Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-15
TAFT TO CADETS.
Continued from Page One.)

no doubt that the number would be ma
terially increased. In your army service
you will meet brother officers who have
not had the advantage of your four years
of training at the Military Academy You
should counsel help and respect Them
that the spirit which you enjoy may be
spread Throughout the entire service
"ion 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 favor
itism of pull with the war department
or pull with the President. Your
wives will have heart burnings, your chill
dren Will have heart burnings and you
will as well. In spite of all that you
must live up to and do your duty earn
second lieutenant for 20 years or you may
rapidly be promoted. It has been an in
spiration to me in my administration of
the war department to meet up with Of
ficers who had served 25 years in cap
taincy but who were going about their
work with all the enthusiasm Of military
ardor, no matter how deeply they felt
they had suffered. 1t was real pleasure
to me to be able to raise them to the rank
they deserved.
'Some of you may not get the promo
tons you desire. but you must remember
that in the erd Providence and the Lord
are good and that compensation surely
must come for duty done. There Is much
in life that is higher than the happiness
Of mere promotion or tinsel of rank.
Upon YOU the sturdiness of the govern
ment depends. You are subordinate to
the civil authorities. but when danger
comes YOU have the post of honor and
the youthful opportunity that may bring
you to the point where you will have
the gratitude of your country for years
after YOU have laid down your successful
lives"
Secretary Taft constantly was inter-
rupted by applause and both in entering
and leaving Memorial hall was cheered
by the cadets. The young soldiers We're
called to receive their diplomas in the
order OF class standing. The honor Of
heading the list fell to Cadet Glen T.
Edgerton of Manhattan, Riley county.
Kansas Mr.. Taft congratulated him
heartily upon his success.
Cadet George r. Cocktails who stood
fourth in his class. is the son of Col
Goethals Of the Engineer Corps of the
army and who now is in command of the
construction of the Panama canal Col.
Goethals was present when his son was
handed the diploma.
''Wc may not have another Panama
cane, to build" said tho secretary, but
we will try to find something else that
is useful
Edgerton is the third youngest men,
Der of his class and has led his class
throughout his four year course.
The 10 ranking cadets among the grad
yates have their choice of the five
branches Of the military service. engi-
neers, ordinance. artillery, cavalry or in
fantry. In addition to Edgerton the mem
bers of the first 10 are:
c. Y. Hall of Princeton, n. j.; Virgin
l.. Peterson of Campbellsville, Ky;
George r. Goethals, son of Colonel Geo
thals. now in charge of the construction
of the Panama canal; John N. Schulz,
Wheeling, W. Va: Clarence l.. Sturdi-
want, Neillsville, Wis; Earl ]. Atkisson.
Canton, Ohio; Richard T. Coiner, Taco
ma, Wash; Lawrence W. Mcintosh,
Gardner, Mass, and Robert S. Dougher-
ty, San Francisco.