Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-03-23

The Washington Chapter Held
Elegant Banquet

la Military Institute Alumni AS
ISOLATION, held in Washington City
Tuesday evening of last week, was
one of the most brilliant ever given
by any chapter of the association,
and the gathering was a notable
and distinguished one.
Secretary Of War Taft was the
guest of honor, and his speech, full
of commentator of the work the
great war school has done and is
doing, evoked tremendous APP
plause. Senator Daniel, though
not a graduate Of the v. M. L.,
was one Of the speakers, and an
eloquent address was delivered by
Attorney-General William A. Ar
derson of Virginia, also an old
friend, but not an alumnus of tho
Institute. Lieutenant Gover..cf
Joseph E. Willard also made brief
address.
The banquet hall was decorated
with the Institute colors-red
white and yellow, the three arms
of the service. Tulips, carnations,
and evergreens were spread in the
center of the table from one end to
the other. Judge j. H. Wood Of
Bristol, Va, was POSTMASTER, ard
introduced the first speaker OF tie
evening, Senator Daniel, who
responded to the toast, "The Unitec
States"
Senator Daniel said though lie
had not the honor to be a graduate
or even a student of the Virginia
Military Institute yet he felt that
he was a son of Lexington, as four of
his preceptors had been graduates
of the institution. He also felt
close to the institution because in
the great struggle between the
States he was often thrown in con-
tact with its SONS. No class CT
men, he declared, stood more
square to the front in that struggle
with right side up than did the
men of the Virginia Military Insti-
tute.
GAS for the United States" be
continued, 81 lift this cup of
Adams ale and drink to its health
from Canada to the Gulf of Mexi-
co from Porto Rico to the Philip
pines; the United States Of Ameri-
ca, destined some day to become
the United States Of the world"
Secretary Taft was next intro
duced, who, in responding to the
toast, "The War Department., ;"
said that he had a mixed pleasure
in being present, first as head of
the War Department, to testify to
the high standards upheld by the
Virginia Military Institute, and
second as guest of the alumni of
the Institute. In referring TO the
LOYALTY and devotion of the South
to the Union, he said that when
one of the judges of the Sixth
Judicial Circuit Court of Ohio,
about the only friction he had
with his two colleagues on the
bench, who were Southerners, was
their persistence in the advocacy
of the rights of Federal govern
ment as opposed to the rights of
States.
Secretary Taft declared that,
though at the head of the War
Department, he was not soldier.
When on his way to this country
after his appointment as Secretary
of War, he said he stopped in
Japan for while. AS minister
of war, he was called upon by the
to inspect their army.
He gave them every assurance
that it was all right, though he
knew nothing, he declared, about
such matters. His greatest fear
was that they would ask what the
caliber was of the Krak-Jorgensen |
rifle.
Since the establishment Of a
general staff for the management
and general direction of the army,
he said, he was sure there would
be marked improvement in every
respect. The former custom Of
a civil head in charge OF
the army was an anomaly, and
little satisfaction me of IL, espe.
cially in times of war.
at is not to be expected he
concluded, "that We will get all
of our men in the future from
West PoiAt. Other institutions
will be expected to furnish their
quota, and the Virginia Military |
Institute will be among the fore
most of the list"
Attorney-Genera Anderson was
the next speaker and he spoke of
the work the Institute had done
for the country in peace and war.
He is not an a,umnus, but has
lived in sight of the Institute for
many years. He said he did not
believe any institution in this
country had turned out finer body |
of men. Speaking OF the old
cadets in war and their loyalty
since, Major Anderson said: "You
can't trust the man who has been
false to the old love to be true to
the new, ;" sentiment which
evoked thunderous applause. There