Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-12-26
ACADEMY AUTHORITIES
SCOUT DANIELS STORY
Say Son Of The Secretary Re.
signed From Academy Only
For Reasons Given
MAY HAVE HAD FIGHT

While not making definite denial
of the published report that young
Worth Bagley Daniels, son of Secre-
tary Daniels. who recently resigned as
member of the fourth class, Naval
Academy, had whipped a first-class-
man in a fist fight, the Academy au-
thorities did not see anything in the
statement to warrant any sort of an
investigation.
1t was pointed out that, on the face
of the story. young Daniels had no
complaint. As the story went, he
thrashed the upper classman, so has
no grievance. Academy authorities
say. On the other hand. if the upper
classman had been guilty Of any kind
of bullying or imposition. he had been
punished enough by the whipping he
received, and the consequent mortifi-
cation.
The story is not taken at all SER
iously at the Academy. Evidently, its
teller had little acquaintance with af-
fairs at the institution" an official
said today. "The story is based upon
an assumption that plebes are bullied
by first classmen at the Academy. AS
a matter of fact, everyone knows that
from time immemorial the next higher
class to the fourth, the third. carries
out whatever bullying or hazing that
is done, while the members of the
first class are, in a large measure,
charged with the maintenance of dis
cipline and the carrying out and reg
ulating of Academy tradition and
customs"
The presence of young Daniels in
the Academy, the cradle of the serv-
ice of which his father is the head,
of course, created situation of much
interest and delicacy. This was known
to the authorities and it may be said
that means were found of knowing
just what his position among his
schoolmates was.
1t was known that, beyond any ques-
ton, young Daniels desired to be ac-
cepted as any other entering midship-
man. and had not the slightest wish
to presume in any particular because
of his relationship to the head of the
navy On the other hand, the vast
majority of the midshipmen readily
accepted him in the same way, in fact,
would have scorned to make it un-
pleasant for him in any particular or
single him out for any special annoy
ance. Undoubtedly, this would have
been quite different had the young
man presumed in the least upon his
position.
1t may also be said that the reason
given for young Daniels resignation
from the service-that he might renew
his medical studies-is accepted as al
absolutely frank and sincere state
ment 1t is known that he always haC
strong leaning for medicine, and al
boy used to associate himself with
| physicians whenever he could anC
even act as their assistant during
surgical operations.
Young Daniels knew of his fathers
wish that one of his sons would enter
the Naval Academy and finally become
an officer of the navy, and during the
period of the war entered into the
spirit of the period to the extent oi
making up his mind to become a mid
shipman. He has, however, always
preferred a medical career, and finally
decided to resign from the navy anC
renew his studies along these lines.
AS indicative of the position taken
by young Daniels as midshipman. is
the fact that he has always been un.
willing to take part in any sort of so.
cial function, not ordinarily open to
fourth classmen, on account of his
position as son of the secretary. There
have been occasions when only posi-.
tive order could make him leave the
place with his classmates to join his
father and mother on some occasion oil
the kind.
The above opinions are those OF
high officials of the academy who may
be presumed to be in a position to
know whereof they speak Some OF
the midshipmen do not speak so fav-
orably of young Daniels period OF
service at the Academy however Ac-
cording to their statement it is nc
secret that Daniels had the fight men
toned but they say that facts differ
from the published report in the i'm
portant matter that Daniels was the
one who received the whipping and
that he had to be supported to sick
bay.
IIEIIT. NEWTON HOME