The Washington times., 1922-06-16
MIDDLE EDITOR |
|SREbUKEOFOR.
INSULT To JEW
Acting Secretary Roosevelt
Officially Reprimands En-
sign J. L. olmstead-

Ensign ]. L. Olmstead. editor.in'
chief OF the Naval Academy Year
Book. was officially reprimanded by
the Navy Department yesterday for
the treatment accorded Leonard
Kaplan, a Jewish student, In that
publication.
The reprimand. one OF the most
singing ever to go forth from the
department, was penned personally
by Acting Secretary Roosevelt. II
will stand against Olmstead's record
always.
The incident out OF which the re-
buke grew was called to the Navy
Departments attention by Senator
Sutherland OF West Virginia, kap-
lan's home State. 1t consisted OF
publishing kaplan's biography In.
the Year Book on an unnumbered
page, which was perforated In such
a manner that 1t could be removed
without defacing the volume.
Although the Navy Department
considers the incident closed, sena-
tor Sutherland would not commit
himself until he has received reply
from his letter to President Hard
ing, calling attention to the treat
ment accorded the young ensign.
Colonel Roosevelt in his repri-
mand, said:
THE department considers that
your action in permitting the issue
Of this publication was cruel and
unwarranted. Others. especially
your associate editors. are undoubt-
: ~. nlGo r-,''''' ;~ SC~r~ measure in
this matter. but the primary respon-
q. e., .Ius. I,s. Upon you as ,di-
tor-in chief.
AT the outset OF a career in a
service which requires the closest
cooperation ana mutual trust
among it's members, your conduct
on account OF it's cruelty merits the
department strongest condemna-
tion.
"You have been guilty Of an ac-
ton which casts a grave doubt as
to your possession OF those qualifi-
cations essential to an officer in the
United States Navy. Your action is
neither in consonance with the
ideals OF the people Of the United
States nor in accordance with the
high standard Of conduct in the
service Of which you have become
a member.
You are hereby reprima nded for
are cautioned that the department
evidence Of a fundamental change
in your attitude toward your COM
rades in the service.
You are directed to acknowledge
receipt Of this letter. a copy OF
which will be filed with your Off
cial record"
In an explanatory statement. Col.
Roosevelt declared there was no
racial issue involved in the Kaplan
incident. He said:
Feeling as strongly as 7 do how
un-Amtrican any such distinction
as this should be, I have gone
most carefully into this phase. l
am happy to say that l am con-
vinced that, bad though this Incl
dent was, no such motive was be-
hind 1t. The records Of the acad-
emy show that in the class Of 1922
nine men entered their faith as
Jewish. Certain of these men were
among the most popular in the
class. Furthermore a number OF
our most prominent officers in the
past and at this time are either
Jewish or Of Jewish extraction.
The traditions Of our country have
always been exemplified by our
NOW We nride ourselves that in
the service there are no distinctions
of race or creed"
Officers who Investigated the af-
fair said that while eight Jewish
members Of the class subscribed the
register as either Jews, Hebrews
or reformed Jews, Kaplan wrote
mo religion" II was made plain.
however, that this was not looked
upon as in any way extenuatinE
the treatment he received in the
class publication.