Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-31
BEAUTIFUL MoNuMENTEREcrED
BY GOVERNMENT ON BATTLE.
FIELD Is UNVEILED.
PRESIDENT TAFT CRATES,
DAUGHTER HELEN UNVEILS
Fitting Memorial to Union Soldiers
Who Gave Up Lives Dedicated in
Presence Of President-shaft a Gift
Of Government - Memorial Day Ex-
ercises.

Gettysburg, Fa., May Sl.-Ine mem.
ory Of the regularly enlisted men in the
United States army who gave up their
lives or fought in the Gettysburg cam
paign of 1853 will be perpetuated in
granite on the famous battlefield today
Whe nthe monument erected by act of
congress was unveiled in the presence
of President Taft.
The town of Gettysburg was gailv
decorated and the streets were crowd
ed with people. President Taft arrived
here shortly before 10 o'clock after an
allnight ride from Pittsburg. A great
crowd surrounded the station. Ar
rangements for the presidents recep-
tion We're perfected. Following a visit
to all the historic points the president
at o'clock this afternoon took his
place at the head of the military par
ade which formed in town, and pro-
ceeded to the bloody angle on Gene
terry Ridge. Taft delivered the grafton
at the monument, following which his
daughter Helen unveiled the nonu-
ment as the band played "Star Span
gled Banner" The troops surrounded
the monument and presented arms and
a salute was fired by battery. The
address transferring the monument
from the national government to the
Gettysburg national park commission
was delivered by Secretary of War
Dickinson. and 1t was accepted by
Colonel Nicholson, chairman of the
commission. Following the conclusion
of the dedication ceremonies the presi-
dent reviewed the troops and left for
Washington at 3:45.
President Taft's Address.
President Taft in his address said In
part:
I'VE are gathered at this historic
spot today to dedicate monument to
the memories of the officers and en-
listed men OF the regular army who
gave up their lives for their country in
the three days battle It is but a
tardy recognition of the nations debt
to Its brave defenders whose allegi-
ance was purely to the nation, without
local color or the Strengthening of the
state or, municipal pride.
"The danger of a standing army en-
tertained by our ancestors is seen inthe
constitutional restrictions and COM
plants registered in the declaration of
independence It has always heen easv
to awaken prejudice against possible
aggressions of the regular army and
professional soldiery, and correspond
ingly difficult to create among the
people that love and pride the army
which we find today and frequently in
the history of the country aroused on
behalf of the navy"
Army Should Not be Reduced.
The president then reviewed the
varied policies in respect to the regu-
lar army displayed by the government
from 1874 to the present time and said:
To-day, as a result of the Spanish
war, the added responsibility of on,
new dependencies in the Philippines
Porto Rico, and for some time in Cuba
together with a sense of the import
ance of our position as world power
have led to an increase in our regular
army to a larger force than ever be-
fore in the history of the country, but
not larger in proportion to the in.
creased population and wealth than in
the early years of the republic. II
should not be reduced"
Mr.. Taft declared the necessity OF
maintaining always standing army Of
appreciable size to serve as neuclus
for greater armed force in time ol
need. In conclusion the president
paid high tribute to the regulars
saying in part:
"Nevek in the history of the regula,
army has it had stain upon It's es-
cutcheon. 1t has no one to blow its
trumpets, with no local feeling or pride
to bring forth it's merits, quietly an6
as befits force organized to maintain
the civil institutions and subject al
ways to civil control. it has gone or
doing the duty which it was its to do
accepting without mummur the dang
ers of war, and has never failed t.
make record of duty done thatshould
satisfy the most exacting lover Of his
country"