Evening star., 1904-03-16
AT ANNUAL BANQUET
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
ALUMNI ENTERTAIN.
Senator Daniel Discusses the United
States Of the World-Other
Topics Discussed.

Institute as represented by the graduates
living in the District of Columbia, gathered
about the banquet board at the-New Will
lard Hotel last night for their annual din
ner. They had as their guests a number
of prominent men, Virginians and men
from other states, among whom were Sen
ator John w. Daniel and Secretary William
II. Taft. The banquet hall was decorated
with bunting Of the colors Of the institute
red. white and yellow-the distinctive col
ors of the three principal arms of the mill
tary service-artillery. infantry and cav
airy. The tables were laden with cut
flowers as well as appetizing viands. Judge
j. II. Wood of Bristol, Va, acted as toast
master, and after the last course had been
served introduced as the first speaker Sen
given the toast, 1.-The United States" Rails
ing his glass high above his head, Senator
Daniel gave this sentiment: 1.-THE United
states, from Canada to the gulf of Mex
leo, fran Porto Rico to the Philippines"
The senator said that, while he had not
the honor of being a graduate of the insti-
tute, he felt he was a son of the great
Lexington school by reason of the fact
that while he was a student three of his
preceptorS had been V. NJ. |. men. He was
often thrown in contact with it's men dur
ing the civil war, he said, and he learned
to respect and admire an institution which
could turn out such men.
United States of the World.
AS to the United States, the senator de-
clared it would eventually become the
United States of the world The English
language, the law of Blackstone and the
creed of Christ are being carried rapidly
forward until they will all be acknowl-
edged by all people. The dream of the
world, he declared in closing, is peace, but
the history of the world is war. The per
feet and lasting peace is secured by being
thoroughly equipped for war.
Secretary Taft's Address.
Secretary Taft spoke of the War Depart
ment. He said he had found that the
southern men are unequaled in their devo-
ton to the country. While a member of
the bench of the sixth circuit court of
Ohio, he said, he had as his associates two
gentlemen of southern birth and syrnpa-
thies. These men, he said, were persistent
in their advocacy of the rights of the fed
eral government as opposed to the rights
of the state. He then referred to the fact
that he was not a soldier, although at the
head of the War Department, and spoke
or several amusing instances during his
stay in the east which resulted from his
lack of military education Since the es-
tablishInent of the general staff for the
management and direction of the affairs of
the army, the Secretary declared, .he is
sure there will be a marked Improvement
IN every respect. 1t is not to be expected,
he said in closing, that the army will get
all its officers from West Point Other
institutions will be expected to furnish
their quota, and from none will the STAN
dard be so high as from the Virginia Mill
tary Institute.
Old Cadet in Spanish War.
The toast. "The old cadet in the Spanish
war;" was assigned Lieut. Gov Joseph e.
Willard of Virginia. Gov Willard was an
officer of volunteers during the war with
Spain, and. while his regiment did not get
to the 'front.' it's administration by it's off,
GERS was highly satisfactory to the War De-
partment and the officers placed over it.
He told of his experiences during the war
ana OF the value of his training at the
" M. l. Mr.. Joseph r. Anderson of Rich
mond spoke of the v. NJ l. of the past
ana gave number of personal reminis-
Genes The last speaker of the evening
was MIR. Alexander Hamilton of Peters
burg, who spoke briefly on the duty of the
alumni toward the institute. Those present
at the dinner were Secretary Taft, j. r.
Anderson, Alexander Hamilton, John w.
Daniel, w. A. Anderson, w. B. Harrison.
Miller, d: M. Lea, A. l.. Clarke, Henry
Fairfax, j. l.. Sneed, E. p Nalle, G. w. Il.
Nalle, j. D. Murdaugh, George L. Nichol-
son, isaac winston, /. H Saunders, W.
H. Saunders, Thomas Fairfax, DIR. B. l..
Hardin, Judge ]. H. Wood, Capt. ]. H.
Wood, jr., J. L. Waring Lemuel w. Norris.
John Janney, Arthur Herbert, DIR. Morgan.
Charles Ruffin, Capt. George E. Pickett,
U. s. A; Major James B. Houston, assist
ant paymaster; Mr. w. E. Harris, Mr.. Ty-
Ter, George W. Deitrick, j. r. Emory, Gen.
Scott shipp, Patrick Henry. Joseph E. VIII
lard and John p Madison