Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-08-20

of supreme national Importance. II
Dr. Eliots criticisms can be sus-
tanned. it is the manifest duty Of
congress and the secretary of war TO bring ABOUT
aIl changes necessary to III the institution TO us
high public purpose.
Representative Fred A. Britten of Illinois in-
troduced resolution requesting that certain I'M
formation be furnished the house by the war
department Representative Julius Kahn OF
California chairman of the committee on military
affairs wrote to Secretary or war Newton ~
Baker concerning this resolution. Secretary Baker
took this opportunity to write Representative
Kahn long communication, Which Is In purpose
and effect a formal defense of West Point and
an answer TO DIR. Eliots criticisms. In view Of
the supreme Importance of West Point as an
American institution, summary Of Secretary
Bakers defense is we'll worth printing
DR.. Eiiot's criticisms are as follows:
l. mo American school or college intended for
youths between 10 and 20 years Of age should
accept such ill-prepared material as West Point
,. mo school or college should have a com
pletely prescribed curriculum.
8. ''No 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.
A. 1.-THE graduates OF West Point during the
World War, both in the field and In business
Offices did not escape. with few exceptions, from
the methods which they had been taught and
drilled in during peace. The methods OF ngating
We're in the MAN. and the methods of sup
ply and account ought to have been new. The
red-tape methods prescribed TO the American
Regular Army officers of passing the buck were
very mischievous all through the actual lighting
and remain serious impeachment to the efficiency
of the department to this day.
In answering criticism No i. 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:
aFrom 1888 to 1915 the total number OF cnndi-
dates who have presented themselves for admis-
sion TO West Point has been 1919 OF these
1852 have been admitted. OF the residue AGO
were rejected for admission by the academic
board: 2746 failed to report; 921 were 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;
198 failed to complete the examinations; 1873 de
clined appointments after completing the examt
nation, and rs appointments were cancelled.
1T thus appears that the process of selection Il
countrywide; that the requirements, from purely
academic standpoint. adequately high, and
that the standards are r1gidly enforced
-Taking American secondary education az It Is
for rich and poor. In the city and In the country
east and west / persuaded that coIIeeg
drawing its students from wide Biographies
ares compares with West Point In the quality o.
the material which Il receives. and Il more uni
form excellence could be obtained by sectional Oh
class selection, surely the exchange would be
had one Tor the national constituency which III
academy has always had
A 10 criticism No. 2. Secretary Baker says h
does not attach any value 10 any opinion h
might express IS to the controversy between IN
xrescrfbe1 curriculum and the free elective sys
TENS of collegiate education But he says
cannot Be conceded that Vest Point has fixed
@aueiasxfc and uncnanging curriculum. He men
yftouS the appointment Of . board Of i1vestiga
tion In 1917 and says II y only enc a con
tsnusnu series o. investigations with the view Q
.sanssng re instruction % he demands whiri