The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-28
Anxious to Have the Insti.
tuition Purged of
Wrong.
POLITICS AT TRIAL
STRONGLY DENOUNCED
Extension of Privileges
shown to Have Had
Bad Effects.
sy a tar correspondent Of THE srN.

EU star correspondent W '"h So
AxxApoiis. June 27.--The issue with
which a court OF inquiry is wrestling
here represents more than the gullt or
Innocence OF few individual nhdship-
men or the possible culpabillty or negli-
ssrce OF officials OF the academy.
The question is whether the country
su has reason to retain its cherisneu
ee,iefs In the Naval Academy. May II
.,ll be regarded as one OF the nauons
strongest forces for character building.
tor the incubation OF those principles or
honor and integrity which are recognized
AS the essentials OF a gentleman ana as
.uording a splendid training for
career o, honorable and useful service
70 the country?
Careful investigation OF all the
sements IN what now appears to be
most dismal situation leads inevitably TO
ire conclusion that there is no reason to
doubt the fundamental soundness and
vholesomeness of the Naval Academy.
I, is true that n fostering sore is now
being exposed to the public with all its
dsagreeable details. and 1t is true that
rs poison appears to have been some
what disseminated through the system.
But once this sore is lancod and a
drastic local remedy applied the wound
may be counted on TO heal quickly. re-
Vorng a sound and healthy condition.
Growth of had Practices.
Such is the situation at the Naval
Academy. Practices begun without real
evil intent have eliminated in the un-
doubted theft and burglary OF examina-
Ion papers, an offence shockingly re-
pugnant to all the ideals which 1t is
sought to instili into the young men at
Annapolis.
Feet none too steady TO begin with
have been treading a path the dangers
OF which both the academy author1-
ties and the midshipmen themselves
seem to have failed to appreciate until
i led some individuals into acts which
require nothing less than the termination
o. their association with the naval ser
vice
It is the attempt to identify and
eliminate the tainted members and tho
natural resistance to this drastic remedy
that has wrenched and distorted the
Naval Academy body for the time being.
From the midshipmen themselves
comes the best evidence that this Is the
proper view OF the situation. There
are already manifestations OF deep
seated conviction that the honor OF the
academy regiment demands not only
that 1t be purged Of the presence OF
those Of guilty knowledge or act. but
also that for the future the midship-
men exercise a greater vigilance to
check the beginnings of practices which
are likely to lead TO acts rejecting
u upon the whole body.
The Perspective.
r Is not easy for those personally and
ultimately involved In the proceedings
% see beyond the present circumstances,
which are admittedly painful and dis
'resslng. To the midshipmen most
directly involved the present proceed
ings are a life and death struggle for
retention OF an opportunity for a naval
career.
The authorities see in the proceedings
Chiefly an effort TO overthrow the acad-
srny's decisions, to sacrifice the good OF
the institution as whole for the sake
q few individuals, and 10 subvert
military discipline by political influence
and the technicalities OF the law.
The immediate situation however, Is
difficult one. For weeks ii was not
. known just how the examination papers
were obtained and Just who was pri-
m'rlly responsible. but events OF the
last few days have indicated that 1t will
lot he long now before the whole truth
IS out
Further than that. however. there
= delicate problem Of measuring guilt
wacre does guilt warranting expulsion
rom the academy stop, and where does
a. least n presumable absence OF guilty
t'n" edge begin"
The peculiar circumstances OF this af-
''ir arc such that ii is difficult TO draw
t'e line, and II is this which Is really
me noIn, Al issue II is this which is
responsible for the fact that efforts or
counsel for the defence are directed,
oNi''y toward demonstrating that other
'"ishipm"u and officials OF the academy
'.' quit" AS much TO blame as their
clients
THIS issue hangs on the point whether
'' mldshipmen who saw the official
'l'"S Of the examination paper could
'f'' mad any reasonable doubt as to it's
,"ltcter The academy board Of in
N''' cation, Rear Admiral Fullam the
S'N'rlnt"ndent, and now practically the
'.''" acadomy. including the majority
o. I'm" mdshlpmen, hold that those who
S'' the original paper could have had
10 ''aSonable doubt as to its character.
"nScqucntly the academy authorities
'''" the lin" Of guilt and presumab BILE
..'' '"nce between those who saw the
original sheet and those who saw only
~ He'd copies of the original or copies
=" fragments Of the original. On this
p'Ind they stand to-day. They feel
Ni' those who saw copies Of the whole
o. PARTS failed In their duty IN not re-
no ng what must have appeared TO
mem at least a remarkable coincidence
''H they got into the examination
''r but this the academy officials con-
'' does not warrant either the pre-
Non Of guilty knowledge Or recom-
" a1Don for dismissal
no seven found by the acadcmy's
'V' OF inquiry to have seen the origi- |
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