CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PLEBE CLASS CHOOSES ITS PRESIDENT Not a man save two on sick report at cadet hospital was absent when Cadet Hopper, acting as temporary chairman, the plebe class called to order.
"Gentlemen," he announced, "you all know the principal reason for our being here.

We are, in especial, to elect a class president.
Therefore I will take time only to urge upon you the great importance of to-night's planned action.
"The class president is to be, in a word, the class leader.

The president of this class is to stand before the entire cadet body, and before the authorities of the United States Military Academy, as the representative of this class.
"It goes without saying, I think, that our president should be, in every respect, the best possible representative of the class as a whole.

He should be as nearly as possible the ideal man of the class--the man who stands for the best, the manliest and the most loyal thoughts and aspirations of this class.
"As brevity is always highly to be prized, I will say no more at this moment.

If any gentleman present desires to address the class, I will recognize him for that purpose.