New-York tribune., 1909-06-01
TAFT DEFENDS ARMY
OPPOSES my REDUCTION
IN PRESENT FORCE.
Tribute to Regulars at Gettysburg
-MonumeHt UHJeiled by the
Presidents Daughter.

/ Gettysburg. Penn. May 31--This was the day
! of tardy honor 10 the regular" at Gettysburg
/ An imposing shaft of granite. erected by con-
: greSs to the memory Of those OF the regularly
enlisted forces who fell in the three DAYS fight
/ ing about the Round Tops and the Bloody Angle
( was unveiled by the Presidents daughter. Miss
Helen H. Taft while President Taft himself
paid tribute To- officers and men # the United
states army. past and present
The President put himself ~Iuare1y on record
as opposed to any reduction in the present
standing army. He told of the prejudice which
often has arisen against the possible agressions
of regular army and professional soldier-,
and of the corresponding difficulty in arousins
that love and pride of the army which are eN-
pressed to-day. and have frequently been ex-
pressed in the past in behalf of the navy The
President asserted that the services OF the resu-
Tar army have never been adequately coTImemo-
rated by Congress or the nation
The profession Of arms has always been an
honorable one" he declared. The present army
he described as the largest in the history Of the
country. but not larger in proportion TO the in
crease. in population and wealth than in tie
early years of the Republic
on his way to- Gettysburg to-day from Pitts
burg the Presidents car was side-tracked a.
York for two hours. and during his stay he
made brief address. in which he declared again
his hope for the early enactment of tariff bill
THE LORD AND THE TARIFF BILL
= have been called an optimist." he said for
predicting that Congress would adjourn by June
% PERHAPS am: but if the Lord is good To
US and the weather gets hot enough in June. I
think our national legislators viii be mighty
glad 10 get out Of those two close chambers at
Washington
The crowds present on the battlcdeIds to-day
were said TO be tire largest ever gathered here
on Memorial Day Excursion trains poured
into the brightly decorated old town from early
morning until far past noon. The Western
Marvland Railway officials estimated the crowds
handled over that road alone to-day at fourteen
thousand. The streets fairly overfowed with
humanity. and the way To- tine battlefield park
was Congested for hours before the President
started for the unveiling ceremonies.
-Four regiments of the regular army were here
10 escort the President and 20 take part in the
programme of the day. There also was a per-
sonaI escort 10 the President made up OF vet
Grams Of the regular army who fought in the
Gettysburg campaign
The day was ideal in all but the intense neat
Of the early afternoon. The President arrived
shortly before 10 O'Clock. and was taken at once
for drive over the battlefeIds. At several
points he aIighted and stood on the prominences
overlooking the valley and the hazy mountains
in the far distance
Returning To his private car for quiet lunch
con he remained there until the arrival Of his
daughter from Washington Miss Taft came
with the Secretary of War and Mrs Dickinson
In the party from the capital were Assistant
Secretary oliver and many distinguished officers
of the army. General J. Franklin Bell. chief OF
staff. General Leonard Wood General Clarence
r. Edwards General CrOzier cnef OF ordnance
and General 5. B. y. Young. retired. were
among tine number.
ACCIDENT AT UNWILLING
The ceremonies a the unveiling simple.
Miss Taft pulled the siIken cord Which released
the flags draped about the monument. In fall
ing one of them caught on bronze eagle deco
rating one of the inscribed tablets trooper
gave the flag a tug. but IL could not be released