New-York tribune., 1920-11-15
When Daniels Wasn't Brave

When Daniels Wasn't Brave
There has been a little hazing at
the Naval Academy. Mr.. Daniels is
reported as saying: 81 would just as
soon eXpel 1900 midshipmen as eat
breakfast" Very brave is Mr..
Daniels now we have had an cleo
ton. He is soon to return to North
Carolina. He has less fear of Con-
gressmen and the Influence" of par
ents of thousand midshipmen.
But Mr.. Daniels was not always
brave. In 1916, at the beginning Of
his reign, he cringed to political and
personal influence. Seven midship-
men found guilty of distributing or
using stolen examination papers
were recommended for punishment
or dismissal. The evidence was con-
elusive. The Assistant Secretary of
the Navy reviewed and confirmed
the decision and action of Admiral
tullam, the superintendent. And Mr..
Daniels himself directed that the
guilty men be dismissed. In fact.
the Department directed the superin-
tendent to dismiss two midshipmen
who were not technically as guilty
as the other five. But what hap
pened? Congressman, Senators and
Democratic candidates for Governor
of Maryland objected. The supcrin-
tendent was asked to relent. He de-
cllned and told the Secretary that
the guilty midshipmen must go or
he would go to sea. He declared
that the navy's standard of honor
was at stake. In that hour, when
military determination and dignity
were demanded Of him, the Secretary
tainted away. He revoked his de-
cision. He appointed another court
of inquiry. Three Congressman
and a political boss defended the
guilty midshipmen. Much of the
previous testimony, including con-
fessions, was ruled out. Fer lack
OF evidence, ruled out on technicali-
ties, only two of the seven were
finally convicted. 1t was a miscar-
riage of justice. The press and peo
pie of high standing realized and
rightly declared that politics had de-
based the Naval Academy. The
superintendent went to sea at his
own request.
Recently the Secretary has stated
to the Senate that he had sustained
the superintendent, and he reflected
upon the latter. This statement was
untrue. He did not sustain the
superintendent. On the contrary.
the superintendent was undermined
betrayed and deserted by the Navv
Department after he had demanded
and maintained the highest possible
standard of scholarship, duty, de-
ccncy, discipline. and, above all
things, honor, at the Naval Academy
And to make matters worse the
Secretary detached the chaplain.
than whom better man never lived.
and all but one of the heads of de-
partments. They were all officers
and gentlemen, and probably no
more efficient board ever ruled any
educational institution, military or
civil. The one head who remained
was Indignant. He, too, wished to
go. This action by the Navy De-
partment was q direct ENCOURAGE
ment of dishonorable conduct and
officers were reflected upon to pro-
tect guilty midshipmen.
And now the Secretary would
bravely dismiss 1,400 midshipmen
for hazing! We are informed that
the so-called hazing was Of a very
mild character. With few exceptions
it was what is known as running"
IN which no physical injury or per-
sonal discomfort Was involved. There
have always been certain harmless
restrictions imposed by upper class
men upon "plebes" at the Naval
Academy, as at all other colleges.
These boyisfi traditions are not Grim
lnal or bad. In some resnects tba;r
effect was good. In fact, all "plebe"
classes have willingly conformed to
these traditions.
1t must be plain that stealing ex-
papers, cheating and lying
Are much worse than hazing. Shall