West Pointers Inflict a "Silence"

1910

WEST POINT, N.Y. — To the average man who doesn't rub up much with army officers the West Point "silence," which has been inflicted on Capt. Rufus E. Longan, instructor in tactics here, is a good deal of a mystery. Most people understand that a "silence" is a refusal of the cadets to talk in the presence of the offending instructor or official, but that is about as far as their information goes.

A "silence" is a well organized protest on the part of the students of the military academy against some act of one in authority. It may even be an expression of general dislike, as seems to be the case in the ignoring of Captain Longan, who had only recently been assigned from the Eleventh Infantry to do duty at the academy. How it originated no one knows, but it has been practiced at the military school for many years, and in several cases has been effective in causing the removal of officers who have ceased to be useful because of their general unpopularity.

The "silence" is most effective in the mess hall, and it is here that it is almost invariably "sprung." While discipline is relaxed at mess, nevertheless the etiquette is strict. A cadet captain, by virtue of his corps rank, is superintendent of the mess. At the head of each table sits a number of the first class — the graduating class. Every private of the first class is an assistant of the mess hall under the cadet captain, and the tables take their cue from his conduct at all times. Tables do not ply knife and fork until the first class man gives silent permission. When it is agreed to inflict "silence" on an officer, no one looks at him as he appears in the mess hall. The first class men at the head of the tables fold their arms and look straight ahead. The second, third and fourth class men imitate the attitude. There is absolute silence, not a sound or a movement being made to break the stillness.

The extreme penalty provided by law for this degree of insubordination is dismissal from the academy. Extreme measures, however, are resorted to only in unusual cases.