Evening star., 1951-08-26

ing ring became SO blatant, just
before graduation last June, that
answers to examination questions
were passed openly from one
window to another on broom han
dies during study periods; that its
members included a dozen of the
Understanding and most popular
cadet leaders, and that they had
the nerve to run their own candi-
dates for Office on the honor COM
mite itself.
They will find the majority of
their comrades blazing with rage
because the press and radio pub
licized almost everything that the
Spokesmen for the 80 cheaters
said, while those of the $500
honest men couldn't get much Of
a hearing. They will learn that
the whole corps was ready to boy
colt future football games if any
of the accused players were re-
turned, and that almost half their
own members pledged publicly to
lead a general movement for all
the rest of the cadets to resign
en- masse. if the men who violated
the honor code weren't dismissed.
Graduates Stunned
The two-dozen honor committee
members won't be surprised by
these things, however-because
they know and understand West
Point, as well as the mercilessly
drastic honor system under which
it has operated for more than
century. They have to know it,
because they were democratically
elected by their classmates to
supervise its administration, and
thereby were intrusted with
authority.
1t is. extremely difficult for out
siders to understand these things,
however, because there is moth
ing exactly like them anywhere
else. For the same reason, it is
almost impossible for the public
to appreciate the stunned horror
with which the news of the cheat
ing conspiracy was received by
West Pointers everywhere. These
include the 10000 living gradu-
ates, among whom are numbered
some of our most famous generals,
about 5000 former cadets, and, of
course, the 1900 men wearing
the gray who suddenly saw their
world falling apart.
The explanation lies in the fact
that virtually all West Pointers,
along with everybody who really
understands the military academy,
regarded the offense as the wilful
breaking of an article of military
faith, by a group of young dis
cipleS who had been solemnly
consecrated to it's service. Lest this
seem an exaggeration to the un-
initiated, it might be well to quote
the opening words of the 'Plebe
Bible" hammered home to every
cadet from the first day he dons
the uniform, and large portions
of which he must memorize:
"As sacred to us as our alma
mater is our honor code" it be-
gins. "It is more than a code; it
is almost a religion offenders
of the honor code are never
granted immunity F. There can
be no wavering or leniency to
the disposition of violators. :"
Those words are accepted lit
orally. and their disregard is al
most sacrilege. That is what
hurt.
Code for Generations.
This code has been religiously
observed by generations of cadets.
1t means that they can and do
trust each other, both at West
Point and in later life, not to
lie, cheat. or steal. That trust
Is absolute, which made it easy
for the ring to function undis-
covered. Furthermore, the code,
which has been regarded for more
than 100 years as the most vital
factor in the success of West
Point, has been extended by West
Pointers throughout the armed
services. That is another reason
why they were appalled,.
1t is the basis of absolute reli-
ance on an officers word of honor,
his personal integrity, his hon.
esty. and scores of widespread
military privileges based on the
assurance that one may rely with
out question on another's honor.
1t was for this reason that the
discovery stunned everybody in
military circles, because anybody
could realize what it meant. A
lot more than cheating was in
volved, and it was reassuring to
md that 81 per cent of the corps
was sound.
Set of Changing Rules.
Space is lacking to describe all
the technicalities of the honor
System-but it is set of Changing