The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-10
MILLER VS.. LELAND.
Usage Senator Talks About His
Military Career.

The senate will protect its own. All
the sore places in Senator H. P. Miller's
mind caused by the attack of Cyrus Lee
land upon his military career. ought to
be healed and well after the showing
of friendly feeling and sympathy for his
boyish efforts as a soldier which the SEN
ate made this morning. For half an
hour the senate bathed itself in emotion
produced and agitated by the oratOry
which a dozen senators poured out AL
though the bill under discussion was the
one for the prevention of the desecra-
ton of the United States flag one might
have concluded from the trend of the
speeches that the matter under discus
sion was a resolution of sympathy for
Senator Miller at the Willful attack upon
his record, perpetrated on the floor OF
the house by Leland Of D0niphan Mon
day morning.
on Monday the house took up the SEN
ate bill appropriating 100000 for the
erection of a monument to the old sol
6liers of Kansas Leland announced his
disapproval and took occasion to read a
slip of paper on which was printed the
dates of the enlistment and discharge OF
H r Miller the author of the bill. Mil
ler's period of service extended from
March to September. 1865. Leland took
occasion to twit Mr.. Miller about the
speeches made at the time his name was
presented for the nomination for COVER
some one eulogized the glorious record
made by the regiment to which Miller
belonged. The record was made before
Miller joined it. Miller was only Is when
he went into the army.
When the flag bill came up in the
senate this morning several short speech
es were made fayoring it. Finally Mil
Ter arose and said.
i don't know whether I ought TO say
anything upon this bill or uDon any bill
favoring the flag or the old soldier of
the civil war. have never posed as an
object of praise for my record in the
civil war. I have never called attention
to the fact that J once saw service I'M
der the flag of my country
when the war broke out [ was but a
lad. In 1868 I used to go to the barracks
of the militia battalion of which my
older brother was commander, and fOt
weeks and months I drilled and did
guard duty with that company. although
I was never enlisted as member of II.
When the company went to the front /
wanted to go with it. but I was rejected
because I was too small. Thinking
might do better in Pennsylvania. 1 wenI
over the state line from my old home IL
Ohio and applied at Meadeville. They
told me to 90 home because / was not
cid enough. Then I went to Cleveland.
hoping that there I might secure an
opportunity to don the Union blue But
at Cleveland they again told me no and
advised me to return home. Well,
I applied to the commander Of the near
est recruiting station and for once was
admitted Ny father was away from
home, but on his return he at once took
steps to get me out Ny friends and
relatives held a consultation. and upon
their advice my father withdrew his OBJ
jections. and my period Of military serv-
ice began.
L have never boosted of my war rec
ord. / never asked for political prefer
ment on the strength of my military
career. I do not think that publicly
have ever before spoken Of what I have
Just now told you, and I had never sup
posed I would have occasion to do so. 1
was simply. as a boy. doing the best
could. I have never asked or expected
to be euIOgized for what / did.
For five minutes before he spoke the
closing sentence Senator Miller waited
to be heard above the applause which
the senate accorded him Everybody
was under the spell which he uninten-
tiOna1ly wOve by his account of his boy
hoods endeayors to earn the right to
carry a musket, and several Of the peo-
pie in the room wiped their noses in
suspicious manner. Senator Noftzger.
Senator Tapp and others followed Miller
with remarks directed personally at Lee
land. The Indignation over Leland's
speech seemed to be remarkably general.
and no one except Fitzpatrick had the
nerve to vote against the flag bill, al
though that was really not the subject
under discussion and had no bearing
upon Senator Miller's case.