SIXTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York June 11, 1934 printed by The Moore Printing Company Newburgh, N. Y. CO z I-I z JOREWORD N SUBMITTING this annual report of the activities of the Associa- tion of Graduates for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1934, I desire to call attention to the excellent, untiring and effective work of General Palmer E. Pierce, 1891, under whose direction as President, the Association operated during the year. The office of the Secretary and Treasurer has been economically and efficiently operated and reflects credit upon Lieut. Echols and his Assistants. The minutes of the Meeting of the Association, June 11th, 1934, duly set forth the financial condition of the Association, and the report of General Pierce brings before you the activities of the past year. Pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution the following ap- pointments have been made subsequent to the Annual Meeting of June 11th, 1934:- Chairman of the Board WILLIAM N. DYKMAN, 1875 Members of the Board of Trustees To Serve Until June 30th, 1937: Appointed HENRY C. HODGES, JR., 1881 PALMER E. PIERCE, 1891 WILLIAM S. GRAVES, 1889 ALLAN M. POPE, 1905 JOHN W. RAFFERTY, 1916 Reappointed JAY J. MORROW, 1891 PAUL B. MALONE, 1894 ALEXANDER M. DAVIS, 1892 ROBERT C. RICHARDSON, JR., 1904 CHAUNCEY L. FENTON, 1904 Board of Trustees of the Endowment Fund ALLAN M. POPE, 1905, Chairman FRANK M. STANTON, 1915, Vice Piper, Resigned Board of Trustees of New Memorial Hall Fund PALMER E. PIERCE, 1891, Chairman Pursuant to Resolution of Board of Trustees, June 11th, 1934, Committee on Memorial Hall: PALMER E. PIERCE, 1891, CHAUNCEY L. FENTON, 1904 Chairman MILTON F. DAVIS, 1890 ROGER G. ALEXANDER, 1907 FRANCIS M. GREENE, 1922 ALEXANDER R. PIPER, 1889, President, Association of Graduates. 4 Annual Report, June 11, 1934 4 Anua Reot ue1,13 Report of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Association of Graduates Held at West Point, New York, June 11, 1934. 1. The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p. m., by-the Presi- dent of the Association. 2. Invocation by Chaplain Roscoe E. Foust, of the U. S. Military Academy. 3. In his address to the Association, the President, Palmer E. Pierce, '91, said: "General Robert Anderson, Class of 1825 and of Fort Sumter fame, in a letter of January 28, 1869 to General Syl- vanus Thayer, suggested the organization of an Association of West Point Graduates the purpose of which would be 'to perfect and per- petuate the Military Academy'. General Thayer heartily endorsed the proposal but on account of infirmities due to his eighty-four years, was unable to attend the organization meeting which was held May 22, 1869 at the College of the City of New York. The following were present: Horace Webster, Class of 1819, Alexander S. Webb, 1855, A. VanBuren, 1827, Thomas Leslie, 1817, and Francis Vinton, 1830. "On account of illness, General Anderson was unable to attend. Sometime subsequent to this first meeting, ten other graduates joined in the movement to form an association of graduates. From this humble beginning the membership has grown to about 5,520. "The Constitution of the Association gives as its object, 'to cher- ish the memories of the Military Academy at West Point, to promote its welfare and that of its graduates, and to foster social intercourse and fraternal fellowship'. "General George W. Cullum, Class of 1833, initiated a biograph- ical register of graduates of which he prepared and published the first two volumes. He also established a trust fund of $20,000 for supplements to be published at ten year intervals. He provided for a Board of Trustees consisting of the Superintendent and the Profes- sors of Philosophy, Engineering, Mathematics and Chemistry. Seven volumes of the register have been published, the editors being in suc- cession, Dr. Edward S. Holden, Class 1870, Lt. Charles Braden, 69, Colonel Wirt Robinson, 77, and Capt. Wm. H. Donaldson, August, 1917. "Although the Association of Graduates is not directly responsible under the terms of the Trust, for the publication of the register, yet the large amount of work required in the compilation of records and preparation of manuscript is now performed in its office where an elaborate card system of pertinent data is kept up to date. Captain Donaldson served in the joint capacity of Secretary of the Associa- tion and Editor of the biographical supplement of 1930. "By this activity the Association is fulfilling in part at least, the requirement that 'it cherish the memories of West Point and promote the welfare of its graduates'." Annual Report, June 11, 1934 5 General Pierce also pointed out additional activities of the Asso- ciation such as the publication of the Annual Report containing the obituaries of deceased graduates, the assistance given to those in charge of Annual West Point Dinners, and the bulletins and circular letters on matters of current interest sent out from time to time. In addition, he reviewed the expansion of the Military Academy in size and importance from 1812, when there were only eighty-nine grad- uates (sixty-five of whom were in the army), through the Civil War, when all important commands on both sides where held by West Pointers, to the World War, when West Pointers were the quickening force of all our armies. He also pointed out that in the present econ- omic struggle the service of West Point graduates are of a value now incalculable. 4. Upon motion, duly passed, the reading of the reports of the Secretary and Treasurer was dispensed with, inasmuch as these re- ports had been read at the meeting of the Board of Trustees and will be published in the 1934 Annual Report. 5. Alexander R. Piper, '89, reporting for the Endowment Fund Committee, read a statement of investments and securities. He stated that the securities had increased in value during the past few months. He also read a list of those which had defaulted. 6. Palmer E. Pierce, '91, reporting for the Memorial Hall Com- mittee, stated that because of the depression, no attempt had been made to secure subscriptions to the Memorial Hall Fund during the past year. In his report he stated that a new Memorial Hall is needed to per- petuate the memories of the graduates who are eligible for memorials under the present regulations of Cullum Hall but for which no space is available. General Pierce stated that during the past year the Academy has undertaken a great building program which includes a large addition to the Gymnasium; that careful consideration may lead to the con- clusion that this addition might be used for an assembly room and may also be a suitable place for memorials, but this, of course, would depend on the architecture and finish of the room; that the sketchy plans which were prepared by the Committee were based on the idea of an assembly hall which would accommodate about 2,200 and under the new conditions this may not be necessary after the new build- ing is completed. He recommended that a new committee be appointed with the ad- vice and consent of the Superintendent of the Military Academy, to study and report as to the need of a memorial and if found desirable, the kind of a building that should be provided. 7. The President reported for the Organ Committee and stated that owing to the depression no action as to a new console had been taken during the past year. The government has allotted $7,500.00 for needed repairs to the chapel organ, and the assistance of the As- sociation may not be needed. 8. Charles McK. Saltzman, '96, gave a short and interesting talk 6 Annual Report, June 11, 1934 on what West Point graduates are doing in the war on depression. He told how the Army had stepped into the emergency of President Roosevelt's program and about the work of graduates with the N. R. A., C. C. C., and P. W. A. 9. The President, Palmer E. Pierce, '91, called on Avery D. Andrew, '86, as ex-president for remarks. 10. An announcement was made by the Secretary that a portrait of General George O. Squier would be on exhibition at the Library after the meeting. 11. It was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that tele- grams of felicitation be sent to Ennis, '64, our oldest living graduate, and best wishes to Dykman, '75, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who was prevented by illness from attending the Annual Meeting. 12. S. B. Arnold, '92, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, presented the nominations of the Committee which were as follows: For President, Alexander R. Piper, '89 For Vice Presidents, Alexander Rodgers, '75 Gustav J. Fiebeger, '79 William L. Sibert, '84 Charles H. Martin, '87 Milton F. Davis, '90 It was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the report be accepted and the Secretary was directed to cast one ballot for the officers indicated. Avery D. Andrews, '86, the only ex-president present escorted the new president to the chair. 13. Upon motion of W. A. Mitchell, '02, the following resolution pertaining to the services of the retiring President, Brigadier General Palmer E. Pierce was adopted: WHEREAS, General Palmer E. Pierce, a trained and efficient business man of wide experience, and especially fitted for leadership of the Association of Graduates, and WHEREAS, during the three years of his service he has shown the keenest and most commendable interest in the af- fairs of the Association and devoted much time and thought to matters pertaining to this Association, therefore be it RESOLVED that the Association of Graduates extend its hearty thanks to General Palmer E.