The sun., 1915-10-03
Hints That Political Influence Made
Scapegoats of Officers to
Save Cadets

deavoring to punish the accused mid
shipmen they would have Congress
make a thorough investigation OF the
Naval Academy. 1t has even been
waited on the breezes from the Poto-
mac to the Severn that the Secretary
declared in explanation OF his acts
that r. couldn't stand tie pressure.
This may lie true or not. yet in the
lanhuase Of naval officer good men
were punished for performing their
duty" Although 1t was known when
he was made superintendc mt that Rear
admiral Fulam was to stay but IA
short while, yet 1t is said in naval cir
Cles that upon his detachment he was
not given as high post as his rating
allied for. Before this upheaNil at
the Naval Academy the Secretary OF
the Navy and the Rear Admiral were
bosom friends
The case Of Prof Harry f. Smith.
/. :. y. who - one Of the officers de-
tached. has been the subject Of special
comment. He is graduate Of the
Naval Academy and a line officer of
the navy. He was the head OF the de-
partment Of mathematics. His depart
ment was not m any way involved in
the gouging scandal, nor he in the
academic investigation Of il. There
was no breath of SUSPECT, II against the
management of his section Of the
school. He was called as "A witness.
In a carefully prepared statement,
which the court Of inquiry allowed him
H.. f,,, IA.
the passing mark in tn. department
~ mathematics had IN the Roosevelt
Administration been lowered twice in
order to enable political anchor To
pass through the academy. In one
case the passing mark was lowered
from a5 to % and at another time
from 2j to %. The standard in the
mathematical course is below what II
used to he, testified Prof. Smith, who
further SAD that it has now reached
the danger line--that is, the academy
= on the verge of sending out officers
not Thoroughly equipped in mathe-
MATES to perform the duties uf their
'al,ng.
The members of the court heard his
statement with undisguised astonish
mcnt \ political anchor" in a class
~ midsh .pmen is one whose mental
abilities set the standard. one who has
Influence" enough at Washington to
pass the tests Of the academy. no mat
ter what his mark may he. Therefore
all above or equal to his standing in
the class will he sure to graduate
whether or not they make the tradi-
tonal and standard mark Of 2.5 out of
the maximum OF 4.
To this testimony Prof Smiths
friends attribute his detachment. Yet
in addition to his sins Of commission
1t is said thar he was guilty OF one OF
omission: he did not tell how many
times the academic board had lowered
passing marks,
Chaplain William &. Cassard. t. :.
~, was the officiating chaplain AT tn"
United States Naval Academy when
the court Of inquiry was in progress.
lie is "A man Of high attainments, sin
Cere attachment to the naval service
and zeal In his calling. He preached
direct doctrines to the midshipmen. He
constantly urged them to cultivate
honor. integrity and upr ghtness. When
he heard circulated and saw published
unfounded statements about the Of
fcers and the Naval Academy his in
dignation was aroused and he wrote "A
defence Of the school and it's officials,
which was printed In Baltimore
newspaper. When the changes were
made in the administration Of the
academy he was ordered to sea.
The chaplain accepted his deporta-
tion as became good soldier, and
even over his own name said in "A
card in print that he had been at the
Naval Academy two and half years
and thus gave the impression or sug-
sestion that he had been on shore duty
the regular allotted time OF naval
officer between cruises at sea.
The chaplin at his last SUNDAYS
service in the Naval Academy chapel
took occasion to thank the officers Of
the institution for the 10y al manner in