' 7378. CONGRESSION1\L lillOOR.D-· HOUSE. threatened with a universal strike of all labor, w'heri off yonder UXITEO -8TATI!:S NAVAL ACADEMY, in tlle distance, like a· great, ominous cloud hovers the threat · AnnatJolis, Md., October 16, 1919. M?C D EA!l Mn. SECHE~l'AnY : Replying to your letter of the lOth of Octo­ of a railroad strike, and when there is actually in progress a ber, l.Itclos.IDg one from Representative 1\1. CL):DE KELLY of Penn yJvania steel strike, it occun-ed to me· that now is the time to sort I have to inform you as ·follows: ' out the socialist from the man who believes in .b..meri-can citi­ 1. M!d.!';hipman Philip H. Seltzer. of Penn ylvania, attempted to com­ mtt mc1de on Snnday, the 5th of October. He cut himself wit!l a ~enship, in constitutional government, and in dealing with the pock~t knife and drank u quantity of ink. The Permanent Medical Ex­ great problems that confront and perplex us as a people in a amining· Boa1·d states that h~ was suffering from phycbo is, manic de­ sane and sober fashion. · My firm belief is that the great body pressive, and that the underlying neuropathy exi ted· prior to entrance t<? the Naval Academy. Midshipman Seltzer has stated explicitly that of American labor everywhere, wheresoever employed, is ab o­ h~s act was not due in any manner to hazing or running. A copy of lutely honest and absolutely patriotic ; but tllere is the walking his statements is attached hereto. delegate, there is the socialist, there is the anarchist, there Midshipman Henry Clay ~e~herstii!-e drank a small quantity of iodine is the Bolshevist, there is the man who would overturn all of on Tuesday, October 7. It 1s not -believed that thi. was a bona fide at­ ~empt upon hls life1 and there is lack of anything to ba. e the belief that these institutions, built up at such great sacrifice, and convert It was due to any 111 treatment of any kind. lle bas made the explicit this Government into a Russian soviet. Against that I direct statement that it was not due to hazing or running. A copy of his statement is also attacbe!l. These are the only two reported attemptl:l ~Y face, and I intend to continue in that cour e so long as I on the part of midshlpmen to attempt suicide. remain in this body. · · 2. Since the occurrences noted above, every effort possible has been I have n9 other ambition except to serve as a Senator of and made to ascertain the extent of hazing px:actices at the academy. Sev­ eral letters have been received which have alleg u that hazing prac­ :for my people, and while I am a Member here I propose to pces existed. Not in one of these cases has anything been advanced hit socialism and anarchy whenever and wherever these hydra­ m the nature of a clue to assist the superintendent in uetermining the beaded monsters raise themselves, and no mud slinging can true state of· affairs. No one bas given any names, any date , any facts, or stated any definite form that this alleged hazing bas taken. 4eter me from that course. The superintendent has examined closely into every complaint, no matter TREATY OF PEACE WITH GERMANY. bow indefin.ite, and bas found not one bit of evidence to show that hazing exists at the Naval Academy. He. bas from the admissions of The Senate, as in Committee of the Whole and in open execu­ Midshipmen Seltzer and Wetherstine been led to believe that a miltl form of running does exist, but neither Seltzer nor Wethcrstlnc nor tive sesRion, resumed the consideration of the treaty of peace anyone else will disclose a single name, date, or definite fact. '£he with Germany. superintendent reiterates his absolute uisapproval of ancl a-version to UECESS. any form of hazing or running, no matter how mild, and again ·tates that be has used and will use every possible means to bring any offender Mr. CURTIS. I moye that the Senate take a rece until 12 to punishment. 3. Tbe answer as to the number of resignations dm·ing the past year e'clock to-morrow. and the reasons therefor is appended. The reasons given in the ap­ The motion was agreed to; anll (at 4 o'clock and 25 minutes pendb: are those stated on the face of the resignation, which are be­ J>. m.) the Senate took a recess until to-morrow, October 24, lieved to be in no sense exhaustive, but to state the writer's general state of mind. It is believed that the reasons may be summed up a. :1919, nt 12 o'clock meridia~. follows: First, the signing of the armistice took away the incentive to remain in the naval service, as the necessity for them to do their part in the war ceased with the armistice ; second, after a short trial many midshipmen realize that they are not suited to a naval career and HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. very sensibly wish to resign ; third, many find the course of study, the drills, the athletics, and the necessary discipline harder than they ex­ pected and not suited to their inclinations; fourth, the fact that tho THURSDAY, Octobe1' £3, ~919. papers have eo widely advertised of late the high cost of living and tho difficulty a naval officer has to live upon his pay, creates a spiJ·it of unrest among the midshipmen, and leads them to ask why they should The House met at 12 o'clock noon. undergo a four-year course of strenuous training to gain in the end a The -Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Coullen, D. D., offereu the fol- position with not enough pay to meet their necessities; fifth, for some l~wing prayer: · · unknown reason a rumor bas lately persisted among the midshipmE'n Be graciously near to us, Almighty God our Heavenly Father, that Congress intended to pass an act which would require them to remain in the service for at least 20 years after ~aduation; sixth; ·211 we thus pursue the journey of life through another day. stories that many naval officers have desired to res1gn and could not Quicken our perceptions, broaden our views, uphoid, sustain do so have affected some midshipmen with a desire to leave the Naval Academy before graduation; seventh, there is a spirit of unrest at the and guide us in all the duties Thou hast laid upon us, that we Naval Academy with no adequate underlying foundation, just as there may prove ourRelves worthy of such preferment. In the spirit is in the rest of the country, and the "release fever," which swept over of the Lord Jesus Christ. _1\.men. both the Army and Navy inunediately after the close of the war, has ba!l a marked effect upon the regiment of midshipmen, The Journal of the proceedings of yesterday was reac.l and ap­ Very I"espectfully, proved. A. Il. SCALES. HAZING IN THE NAVAL ACADEMY. lion. JOSErBUS DANIELS, • Secretary of the Na-vy, Mr. BUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to Na-vy Depat·tmetlt, Washitlgton, D. 0. publish in the REcmm the reply made by the Secretary of the UNITED STATES NAVAL IIOSPITAL, 1lavy and the Superintendent of the Naval Academy to House Annapolis, Md., Octobet· 7, 1919. 326, \ resolution introduced by my colleague from Pennsylvania, From: Mitlshipman Philip H. Seltzer, fourth class. Mr. KELLY. Inasmuch as this information will be useful to To: Commandant of midshipmen. many Members who have made similar inquiries, I make this Via: Commanding officer and superintendent, United States Navnl :request. I have consulted with my colleague, Mr. KELLY, and Academy. ' Subject: Statement requested. he is satisfied. · 1. In compliance with verbal orders, I hereby submit the statement The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Pennsylvania asks requested concerning the act which I committed on the afternoon of unanimous con~ent to publish in the RECORD the response of the October 5, 1919. · 2. At about 4.30 p. m. on the afternoon of October 5, 1919, I at­ ~ecretary of the Navy and the Superintendent of the Naval tempted to end my life while in my room, aided with a jackknife, ink, Academy to House resolution 326, as stated. Is there objection? and a small bottle of iodine. There wn. · no objection. 3. When I came in I did not like the service very much_ However, Tlw re~ons e I got along all right in drills until about one week ago, wben the upper is as follow. classmen came back. .After that I was pretty far behind in every drill. TnE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, and I just couldn't keep up with my work. I then began brooding over Washington, Octobet· 11, 1919. my grades in class, and this led to discouragement and worry I was Ilon. T. ~. l:t:TLEn, hazetl a little. Chairman nousc Sa~;a' Affairs Commi-ttee, 4. As soon as the academic year begun our rooms were cbangetl. Washington, D. C. Although my roommate was a pretty nice sort of a chap, whom I liked. :M:y DEAR ln. CHAinhlA : Rep)ying to your letter inclosing resolution I still was troubled, worried, and despondent, for the reason that I lntrouuceu by R presentative KELLY of Pennsylvania, H. R. 326, the feared I would bilge, and did not have the courage to face the criticism matter was brought to the attention of .Admiral Scales, superintendent of my people back borne if I were dismissed.