Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-15
TAFT AT WEST POINT.
Secretary Presents Diplomas to
 Graduating Class.
KANSAS BOY IS HONOR CADET

Head of War Department Outlines Ad-
 vantages and Drawbacks to an Army
 Career and Deplores Lack of Officers
 In the Service.
 West Point, N. r., Feb. 15.-With plain words of advice as to their future duties, the advantages and hardships of an army career, Secretary of War William H. Taft presented diplomas to the 10S members of the graduating class of the United States Military academy.
 The secretary impressed upon the young men who were commissioned as second lieutenants in the various branches of the army that the military service must ever be subordinate to the civil government and that it was the soldiers duty to keep his mouth shut and obey orders."
 When Secretary Taft arrived from Detroit, he was met at the station by Colonel Hugh l.. Scott, superintendent of the academy. A troop of colored cavalry regularly stationed here was drawn up at the depot and served as an escort to Colonel Scott's quarters, where luncheon was served. A salute of seventeen guns was fired in honor of the secretary. General J. Franklin Bell, chief of staff of the army, also was distinguished visitor and was re- ceived with military honors.
 q would like to preach you boys sermon" declared Secretary Taft to the graduates, but I haven't much facility in the pulpit. My text to you would be They also serve who only stand and wait, for that is what you have got to do. If you are not prepared to follow out that text, you will not make good soldiers. You should clear ly understand the limitations and du- ties of an army career. Above all re- member that the government has given you an education and that it expects and Is entitled to your services. There sometimes are exceptions which justify resignations; but, generally speaking you are under an implied obligation to serve your country as officers in the army.
 ''There are many advantages to the career which you have chosen. You are assured of permanent income by simply living and acting decently. Your salary as an officer will not make you opulent, to be sure. but 1t win en- able you to live in reasonable comfort, to marry, to raise family of children and to educate them. It will not en- able you to give your children what would spoil them. The man who be- gins life with good education and good home training has an advantage over every other man. Nothing SO in. duces to mediocrity and lack of. effort as to be provided with the means of living at the age of twenty-one.
 "The only trouble Is we haven't enough officers. If we could only con- vince congress of the real necessity of 1t I have no doubt that the number would be materially increased.
 Tn your army service you will meet brother officers who have not had the !, advantage of your four years of train- ing at the Military academy. You should counsel. help and respect them. that the esprit which you enjoy may be spread throughout the entire serv- ice.
 You will meet with injustices, some | of you. and others of your number will | get all to which. he seems entitled. l There will arise always the suspicion i of favoritism. of a pull with the war | department or a pull with the presi- i dent. Your wives will have heartburn. ings. your children will have heart burnings. and you will as well. In spite of all that you must live up to and do your duty earnestly and de. votedly. You may remain a second lieutenant for twenty years or you may rapidly be promoted"
 The class of 1DOs was graduated ear. Tier this year on account of the need of . officers in the service. Ordinarily the exercises would not have been held until June.
 The first honor cadet of the graduat. ing class is Glen Edgerton of the little city of Manhattan. Riley county. Kan. who was only seventeen years old when appointed to the acad. emy. Is the third youngest member of his class and has consistently led his fellow cadets throughout his four yeaI course.
 The ten ranking cadets among the graduates have their choice of the five branches of the military service-engi neers. ordnance. artillery. cavalry OI infantry. In addition tO Edgerton the members of the first ten are C. ID. Han of Princeton. N l.. Virgin L. Peterson of Campbeilsvilie. Ky: George K. Goe thals. son Of Colonel GOethals. now i1 charge of the construction of the Pan anna canal: John j. H. Shulz. Wheel Ing. ". Va. Clarence l. Sturdevant NeIIlsville. Wis: Eari I. AtkIssOn. Can ton. O.: Richard T. Coiner. Tacoma. Wash: Iawrence W. Mcintosh. Gard her. worceSter county. Mass. and Rob