The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-02-15
TALKS TO YOUNG
SOLDIERS At
WEST POINT
Presented Diplomas to Uncle
Sans 100 Graduates
HAVEN'T ENOUGH OFFICERS
Told New Lieutenants That Govern
ment Expects and is Entitled to
Their Service.

WEST POINT, y. v, Feb. 15.-With
plain words of advice as TO their future
duties, the advantages and hardships
of an army career, Secretary of War
William ii. Taft presented diplomas to
the l0S members of the graduating
class of the United States Military
academy.
The secretary impressed upon the
young men who We're 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 1t was
the soldiers duty to keep his mouth
shut and obey orders"
In time of national danger, he de-
clared the soldier has his opportunity
to achieve great degree of fame but
in the everyday life of army routine
there is much that seems tedious and
irksohie. The address was entirely in
formal, and as the young graduates in
their Gapper uniforms of gray stepped
to the platform to receive their sheep
skin scrolls the secretary had per
sonal word and hearty handshake for
each.
When Secretary Taft arrived from
Detroit he was met at the station by
Colonel Hugh l.. Scott, superintendent
of h. 4 nf al
cavalry regularly stationed here was
drawn up at the depot and served as
an escort to Colonel SCOTS 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.
II would like to preach you boys a
Sermon declared Secretary Taft to
the graduates, but haven't much
facility in the pulpit. My text to you
would he 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.
~ understand the limitations and du.
ties of an army career. Above all re-
member that the government has given
you al education and that it expects
and Is entitled to your services. There
sometimes are exceptions which justify
designations; 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 in
come by simply living and acting de
Gently. Your salary as an officer will
not make you opuent, to be sure, but
1t will enable you to live in reasonable
comfort, to marry, to raise a family of
children and to educate them. 1t will
not enable -you to give your children
what would spoil them The man who
begins life with good education and
a 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 have no doubt that the number
would be materially increased
''In 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.
There will arise always the suspicion
of favoritism. of a pull with the war
department or pull with the presi-
dent. Your wives will have heart
burnings. 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 second
lieutenant for twenty years or you
may rapidly be promoted
Secretary Taft constantly was in
terrupted by applause and both in en-
tering and leaving the memorial hall
was cheered by the cadets. The young
soldiers were called to receive their
diplomas in the order of class stand
ing. The honor of heading the list fell
to Cadet Glen Il. Edgerton of Man
haitian, Riley county, Kan. Mr.. Taft
congratulated him heartily upon his
success. Cadet George r. Cocktails
who stood fourth in his class. is the
son of Colonel Goethals of the en-.
gineer corps of the army, who now is
in command of the construction of the
Panama canal. Colonel Cocktails was
present when his son was handed the
diploma.
I'VE may not have another Panama
canal for you to build said the secre
tary, "but we will try to find some
thing else that is useful"
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DeWitt's Carbolized witch Haze