The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-10-18
KAlIaG RENEWED
At WEST POINT
AUTHORITIES ARE DETERMINED
PRACTICE SHALL STOP IN
MILITARY ACADEMY.
MANY OFFICERS DEFEND IT
Believe II Tends to Check Snobbish-
ness and Put All Cadets on a Level
Lads Have Hard Work and Little
Play.

Washington.-War department off,
cials are disturbed a little because of
the recent recrudescence OF hazing ut
the United States Military academy at
West Point. Some r cadets, all year
lings, which means that they have been
n year at the academy, are accused
OF "deviling" newly entered cadets.
For years On years hazing was "A reg
ular practice at West Point, and there
are army officers today who will lay
hand on sword and swear that hazlng
Is a good thing for the service. No
matter what some of the officers may
think about 1t, however, 1t Is the set
intention of the government to root Ii
out and 1t can be- taken for granted IL
proof of guilt In found the accused
cadets at the academy will receive
severe punishment.
The reason that many army officers
think hazing IL n good thing Is that
they hold II Is employed largely to
keep the school what the fathers of the
country intended II should be-a dem
ocratic institution. Nearly every year
there enter West Point sons OF proml-
nent men. or OF rich men, and some
few of these seem to think they are
better than the cadets whose fathers
are laborers or men of no means. The
hazing of the snobs, army officers
,.aim, tends to put all the cadets on a
level and TO take n lot of foolishness
out OF the happily few young fellows
who 10 not really understand that
this Is a democratic country.
General Mills Stopped II.
Some years ago Gen. Albert A. Mills,
who died recently, was made the super
intendent of the school at West Point.
He had just been given n medal Of
honor for conspicuous personal gal
lantry at the battle of lei Caney. where
he had lost an eve and where he stood
on the field at his post for two hours
almost sightless and suffering intense
pain. Mills stopped hazing, but now IL
seems TO have reappeared I'm at least
some small measure.
Obedience and discipline are the
foundation stones Of the success OF n
soldier. according 10 NIL the authorities
who judge solely by the results OBJ
tanned. Disobedience of orders means
dismissal from the military academy.
Disobedience Of direct orders Is n
thing practically unknown at the
school. attractions of regulations may
I'm n sense be termed d~isobedience. but
they are never so regarded In any of
the worlds schools. Boy nature would
needs be remade If the rules Of any in
s~titution were to be kept to the letter
Of the law.
Discipline az West Point Is rigid to
severity. So far as disciplinary methods
are concerned, the school never
changes. II Is the same today as II
was in the days OF Grant and Lee and
Of their forerunners.
Little Play At the Academy.
Take a day AT the academy and CON-
pare Its duties with those OF other In
situations. no matter of what country.
and II will be seen that In comparison
70 the cadets labor the work OF the
students at other schools Is but play.
During certain months OF the year
there Is absolutely no play at West
Point. Drill In the open air gives the
requisite exercise to keep the physique
right. and fer recreation apparently
there Is no need.
The Autine has changed a little
with the passing years. but In a gen.
eral way the days program at the
academy is like this:
Reveille at 8 o'clock; roll call nj
$50; breakfast Mt CPS; guard mount
at 7:15; recitations and study hours
from 8 until L; dinner I until 40
recitations and study from . until 4,
drill from A until 500; parade at 8 $50,
supper at @; study from 7 until $50
tattoo, then taps and sleep.
There are M recitations at the Unit
ed States Military academy on Satur
day afternoons, and the cadets are
given what Is called release from
quarters" with permission to visit ons
another In barracks, or to a about
luc itcSi Ndtlohs tahihS Suod Ndlt, VII
der pain OF dismissal, to keep from
going off the limits.
Release from quarters never comes
for some cadets. The breaking of som
small rule means confinement to quar-
tiers or the walking of extra guart
tours. The boy who unwittingly put,
on q pair OF white trousers having an
iron rust stain on them and wears then
at drill or at dress parade will know
no release from quarters for days
Should a speck OF rust be found or
his rifle at Sunday morning inspection
ne will shoulder that rife and wall
two hours up and down the area o
barracks as a sentinel withou
charge" while his more fortunate com
rades are experiencing the ecstac.
which from permission to ram
BILE about the parade ground and t
view the hotel and other delights o
civilization from a distance.
Mr.. knaog Turns.
Mrs. Knagg--You should stop I'D