlocked.
Byers escaped pursuit, but was later
found with the key in his possession.
Cronan was caught. Both were dis
missed.
1t was the occurrence Of such a
number of astonishing incidents, all
of them exceedingly rare, so far as
had been known, and most of them
unheard Of, that led to the calling of
the Court of Inquiry.
What Dope" Means to Middies.
The counsel for the defence have
made much use Of the word dope"
a term familiar in midshipman slang
There are three well known kinds OF
dope" all of them legitimate. To the
officers at the naval academy they are
known as Cd review sheets, ~ any
notes written down in class or else
where by midshipmen, (3) oral advice
given TO midshipmen by officers and
instructors. This advice concerns the
emphasis 10 be laid by the ndship-
men on the most important or essen
tial parts of their studies. II is not
only legitimate that the officers should
give such advice, but it is their posi-
tive duty to do so, more especially IN
view of the crowded curriculum at
the Naval Academy.
Some of the departments Of techni-
cal instruction issue from time to
time review sheets" These are often
called "dope" by the midshipmen,
since the questions are not blocked
off in sets, and are not numbered, as
they are on the examination, with Ro-
man numerals, printed above each
"block" of questions or whole ques-
ton. This evidence, easily understood
when once seen, makes plain the con-
tention of officers who testified that
no midshipman could by any manner
/ of means mistake an examination
paper for review sheet, or, as the
counsel prefer to call it, dope
sheet"
Still more important is the fact that
the Modern Language Department is
/ the one department of all others at
the Naval Academy which does not
| issue review sheets. The midshipmen
are well aware of this-all of them.
Political Influence Stalks.
When the culprits are discovered. il
/ is hardly conceivable that politi-
cal influence will be able TO save
them. no matter how powerful
that influence may be. That polit-
ical influence has tended 10 thwart
the action of the superintendent Of
the Naval Academy in the past, on
many occasions. is only too well known
to naval officers. Not once, but many
times, officers who have striven to up
hold the dignity, the standards and the
honor Of the Naval Academy have been
hampered, and their recommendation
turned aside by the power OF political
influence. This time, fortunately, the