New-York tribune., 1920-11-17
Daniels Urges
Jail Term for
Cadet Hazers
tCentlnued from page onc)

ing charges and the names of plebes
or fourth-clas men, who resigned af-
ter Identifying upper class men who
had hazed them. None of these names
had been announced publicly before,
nor had Admiral Scales announced the
designations of plebes who had made
hazing charges.
Baker names Midshipman Weiser, of
philadelphia, as one of those punished
tie was accused of hazing u midship-
man named Riddle Weiser, according
to Baker, is now confined to the Reina
| Mercedes as Dangerous man" and is
allowed no intercourse with other mid
shipmcn.
Midshipman r. w. Floyd, of Peoria
ILL.,, was the plebe for the hazing of
whom Baker was dismissed. Floyd's
| resignation was accepted the same day
! Bxker's dismissal was announced.
Midshipman }. H. Otto, of Philadel-
phia, resigned after accusing Midship-
man w. l.. Holm, of Kansas; w. D.
Parker of Massachusetts, and L. W.
granted leave of absence pending ac-
ceptance of his resignation.
This is the essential part of the
story told by Baker.
I'm spite of many assertions TO the
contrary, hazing at the Naval Acad-
emy at Annapolis is still in vogue.
The truth is that at the present time
the morale of the Naval Academy is
crushed.
The cause Of this dates back to
1919, when Admiral Archibald Scales
arrived at the Naval Academy. Worth
Bagley Daniels, son of the Secretary
OF the Navy, left this class almost as
soon as the armistice was signed. Of
n 0f l., II l.
the most frequently hazed.
I'm October, 1919, came the usual
trouble about hazing. 1t is true that
during the year 19l8-'19 it was not an
altopether uncommon thing to see a
plebe given such a physical work out
that he was only able to totter to his
room. In one case plebe was worked
until he tainted.
"A year ago the hazing trouble be-
gan The first public outburst was
sllenced by the upper classes knocking
OIL hazlng tor few days, but the sec
on report was not so easily quelled.
Public opinion rose when two plebes
attempted suicide by drinking Iodine
and INK. giving haing as their reason.
he authorities could see but one OF
two ways out OF the difficulty-frst.
by segregation, and, second, by making
the upper classmen sign pledge to
refrain from hazing.
"A Congressional investigation seemed
lAmmient, and the second was o1.ly
& logical step to counter it.. Accord
ingly the upper class men were gath
cred together in their different halls
sented to them. The midshipmen we're
told: Now, you don't have to sign this
pledge, but God help you if you DON'T
Examples of classes refusing to sign
similar pledges were cited and the
mldshipmen were told how these
Classes had been confined to their
rooms until the solitude became un
bcarable and they had finally agreed
to regain their liberty. 1t also was
suggested that the officials would
watch any man who refused to sign.
sign
Rear Admiral Scales, superintendent
Of the Academy, declined to discuss
Bakers statement.
The frequent hazing said to have
been received at the Naval Academy
by Worth Bagley Daniels apparently
have not left a great impression on
him.
Young Daniels is in Baltimore where
ne has been pursuing the grind OF
first year medical student .at Johns
Hopkins University since the opening
Of the college year. In an interview
to-day he revealed that his hazing
while at the Academy constitutes one
Of the least of his Worries
What they did to me didn't amount
to much," he said. 81 suffered only
to the same extent as other plebcs
and did not gain the impression that
| was being prosecuted because of the
Official position of my father. | left
the Academy not because of hazing
because had mapped out a medical
career before the war disarranged my
plans"