Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-20
Diplomas Presented 108 Young
Officers by Secretary of
War Taft.
HAD PERSONAL WORD FOR ALL
Some VIII Meet with Iniusticcs"-
Others "NIu Get All To hich
They Seem Entiticd"-Duty To
Keep Mouth shut and Obe
Orders.

West Point. y. Y. Feb. 1L-With plain
words Of advice as - their future duties.
the advantages and hardships of an
army, Secretary of War William II. Taft
to-day presented diplomas to the los
members of the graduating class of the
United States Military Academy.
The address was entirely informal. and
as the young graduates in their dappo~
uniforms of gray stepped to the plat
form to receive their sheepskin scrolls.
the secretary had a personal word and
a hearty handshakc for each.
II would like to preach you boys a
Sermon declared Secretary Taft to the
graduates, but | haven't much facility
in tho pulpit. My text to you would be
They also serve who only stand and
wait for that Is what YOU have got to
do. II you are not prepared to follow
out that text you VIII not make good
soldiers. You should clearly understand
tho limitations and duties Of an army
career. Above all remember that the
government has given you an education
and that 1t expects and is entitled to
your services.
You are assured Of n permanent in
'come by simply living and acting decent
1y. Your salary as an officer viii not
make you opulent. to be sure, but it
will enable you to live in reasonable
comfort, to marry, to raise a family of
children and to educate them.
~"Ordinarily you must conduct yourself
in s~ubordination to the civil authorities.
The plainest of your duties is to keep
your mouth shut ard obey orders. As
- al H.. 49,, ,,,,a. ----. H. 1t
Of free speech. But on the other hand
you have what few others enjoy. the
esprit Of being a gradual of West
Point. The traditions of this old in
stitution are immensely aluable to
you.
EDUCATION SCARCELY BEGUN.
Il hope you don't th!uk you have COM
rleted your military education. 1t has
| scarcely begun. The United States army
establishment with its many schools for
officers and its post graduate courses is
to all intents and purposes a great uni
versity. when Officers have completed
these courses they are we'll educated and
as well-trained as any in tho world.
The only trouble is We haven't enough
officers. If We could only convince Con-
grcss OF the real necessity of it l have
ne doubt that the number would be ma
terially increased.
you will meet with ininsticcs. some Of
YOU. and others Of your number will got
all to which he seems entitled. There will
arise always the suspicion of n f~avorit-
ism. of n pun with the war depart
rlent or a pull with the President. II
spite OF all that, you must live up to and
| do vnnr dirty slrrpGtly and 1pVnfallE
You may remain q second lieutenant for
% years or You may rapidly be promoted.
II has been an inspiration to me in my
ADMINISTRATOR OF the war department to
meet Win officers VINO had served .
years III a 'ap'a4i'y put VINO were gong
ah'ut th''T ""IK VAN an 'Ne enthusiasm
u "iI'l"', "'""'' no n''''r' no" uccPiy
'n'H i'-t '"'S q u va lV''
t',"'N!, ~ ~ ~ We oY."s''t'' -
60.
~lo4
w. i"u ,,horttt". h,+ a.hon donnn
~ r ha,n 49, ao., - horon 80
49, ,o,,hr,, on,o-,.,ri+, ,ho. NAV ,rina
,.o, 70 +ho noint whoro ga, will bavo +ho
gratitude If vour country for years after
vou h,vo laid down ,our successfu,
lives"
.
N " ~
Secretary Taft constantly was in
terrurted by applause and both on
entering and leaving the memorial
hall was checrcd by the cadets. The
young soldiers were called to receive
their diplomas in the order Of class
standing. Tho honor of leading the
lie, f.1l tn CoJct rla, l. Irjorartop Of
Manhattan, Riley county. Kansas. Mr..
Taft congratulated him heartily upon
his success. Cadet George r.. Goeth-
ais. who stood fourth in his class, is
the son of Colonel Gocthals of the en-