Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-12
OFF FOR WASHINGTON
President Leaves West Point
This Afternoon.
CEN TENNIAL CLOSES
DIPLOMAS PRESENTED TO MEM
BERS CLASS 1902.
Gen. Dick, Secretary Root and Gen.
Miles Made Speeches in an
Open Tent.

NbSl PUNT, y. T., June l2-The
President left West Point this afternoon by
train for Washington.
The centennial celebration OF the West
Point Military Academy was ended today
with the presentation of diplomas to the
graduating class. The weather was fine
and the ceremony took place out of doors
on that part OF the parade grounds known
as Calvary Plain.
An open tent over a platfrom had been
erected for the speakers and officials and
standing at the front of the platform, Pres
ident Roosevelt presented each new officer
with his diploma.
Shook Hands With Each Cadet
1t was expected the President would make
a few remarks. but he simply shook hands
with each cadet. On the platform besides
the President were Gen. Horace Porter
Gen. Miles Secretary Root, Secretary
Moody, Postmaster General Payne, Mr.. wu
Ting Fang, Senator Pettus of Alabama,
Senator Quarles OF Wisconsin Gov. Odell,
the Italian ambassador. Generals Corbin,
Young, Schofeld, McCook Brooke. the
Right Pew. DR.. Conaty, the academic board
of the academy, Chekib Bey and Repre-
sentative Dick OF Ohio.
Many ladies in fashionable summer cos
tune and the entire cadet corps and several
hundred visitors occupied chairs the
lawn under trees. The clear Sky and beau
tiful scenery about West Point gave the
exercises a picturesque setting.
Gen. Dick Speaks.
The speakers were Gen. Dick for the
board of visitors, Secretary Root for the
government and Gen. Miles for the army.
Gen. Dick, after giving advice to the ca
diets. said in part:
THE wars conducted by the United
States never have been for conquest. Cuba
is now a sister republic. and Porto Rico
has more freedom and contentment than
ever. The with Spain was unavoid-
able, and We came into the possession OF
the Philippines as result Our authority
there must be as absolute as our RESPONSE
bility. That We will succeed gloriously in
the work We have taken up in the Philip
pines the world now knows"
He said that West Point would last as
long the nation needed army.
Secretary Root.
Secretary Root said it was fundamen-
tai principle that the military branch OF
the government should be subject to the
control of the civil He told the cadets to
bear in mind that their education was not
by any means complete, and that they
could go on learning TO be good soldiers
until they retired. If thSy were lucky
enough to live until the age of sXty-four.
The regular army in time of war, he said,
including the militia and National Guard
and he advised the cadets to get the good
will of these bodies and of citizens inter
ested in the army.
Praise for Chaffee.
The Secreatry told how an old officer in
the late war happened to come under the
command of young volunteer officer, and
yet continued to do his duty without CIV
ing any sign of the feelings he must have
had as an old and faithful soldier.
His conduct attracted attention and tho
President" said the Secreatry. picked him
out to lead the American army In Pekin.
Gen. A. r Chaffee. 1t was because he
ruled his own spirit that the President
thought he could take city
The crowd of visitors gradually left
early in the afternoon and after the Presi-
dent had gone there were few left on the
academy grounds.
Porter and Miles.
The two most-talked-of incidents of the
celebration are the speech of Gen. Horace
Porter, which made deep impression, and
the defense of the army in different
speeches.
General Miles remarks today were
and referred almost wholly to the business
of war.
He said there were supreme moments in
the life of a soldier, one when an officer
knows he is doing just what the enemy
thinks he is not, and when he feels one
more victory has been added to American
glory.
General Miles was loudly cheered and ap-
plauded when he rose to speak.