New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-18
INJUSTICE TO WEST POINTERS
It's Graduates Handicapped in Gain.
ing Entrance to the Army.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In regard to the shortage Of officers
that will exist in our army in time OF war
and the function which West Point fills in
the regular service, there are several points
that do not seem to have had consideration.
First, records will show that seldom, If ever,
hss tho cadet corps been up to the maximum
provided for by law. This is due to two
causes. The time of examinations is 50
fixed that if candidate from given dis
trct fails in his entrance examinations the
vacancy which he was to fill must remain
open for an entire year. Again, the laws
are such as to discourage any man who
wishes to enter the military profession from
doing so through the gateway of the academy.
Vacancies in the Differed ranks of the
army are filled first from the graduating
class at West Point; second, from the en-
listed men Of the army; third, from certain
military schools selected by the War De-
partment, and, finally, from civilian lie.
Now, notice the difference in requirements.
The law says in effect to the West Pointer;
"You are being sent to the best military
school in the world You will have the best
system of instruction that can be devised;
all your education will be along military
lines and will have for its object to graduate
YOU as nearly a perfect officer as 1t IS pos
sible to produce. But, in spite Of all thls'
our soons do not consider that you VIII be
fit to wear shoulder straps and take your
place among the other officers OF the army
until your full four years are up
To the enlisted man, however, the state
ment is different. Although 1t is conceoea
that the education at West Point is PROBABLY
the best military education TO be obtained 10
the world, it is by law declared so tar IN
ferior to that obtained in the enlisted RANKS
of the army that, while four years are 70,
quired at West Point, only two are required
in the ranks in order to gain commission
An illustration taken from my own eh-
perience will show how this works cut.
took the entrance examinations with man
whom will designate as A. | passed and a
failed I put in my four years and ai'ef
years service met A, also an ofhcer' a
maneuvre camp. He had been commissioner
from the ranks two years before was COM
missioned from West Point, and, as we were
both in the same branch of the service ~
ranked me just those two years. -.
The case of men commissioned from mill
tary schools is not so fragrant. but is never.
theless also unjust to West Pointers. bu'
the commissioning of civilians who nav"
never had any military training but "no
have political pull, is criminal
The answer is naturally 70 abolish "es'
Point instead of enlarging il, as you hs''
advocated. II costs the people of the Uni'ea
States millions of dollars, and takes gfe"s
number Of officers away from their regiments
for administration and educational purposes
II Congress feels, as it evidently does 'nSs
two years in the ranks, or four years III
run for-proiit military school, or the eNs,
else of their own judgment in selecting eN"-
ians from their own constituents-aH pt',,
duce officers equal TO and therefore entlueu
to rank with the graduates of West Point, why
maintain West Point at all? IL is obviously
useless expenditure of money at uhe
when government receipts are already iS'
behind the expenditures.
In view Of such discrimination il is not 70
be wondered at that West Point is not q"
attractive proposition 10 "a man who desires
u military career; and venture TO say 'nss
were the capacity of the Military ACADEMY
doubled the proportion of vacancies would
be very much greater than il is now. Per
sonally. / am absolutely loyal to West Point
and deeply apprecative of the spirit OF ia'
ness, of justice and Of the high sense OK
honor which is inculcated in its graduates.
without conceit, | believe our commercial
standards would be higher and our country
better il hundreds Of thousands OF men VITA
West Point ideals were injected into our
civilian life. But my advice, under present
conditions, TO any man who wishes 20 seiee.
the military as his life profession woula
be wiihou. question to let West Point alons
and enter the commissioned ranks OF mo
army through one of the other avenues.
J. b. W. GARDINER.
New York, Nov. Is, 1915.