New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-16
Navy Sternly
Rebukes Ensign
For Kaplan Jest
Official Reprimand Placed
OH Olmsiead's Record
Characterizes Action as
Cruel and Unwarranted'
Warned Against Attitude
B Other Jews in Class; Act
ing Secretary Roosevelt
Finds No Racial Prejudice

y a
-nsnd was issued to-day by Acting
Secretary OF the Navy Roosevelt 70
Ensign ] l.. Olmstcad. editor In chief
Of "The Lucky Bag" the year book OF
the 1922 class AZ the Naval Academy,
Tor permitting Objectionable references
20 Leonard Kaplan, a member o. tne
class. 20 be printed in the publication
The r0primand dispatched % Ohm
stead. who is on the battlesfip Wyo.
ming. said his action was cruel and
urvarranted' and "merits Tho depart
ment's strongest condemnation. The
Letter further informed Olmstcad he
action casts grave doubt ~ 20 your
potsession Of those qualifications es-
ssntiAl 20 an officer in The United
states NAVY" and contained warning
that the department expected an i'm
provement in his attitude toward his
comrades in the service
The letter q reprimand. which was
placed on Oim'tead's record, is com
plete as follows:
your statement Of May % 10 the
superintendent o. the Naval Academy
concerning the treatment OF one OF the
members % your class in THE Lucky
Bag. Of which you arc editor In chief,
has been received. and Is satisfactory
neither 20 tho superintendent nor 10
the department.
"The department considers that your
action In permitting the issue OF this
publication WAS cruel and unwarrsntcd.
Others. especially your associate edi-
tors. arc undoubtedly also guilty IN
some measure IN this matter, but the
primary responsibility must rest upon
you IS editor In chief.
AT the outset Of your career in q
service which requires tho closest CO.
operation and mutual trust among its
members. your conduct by its cruelty
20 a comradc merits the departments
strongest condemnation.
you have been guilty or an action
which casts grave doubt as 10 your
possession OF those qualifications essen
tisl 20 an officer In the United States
navy. Your action is neither in con-
sonAnce with the IDEALS % tho people
az the United states nor in accordance
with the high standard Of conduct IN
the service Of which you have become
a member.
"You arc hereby reprmsndcd for
your action IN this matter and you are
cautioned that the department will re-
quire from you IN the future evidence
Of a fundamental change IN your atti-
tude toward your comrades in the
service
"You are directed to acknowledge re.
ceipt OF this letter, copy Of which
will be flod with your Official record
No Racial Prejudice
Secretary Roosevelt declared to-day
that his investigation had convinced
him that the question Of Kaplan's
nationality or religion did not enter
into the incident.
Il have carefully inyostic ted the
question Of Dr.. Ksplan and the Issue
Of Tho Lucky Bag Of this year." Mr..
Roosevelt said "My feelings in tie
matter are expressed in my letter to
Mr.. Olmstead
"A most serious note in this incident
AZ the academy was struck by the query
in certain peoples minds az 10 whether
the action had been taken because o.
racial reasons. Feeling as strongly as
7 do how un-American any such dis
tlnction as this should be. have gone
most carefully into this phase. am
happy 10 say that ! am convinced that,
bad though this incident was, no such
motive was behind -.
The records Of the Naval Academy
show that N the class OF % nine
men entered their faith as Jewish. Ger
tain Of these men we're among the most
popular in the class Furthermore, a
Number 81 our prominent officers IN the
past and az this time are either Jewish
or Of Jewish extraction.
"Thc traditions ~ our country have
always been exemplihed by our navy
We pride ourselves that in the service
there are no distinctions Of race or
creed"
Among the nine men in the gradual
ing class az the academy this year who
we're listed as OF Jewish nationality
Kaplan was the only member whose
answer 10 the inquiry as 70 his religion
indicated ne was affiliated with no sect.
Three Of the men signed themselves as
Jewish" four answered Hebrew
one replied Reformed jew" and hbp-
lan's answer was mo religion"
Olmstead is from Des MOinCs. Iowa.
He carried OF the honors Of his class
and is known as q brilliant student
His brother. George Olmsteao, is a
West Point cadet and, like bis brother
ia q leader iu his class. Their grand
father was Colonel Jerauld Olmstead,
U. s. A.
BALTIMORE, June i5.-Ensign Leon
srd Eepfar was ovo+cd horo to-day as