The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1920-08-26

DIR. EliOt's criticisms can be sus-
tained 1t Is the manifest duty OF
congress and the secretary of war to bring about
all changes necessary to tit the institution to Its
high public purpose.
Representative Fred A. Britten Of Illinois In.
troduced q resolution requesting that certain in
formation be furnished the house by the war
department Representative julius Kahn Of
California, chairman Of the committee on military
affairs. wrote to Secretary of War Newton ID.
Baker concerning this resolution. Secretary Baker
took this opportunity to write Representative
Kahn a long communication, which Is In purpose
and effect formal defense of West Point and
an answer to DR.. EliOts criticisms. In view of
the supreme Importance of West Point as an
American Institution, summary of Secretary
Bakers defense is well worth printing.
DIR. Eliot's criticisms as follows:
!. mo American school college intended for
youths between IS and 20 years Of age should
accept such illprepared material as West Point
accepts
2 mo school or college should have a com.
petely prescribed curriculum
g. mo school or college should have its teach.
ing done almost exclusively by recent graduates
OF the same school or college who are not teach.
ers and who serve short terms.
4. 1.-THE graduates of West Point during the
World War, both In the field and I'm busjpess
Offices did not escape, with few exceptions. from
the methods which they had been taught and
drilled In during peace. The methods OF fighting
Were in the main, new and the methods of sun.
ply and account ought to have been new The
redtape methods prescribed to the American
Regular Army officers Of passing the buck were
very mischevOus all through the actual fighting
and remain a serious impeachment to the efficiency
of the war department to this day.
In answering criticism No 1. Secretary Baker
sets forth the methods Of admission to West
Point by congressional and presidential appoint
ment, competitive examinations entrance exam
nations, etc. He then says, in part:
"FrOm 1888 to 1915 the total number of candi.
dates who have presented themselves for admis.
sion to West Point has been 1919. OF these
1852 have been admitted. OF the residue 422O
were rejected for admission by the academic
board; 2,746 failed to report 921 rejected by
the medical board; 573 were rejected by the Joint
action Of the academic board and the medical
board; sos passed, for whom no vacancies existed:
1913 failed to complete the examinations 1888 de-
clined appointments after completing the examl-
nation and 50 appointments were Cancelled.
ut thus appears that the process Of selection is
countrywide; that the requirements from purely
academic standpoint, adequately high and
that the standards are rigidly enforced
Taking American secondary education as, 1t g.
for rich and poor. In the city and In the country
east and west ] am persuaded that no college
drawing It's students from wide geographical
compares with West Point in the quality of
the material which II receives, and If more uni
form excellence could be obtained by sectional or
class selection, surely the exchange would be a
bad one FOR the national constituency which the
academy has always had"
AS to criticism No. 2, Secretary Baker saws he
does not attach any value to any opinion he
might express as to the controversy between the
prescribed curriculum and the free elective sys-
tens of collegiate education. But, he says. IL
cannot be conceded that West Point has fixed.
ineastic and unchangng curriculum He men
lions the appointment of board of nyestiga.
ton in 1917, and says 1t is only one in a con.
tinulng series Of Investigations with the view of
adapting the instruction to the demands which