Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-10
President Taft Honors Him in Ad.
dress at dwelling Of Tab
let at Capitol.
EXERCISES In The HOUSE
Acceptance of Memorial for State
by Governor Mead and by
F. w. McGettrick for
His Comrades.

-Sntpelier, Oct. a--President Taft made
.nice speeches before leaving Mont
pcler this morning. Shortly after nine
o'clock he taken to the city hall.
where more than 1000 school childen were
gathered The students marched from
the Union school building, preceded by
the teachers, and each carried small
American flag. Mayor j. g. Estee briefly
Introduced the President
After the city hall speech he was taken
directly to the State House, where 1900
or more people were assembled on the
grounds lie spoke from the west
Iortco in part follows:
II have had most cordial reception
from the people of Vermont. They have
paid that respect to the office which /
temporarily hold which always comes
from the loyal citizens Of Vermont and
] hope | have been able to distinguish
and not take to myself that measure of
tribute which is due to the office
THE old Vermont brigade is one that
will live for centuries and am sure
need not in this presence, dwell upon the
heritage that those men have left to you
md your children in the record of their
sturdy courage. their bravery and their
foarlessncss. My father used to say, and
h. was a Nermonter. that the thing you
roud certainly say about the Nermonter
was that he always a safe man,
that he was man upon whom you could
count for the things that he ought to
no and that he never failed. Now it Is a
pleasure to come into such a community
and to find that you are keeping up the
standard. Goodbye and God bless all
Vermont
ESCORTED TO BAR or HOUSE.
He was then escorted to the hall OF
the House of Representatives. where the
joint assembly was waiting to receive
him. Every seat on the floor and in
the gallery was filled. The ladies of the
Taft party occupied the front row of
seats In the space directly in front OF
the clerks desk, with Miss Fletcher.
Mayor j. Il. Estee and Allen nj. Fletch
er Jr. In the other seats were Governor
and Mrs. Mead, f. W. McGettrick. f.
&. Williams, Col w. W. B|twn OF
Springfield, ex-Mayor and Mrs. F.. NJ.
Cory. Mr. and Mrs +. f. Lowe. Mrs.
J.. +. Howe, Judges Of the supreme
court Senators Page and Dillingham;
and Congressman +. L. Greene. Gov
ernor Fletcher was invited to the chair
and introduced the President in very
few words The President read his
speech. He was in good voice and his
culogy of the merits of the common SOL
der was received with frequent and
continued applause
He delivered a number of tributes to
the soldiers of Vermcnt in the Civil War.
and spoke OF the lessons of that war.
lie also reviewed the necessity OF
large number of trained officers rather
than large standing army. and spoke
of the National Guard as an excellent
force which should be larger.
Mr. Taft compared the present army Of
this country with armies of other coun-
tries and especially with that Of Switz-
erland, where he praised the efficiency
of the officers in handling their men. He
alluded to the fact that they could get
their men together on a war footing In a
remarkable short time. Switzerland has
no standing army.
CREDIT DUE THE PRIVATE.
He told of the makeup OF the Z. S.
army and spoke of the fitting manner In
which the common soldier should be re-
membered. He talked Of the memorials
and credit due the private and wished
that more memorials OF the nature Of the
one unveiled this morning might be
erected This tablet Is erected in honor
of the private as distinguished from the
officer
At the time OF the Civil War the supply
Of officers was not large enough and the
President alluded to the small number
Of enlisted men at that time compared TO
what was needed. He said that undAs
Jincoln's first call for 5000 men they re-
sponded we'll. many going into the army
as sort of an adventure ON the fourth
call the people realized what II meant,
and were not so eager to accept the call
10 arms.
In more modern warfare, the con
Nicts are of short duration, AMI he
emphasized the need of experienced
officers in order that they might train
lhcir men.
Mr.. Taft said that 1t was necessary
to keep n bigger artillery and cavalry
force than an infantry force on ac"
count of 1t being possible to get out
an effective infantry quicker than the
pther branches.
NATIONAL GUARD RESERVE.
He said that the National Guard
made an excellent reserve force but
that 1t was not large enough and that
the present law relating to this wa
excellent but was old ana not adapt
I'd to the present needs. He said tina
we could not count on the experiences
of the Civil War. because wars are
shorter.
lie spoke at some length in regard
10 giving the common sol credit
for his work and covered explicitly the
necessity for larger number OF Of
Hcers. rather than a huge standing
army.
lie said that it is peculiarly appro-
pirate that this memorial should be
erected In Vermont. for Vermont had
brave and competent generals and Of
hcers. which have given Vermont her
prominence In war. What gave Yer.
mont prominent place in the history