The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-22

people from the movement in which the erection
OF this building is part.
ROOSEVELT To THE ARMY.
Now. a word to the officers and enlisted men
OF the army. The last two or three wears bay.
witnessed notable awakening in our peopIe 10
he well-being of the army. Our people are uu-
Outstanding as never before the fact that the
army like the navy. will do well In war mainly
IN proportion as 1t has been prepared we'll in
peace that after the war has begun il is too
late for ny TO prepare for the victory Defeat
VIII come inevitably and surely II the prepara-
tion is put off until the begins and victory
VIII come If 1t has been prepared for in time
OF peace and on other terms.
During the session OF Congress that 1. now
closing we have seen tine first stride taken in
putting the National Guari the militia OF the
country on footing OF efficiency the first long
stride taken on the lines marked ou, by Wash
ingtcn himself the first successful effort made to
put into effect Washington's plea which for ITO
years was dsregarded by our people And. again.
the first long stride has been taken toward the
m0dernization toward increasing the efficiency
OF the army in accordance with modern meth
DDS as devised by General Sherman over a quar-
ter OF century ago. 1t takes time and thought
and care 10 work out necessary reforms
They don't come in jump. All kinds of OBJ
structions OF deliberate purpose. distractions of
mere inertia obsructions OF carelessness have TO.
be met with and overcome. but at last they are
overcome II only a sufficient Intensity Of pur-
pose lies behind those backing the reform. And
now these great steps have been taken. Meth
DDS have been provided for securing the Increased
efficiency Of the army and It rests with the
army itself to profit by what ha. been done
More and more IL has become evident in modern
war that the efficiency OF the unit OF the ind-
vidual office and the individual enlisted man In
going to be the prime factor in deciding the fate
OF the fought fields
HIGH TRAINING ESSENTIAL.
The exercises of the barracks and the parade
ground do not make Der cent of the soldiers
real work. and 10 not count for per cent in his
real efficiency. They are very spectacular, serve
a good purpose and must be well DONE but they
count for but the smallest part in the qualities
the sum OF which make the army effective or in
effective in actual service.
Officer and man alike must be trained TO the
highest point in the theory and In the practice OF
the profession. The forces Of mere truIsm say
that II they are trained in the theory without
the crowning OF practice they will amount 10
nothing. but they must have the training and the
theory. too. They must have that training or
they never can reach the highest standard of
perfection In their art.
The Army OF the United States Is and 1t is not
desirable that 1t should be other than. a small
army relatively to the population Of the coun-
army shall represent for its size the very nigh
est point of efficiency OF any army in the civil
lized world. tApplause.D
And 1 have the most absolute faith that to
that degree of efficiency it will attain. and that
II will attain II In no small part because of the
wise and jealous use 1t will make OF the oppor-
tunities afforded b. the erection Of this very
building loud and continuous apolause)
Secretary Root followed the President aft
er another selection by the band.
Major General s. b. NJ Young, president
of the War College. then delivered an ad-
dress
Grand Master Walker. assisted by the
other officers Of the Grand Lodge OF Masons
of the District of Columbia. then laid the
corner stone of the new building in accord
ance with the impressive ritual of the Ma
sonic fraternity. The ceremonies were con-
cluded by a benediction pronounced by
Bishop Satterlee.