The Washington herald., 1915-07-04
Forms Of Hazing.

Albert Jeremiah Beveridgc thought so when he
made his first speech in the United States Senate
He had made a tour of the Philippines and Rus
STA before he took his seat in the Senate and hi
had not fully warmed that Senate chair before
he bobbed up to tell the Senators just what to dc
with the Philippines, and the dangers to be en-
countered from Russia and Japan.
That speech of the most entertaining
delivered in the Senate at that time and the people
in the galleries enjoyed it, but very few of the
Senators heard it. They did not approve the for
wardness of this Senator from Hoosierdom,
and they retired to the smoking room or wandered
off to committee rooms. They hazed Senator
Beverage just and women, boys and girls
have hazed the recruits in public life, in bust
ness and social life and in school, ever since the
food The Senators have always hazed men,
bers and have the Representatives, but few
years ago these grave legislators made law
against hazing in the military and naval academies
and they fixed the penalty of dismissal for any
cadet midshpman found guilty of hazing. Sec
rotary Daniels announces that he will order the
dismissal OF any and all middies found guilty by
the board now investigating hazing at Annapolis.
1t lis just we'll that the investigation is being
made by naval officers who graduates of the
academy and fully acquainted with the rules and
traditions OF the navy.
No one ever mistook admiral for jackie
as Gen. Grant was sometimes mistaken for
private when he was prowling around the camp
or outside of it, to see what he could When
the admiral is on the quarter deck other naval
officer may approach that sacred precinct except
under orders. All naval officers including the ad-
mira, must salute the Secretary whether they like
it not. That line of distinction and Difference
down through the navy even to the plebe
class in the academy, and what may appear like
offensive hazing to the outsider may be only a
respect for rank and tradition among those who
understand and participate.
Congress did not dfferentate in the law. 1t
simply condemned and penalized hazng without
defining it. 1t would be necessary for the naval
officers to interpret to certain extent, and not be
harder on the midshipmen than they are on other
naval officers who insist upon rigid recognition
of rank. A first classman has privileges not given
to a second classman, and third classman has
privileges not granted to plebc. These privileges
may be carried to dangerous extremes, but they
rarely are.
Some years ago brilliant youngstcr entered
the Naval Academy and was hazcd. He was COM
PEELED to hold up his hands and swear to address
all upper class men Sir To his high spirit it
was an indignity, and he resisted. He met other
ike jars to his dignity and independence as he went
through the academy, and his troubles did not end
here. He met the same embarrassm in the /
navy where other officers gave him impressive OBJ |
Get lessons in the old theory that man must
lnow his place and keep it even in the service of
l great democratic government. Finally he re-
signed from the navy because he began wrong
md had the persistency to continue in his course
It was example of hazing.
1t doesn't pay to take too seriously petty prac-
ices OF enforcing recognition of rank and place
ven when we have a drastic law against it. made |
~ a great Congress which has practiced hazing
rom the date OF its organization and still prac-
ices hazing its new members. II the mid
hlpmen are guilty of practices that injure the
'ody rather than the spirit OF the pebes punish
hem, but don't get into the realm OF deciding
What hazing is offensive to fresh youngster who
he idea that his appointment to the Naval Acad-
my put him pedestal as a little better than
rs fellows. He'll get over that in time and little
azing, such they practice in the Senate and
House, will help him to get rid of his egotism
ooner. Then he will want to help haze other
resi- youngsters. 1t is the way OF human nature
nd the letter OF the law of Congress against
azing at the Military and Naval academies. ap-
lied to society and business and public life would
ompel us to reorganige everything and wait for
Wings to sprout before began the reorganiza-
ion.