The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-15
HONORS MEMORY
OF AMERICAN
GLADSTONE
Senator MOrriII's tooth Birth
day Anniversary
GOV. C. H. PROUTY PRESIDED
Letters Read from President Taft
and Former Senator George F.
Edmunds

Montpelier, April 15.--It was not
alone a Vermont celebration of the
Tooth anniversary of the birth of the
late United States Senator Justin S.
Morrill,, which was held at Bethany
church in Montpelier yesterday af-
ternoon, for President Taft, although
prevented from being present, paid
deep tribute to the eminent Vermont
er in a letter which Governor Prouty
read to the assembly, together with
letter from ex-United States Sena-
tor George F. Edmunds and one from
Rear Admiral Charles e. Clark OF the
United States navy
President Taft's letter was as fol-
lows:
MY Dear Gov. Prouty:-
Il greatly regret that cannot be
present to celebrate with you and
Vermont the one hundredth anniyer-
sary of the birth of Senator Morrill,.
Senator Morrill, and my father were
very warm friends and It was my
coed fortune to know him and by
personal contact to- feel his great
qualities He was n model for all
those who serve their country to fol-
low and he typiied in the highest
degree the sterling qualities that we
all accord to those who were born
and brought up in the Green Noun.
tain state
Very sincerely yours,
William II. Taft"
The exercises were held in a flag
bedecked and flower trimmed audi
forum and were attended by a large
and representative audience OF peo-
pie from ell parts Of the state.
Among the guests was Senator Nor.
rills son, James S. Morril of Wash
ington d. c.
The honor of delivering the chief
address OF the day fell to President
NJ II. Buckham OF the University OF
Vermont who eleven years ago de-
livered the eulogy at the state fun
eral of the deceased. President
Buckham's address was an accurate
and splendid tribute to the man.
Other briefer' addresses were given
by w. NJ Hatch, who spoke for Sen
ator Morrills home town of STAFFORD
by Curtis S. Emery for Orange coun-
" and by Senator William p. Dilling.
ham, the successor to Senator Nor.
rill.
Governor Prouty presided over the
observance: Rev. j. Edward Wright
OF Montpelier gave the invocation;
Rev Stanley F. Bloomfield read a scrip
mi
spersed by the choir OF the Church
OF the Messiah and the Montpelier
military band orchestra. After the
opening exercises Governor Prouty
read the letter from President Taft.
and also the following from ex.Sen-
ator Edmunds.
Aiken. South Carolina.
March 81. 1910
my Dear Governor
"Your most courteous and kindly
letter OF the seventh instant, honor
ing me with an invitation to attend
and participate In the memorial cele-
bration of the one hundredth anniver-
sary OF the birth of the late Senator
Justin S. Morrill, at Montpelier on
the fourteenth OF April. was received
here, where, or elsewhere In milder
climes less strong and compelling
than that OF Vermont and the health
OF my family and myself makes II
prudent to winter.
Il deeply regret that my health and
the season OF the year make Il i'm.
possible TO be present.
Il well remember where and when
first saw Mr.. Morrill,. II was In
the summer OF 1858 on a Vermont
Central railroad train making its way
from Montpelier to White River June
tion and had the pleasure OF being
introduced to him by a mutual ac-
quaintance as n member of the
younger bar at Burlington and was
most kindly and cordially received.
lie had Just begun his long career
of public service In which he died
crowned with the grateful affections
OF all his immediate constituents and
with the admiration and respect of
the whole country.
Intimate association with Mr. Nor.
rill for twenty.four years In the SEN
ate, with never a cloud between us,
made us brothers indeed Noble,
strong. brave and pure, his private
and public life was a bonencence to
our state and country and the cele'
bration OF this anniversary Is both an
Indictment to emulation of his vlr-
tues and deserved honor. lovingly
bestowed, In his memory | join In
Il, though distant. with all my heart
every sincerely yours,
George +. Edmunds,
His ExcelleRcy George II. Prouty,
Newport, VT"