The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-27

and cartridge box can appreciate my
disadvantage. Under such circum-
stances the forces of the strongest are
liable to become demoralized, and be-
fore they can be rallied the golden
opportunity is gone and the head
must bow to failure.
LAS soon as was informed of what
would be expected from me I began
to sketch off on paper the field notes
! of that which might be said merely
| for the purpose of organizing the
subject and getting control of my
| thoughts, intending to follow the gem
| eral outline as nearly as I could re-
member it in an extemporaneous adj
| Dress and as to language let time
and chance determine
But after finishing the sketch, on
| further reflection, fearing the result
| of that embarrassment which every
young speaker must experience, I con-
Guided to submit it as it is written.
! Rough and unfinished as it may be,
my first plan might be the better, if
1 were confident of self-command; but
1 prefer the side of safety.
"I am pleased however. that this
my first public address, is before the
brother members of my old military
family, the comrades of a four years
experience in soldier life. With this ex-
| PLANTATION I submit it,
Then he launched into the dis
| course, brilliant for one so young, and
| never in all his long service for his
country has Vespasian Warner violat-
| ed the sacred oath to which he re-
| ferred in that address dear to the
heart of the man, and as well, the
comrades of military conflict. Few
of them yet remain, but scattered to
| the four winds, letters from the
Twentieth Illinois survivors have
| found their way with many another
| veterans communication urging him
| not to resign
But it is all to no avail-business
cares, advancing age, and lingering
| wishes for retirement have brought
| recognized "the story we have heard
from childhood, how this governm emit
was conceived and formed; how we
were subjects of the old country, but
wrung from us to fill the Golfers of a
treasury that was used as a power to
keep us in subsection; how we were
subject to all the burdens, but not al
lowed even feeble voice in the leg
| islation of our own affairs
Not long after he had married. the
future pension commissioner settled in
Clinton for the practice of law, and
there formed partnership with his
father-in-law, the late Clifton H.
| Moore who when he died in 1902,
left a fortune of approximately ST.
100000.
Warner entered politics. From a
state figure he was elected to congress
anu served InrOuSn the
to Fifty-eighth congress- inclusive,
Then he was appointed pension COM
missioner by President Roosevelt in
1904, and was reappointed by Presi-
dent Taft at the beginning of the
present administration. His father,
who died several years ago, left a for
tune aggregating more than million
and half, all in addition to a small
fortune which Warner has accumulat-
ed through his individual efforts.
Causes of His Success.
Though modest, Warner admits
that he has attained a fair degree OF
success in the world, and attributes
1t first to his training as a lad, not
only in environment, but because of
the hard upward row that he found
necessary to himself hoe; and second
ly, to the impetus gained when he ad-
dressed his war comrades beneath the
spreading oak at Clinton-his first
public address.
From that time on his se1f-com-
! mand was strengthened; the rough
and unfinished man became the pol
. ished statesman; but always follow
: ing the side of safety by use of dis
erection he submits his work in the
! service of the country as a credit
. written in round numbers taking from
the sketched off plans of his con.
scientious endeavor an extemporaneous
life of action, which has ended SO fa1
!. as public service is concerned. al
I least, one of which United States gov.
eminent may well be proud.