davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1916-05-28

view of receiving the instruction nec-
essary to At them ultimately to re-
ceive commissions in the army.
The school consists of four compa-
nies. each of two platoons of fifty ca
diets. Thus each company consists of
100 cadets and the school of 400 cadets.
But each school company is accompa-
MED on field and ceremonial work by
its affiliated probationary platoon"
and on such occasions comprises three
platoons of fifty men each.
The probationary platoons are form
ed with the idea of Immediately filing
vacancies as they occur in the school
and of obviating the interruption of
ordinary training by getting the pro-
bationers through special courses" un-
der experts in each subject.
Cadets are under instruction at the
school for at least six weeks. the OBJ
ject being quite as much to teach them
knowledge-to test their power of com
mand and ability to instruct, as well
as to continue their training. II found
unfit in any way they would be re-
transferred to the battalion and from
there be sent as non commissioned Of
ficers or privates to some fighting unit
In the school the cadets rise at $50
and engage in physical drill for an
hour. From to 10 they drill, from
10 to 4 they engage in field work and
from to attend lectures.
The field work consists roughly OF
drill in open fighting. trench warfare
map reading, reconnaissance, sketch
ing and scouting and musketry.
Following is a list of what they have
to learn about: Platoon drill, company
drill. bayonet drill. physical drill
duties and responsibilities of a platoon
commander generally, functions. char
acteristics and organization of fighting
Evening star., 1916-05-28

marker to Webb's speech. but he OBJ
tained the 100000 appropriation for the
monument by that address.
The socialist party in the House
Meyer London Of New York, he being
all of it-never fails to get a hearing
on the floor. although this Is his first
term. There are two very good rea-
sons for this. One is that London is
a good speaker. and the other that
members of all parties are interested
in the socialist movement.
London can't remember how he
learned to speak. but he does recall
his first speech of any consequence.
1894, he went over to the Hibler Insti
tute, in New York, one night chock
full Of Russian literature, and found
an opportunity to enter a debate on
The Moral Value of the Novel" That
speech attracted one of the authorities
of the institute to him and gave him
position.
That is. 1t was a position II employ
ment at So week carries that title.
All London had to do for this vast sum
was to scurry about from house to
house every day looking up the ref
erences of persons who wanted to take
books from the Hibler library.
There doesn't seem to be much
connection between looking up refer
ences and making speeches" London
said the other day. but II I had not
obtained the position at that time l
doubt If / should be here today. for
my father had just failed in business
running a radical paper-and it was
very important that I make some
money. so that / could continue my
studies
Since that nrst speech in Hibler In
stitute ] have delivered hundreds of
addresses in every part of the country.
and ] am proud to say that / never
have accepted a penny for making one
of them. / do not intend ever to take
a cent for such an address. either. un-
less | should happen to find after I am
through here that my legal practice Is
entirely gone and 1t 10 necessary for
me to take to the lecture platform"
1nasmuch as almost every Hoosier
would rather make speech than do
Evening star., 1916-05-28

HEfHESENIAIltE Z ALLEN Of OHIO,
WHO HELPED ELECT HIMSELF TO
CONGRESS BY SINGING A SONG IN
LATIN.
erage representative address reaches
the public:
He makes speech and then obtains
leave to extend his remarks in the
Record.
He edits the original speech as
taken by the stenographer and adds
much that he never delivered, there
being no limit to this amount.
The speech is printed in the Record
and extra copies are made for the per-
franks out as many as he likes.
Now this is the routine of a speech
by Representative Garner Of Texas,
who can make a bang-up talk when
he desires:
He makes speech.
He forgets it!
In the fourteen years that Garner
has been in the House he never has
mailed an address back home for the
edification and enlightenment of his
constituents. Neither has he ever cor
rected the stenographers copy The
stenographer does not even send Gar
ner' 8 copy to him nowadays. He did
that once and Garner threw the speech
away. Hence there is part of the rec
ord that. in so far as Garner knows, is
blank.
Incidentally. Garner has not made a
political speech in his district for a
dozen years.
Representative Allen of Ohio is the
only member of Congress who ever
sang his way partly into Office. "Fid-
ding Bob" Taylor used to fiddle in his
campaigns, but other than Allen no
singing campaigners are listed on the
rolls of the House
Allen really did not intend to use his
splendid baritone voice to help in his
but afterward. so successful was his
vocal effort he was glad he sang.
For many years the Italians in Gin
cinnati. Aliens home city, voted the
republican ticket religiously, and it
was considered well nigh futile to at
tempt to wean them away from it, So,
one day, in 1912, when Allen was in
vited to attend an Italian picnic. he
went along more to please his Italian
friends than in hope of gaining votes.
Other orators were there and, Allen
frankly admits. some of them were
better speakers than he: hence he
was at a loss for something to say
when the time for him to speak arriv-
ed. AS he cogitated. though, the words
Evening star., 1916-05-28
REPRESENTATIVE MEEKER OF
MISSOURI, WHO FAILED AS A
SPEAKER UNTIL HE PREACHED A
SERMON WITHOUT A COLLAR AND


more, the Texas congressman who
stirred up SO much excitement and
caused so many speeches recently by
introducing a resolution in the House
to warn Americans to remain on armed
ships of belligerent countries.
When McLemore was boy down in
Tennessee he thought that by the time
he was old enough to vote he probably
would be a mighty good orator. The
few speeches he had made at church
gatherings and the like encouraged
him lot He eagerly looked forward
to the day when he would read on
letters. JEFF McLemore, the Boy Or
ator of Tennessee, at the Town Hall
Tonight" Then along came that old
hen turkey and spoiled 1t all
McLemore managed to convince
some of the local politicians that he
should be permitted to speak at
county gathering. Whereupon ne
wrote and memorized a double bar
relied. Knockout address and went out
in the orchard among the eight-foot
horse weeds to rehearse the MASTER
piece. simultaneously McLemores
father strolled into the orchard to
hunt the old hen turk, which had hid
den out her nest, as turkeys VIII DO.
Suddenly however. voice came nj
tering through the weeds-a voice SO
forceful and carrying such profound
logic-that his entire attention was
taken off the old hen and turned to the
words of wisdom that the hidden ora
tor uttered.
What, then. shall we say to these
republican traitors who have so wan
tonly violated the sacred trust that the
laboring mantle very bone and sfnew
of our nation-has imposed in them?
the orator asked. in substance.
The senior McLemore listened atten.
lively for some one to answer his SON
for indeed. quite as you guessed. 1t was
jeff speaking-but none did, so Jeh
answered himself.
I'VE shall say" he continued. get
thee into outer darkness: we will have
no more of you. We will replace you
with honest men. men of sterner mold
than you-democrats.'
The orator closed amid prolonged ap.
plause-from\h his father
Great stuff. JEFF: it was all right"
the proud father said, stepping out Of
the weeds.
But young JEFF instead of being en-
couraged. was scared stiff. He de.
clined to deliver the speech at the
meeting. Nor did he ever talk in pub
lie again until one night last winter
more than thirty years after that fatal
day in the orchard-when he was CALI
ed upon to make few remarks at the
National Press Club in Washington.
Then he even tried to hide out in the IL.
brary.
This is what McLemore said when he
was given two minutes to address the
House on his famous resolution: II
thank you for your generosity in gfv-
ing me so much time" Later he ex-
tended his remarks in the Record.
Evening star., 1916-05-28

When the chairman of the day called
on Allen the representative rose and
reviewed his trip through Italy. closing
thus:
city of canals. We travelled. How my
minds eye goes back to that scene of
beauty and contentment. AS the even
ing shadows were falling we glided
slowly through one of the 157 canals
that have helped make this old city
one OF the most famous in the world,
past her lis gemlike islands. and
thence, at last. to the wonderful ST.
Marks Cathedral. Begun in the ninth
century. it was built so well by your
capable architects that it stands today
a monument to the art of your people
and shrine of worship to thousands
from all parts of the world. And there,
as we stood in the gathering twilight.
from within the cathedral we heard
voices lifted up in that wonderful COM
position, the Gloria from Dvora k s
requiem mass. 1t seems to be ringing
in my ears now as it did that night in
wondrous Italy"
Then Allen lifted up his voice and
sang:
Gloria Jesu Christie.
Rex Gloria, Rex Gloria.
Never in the history of all the meet
ings held in the Italian quarter of Gin
cinnati has there been such a scene as
followed his singing of the song, it is
said. His auditors, moved by the Won
derful rendition of the song-for Allen
is a singer of rare charm-hammered
the tables before them and shouted
themselves hoarse.
Did he cut in on the Italian vote
election day? The answer is: He GER
tainly did.
With commencement days at hand the
mail of Representative Harrison of
Mississippi is certain to pick up, for he
is the champion commencement day
orator of all the southern country. and
he never took a speaking lesson in his
life. The art just grew on him.
Until last year Harrison never had
been known particularly, even an
amateur commencement day orator. and
then. suddenly, somebody decided he
would be fine man to encourage the
young graduates on their way. So they
sent hurry-up call for him to come
over and do the job. He accepted the
invitation and was so successful at
the assignment that almost every
school in his district Immediately want
ed him for commencement day ad-
dress. Up to the close of the gradual
ing season he had made forty-three
address and was still going strong
when the supply of graduates ran out.
An old hen turkey almost ruined the
public speaking career of JEFF McLe-
Evening star., 1916-05-28

equipment. from socks to fieldpieces,
were small as compared with the task
of getting officers-trained men who
could train others and lead them on
the field of battle. But the thing has
been accomplished with great success
1t may be that in the case OF the
very young officers, whose youth SO
often makes an impre ession, their con-
troll over their men may be explained
by the theory of class domination. but
as a matter of fact training has much
more to do with 1t. There is no telling
just how many thousands of officers
there now are in the service of the
king. The story of how they have
learned to be the fine soldiers that
they are is as splendid. in its own
way as their wonderful work in the
field. To gain an opportunity of be-
coming an officer in the British army
is not a difficult thing. although it is
Evening star., 1916-05-28

REPRESENTAIItE r HENRI u. FLOOD
OF VIRGINIA, WHO DELIVERED
ANOTHER MANS SPEECH BECAUSE
HE WAS TIRED OF HEARING IT
NIGHTLY.
that he would make himself a represen-
tative in the lower House. Hence, when
he used to deliver schoolhouse orations
down yonder in Alabama. he was just
brushing up for the day when he would
gain recognition from the Speaker and
then plunge into a de1ineation of the
gIories of the southland, which he can
and will do when necessity appears to
demand it. or the opportunity is good.
Arrived in Congress, Hefin was told
by the minority leader one day that he
would be given two minutes in which
to deliver himself of few remarks on
the regulation of freight rates.
Not on your life" Hefin responded
II can't get started in such a short
time"
TIL make 1t hve minutes" countered
the leader.
Make 1t seven and I'll agree" Helm
replied.
And seven minutes it was Hefiin used
part of the time in reciting a little
verse that he thought appropriate.
Whatever courage Representative
he talks he attributes in part to the
late Speaker Reed. When Greene was
a young fellow striving to get a toe
hold on the platform he went to hear
Speaker Reed deliver an address, and
was encouraged to find that a man
could talk with his hands in his pants
pockets. The Speaker struck that pose,
and Greene decided that. after all,
maybe speaking was not such difficult
task.
Still. Greene never tries to emulate the
Speaker as regards the pockets. One
reason is that the pockets of the late
Speaker and Greene differ, the former
being of the open-top and the latter of
the side-entrance style.
One day some thirteen years ago
when Representative Webb of North
Carolina. who now is chairman of the
important judiciary committee and can
make any kind of a speech right off the
bat without half trying. was sitting on
the floor wondering how he could break
into the House proceedings, a, Kansas
representative opened up way for
him by charging that President Cleve-
land had appointed colored man to Of
flee
Now. Webb did not know whether
Cleveland had done 1t, but he didn't be-
Iieve hk had: SO he set out to learn il
the charge was true. 1t was not. as a
letter written in the former Presidents
own hand. which Webb still has in his
possession. shows He then was well
armed to enter the fray. So he went
into the House and made a speech that
caused the ld-timers to sit UP and OBJ
serve him right carefully.
Encouraged by his initial attempt,
Webb came back few weeks later and
made a second speech that today is
commemorated by a $4,000 monument
on Kings mountain down in North
Carolina. OF course the monument was
not placed there just to stand as a
Evening star., 1916-05-28
EDWIN Y. WEBB
OF NORTH CAROLINA, WHO TALK
ED $4,000 OUT OF CONGRESS.

OF NORTH CAROLINA, WHO TALK.
ED $4,000 OUT OF CONGRESS.
anything else on earth except make two
speeches, one sometimes may wonder
why Representative Meeker, who rep
resents a Missouri district. but was
born in Indiana, ever gave up a good
steady job of preaching and came to
Congress. One answer is that he is
resting up from the strenuous days
sons that he really could preach. He
had a dreadful time accomplishing it.
but finally he did, and eventually be-
came pastor of one OF the largest
churches in st. Louis.
Meeker's first assignment was to a
colored church down near Vincennes.
Ind. 1t was a hot. dark summer night.
and the only lights within the church
were two oil lamps set on the preacn-
ers table.
Much to Meekers joy. a full house
greeted him. and he launched into his
sermon with great vigor. For some
reason, however, he failed to arouse
much interest in his audience. he no
ticed, and after he had been preaching
about ten minutes he was interrupted
by just the lightest sort of a snore.
1t was soft and low. though, so he
raised his voice and proceeded bravely
until the snoring became a loud cho-
rus. Meeker stopped and was Mortified
asleep Rather than interrupt the
sleepers. he quietly closed his Bible
and went back to his hotel.
Later. determined to get a start in 4
new field. Meeker set out for the Ozark
country and took a church. He preach
ed the Scripture as the folks liked 1t.
but somehow he did not seem to satisfy.
In desperation he asked one of the
pillars of the church wherein he was
falling down.
We'll, sir. pastor, to tell you the
TRUTH" the pillar said, I'VE don't care
for white collar preachers here"
The next Sunday Meeker appeared in
jean trousers, a loose sack coat and
without a vest. and when he got warm
ed up to his subject he stripped off his
collar and tie. 1t was the turning point
toward success for him.
Since that time Meeker has had rough
sailing in many of his addresses-for
he is opposed to universal prohibition
and takes the platform against it-but
Evening star., 1916-05-28

PREAKNG Into OoCngessmn Tell Of Their Maiden SpeechesRerrena
l. Mcemoe Was Almost Ruined Speaker by Hen TukeyRee
Allen Ohio Helped Elect Himself by Meeero
Missouri Failed Until He Preached Without Collar and TeRep
Mississippi Day
Evening star., 1916-05-28


A
Most
Evening star., 1916-05-28

getting harder; actually to obtain a
commission is something more dificult.
to be genuinely good officer is hard
est of all.
haps, where influence has done it's work
and politics played its part. the pos
session of an officers uniform means
that the man inside 1t has been through
a mill which. like those Of the gods.
grinds exceeding small Becoming an
officer in these days is no longer ques-
tion of mere physical fitness. political
pull and more or less ability. A man
who earns his shoulder straps now has
to earn them-these things are no
longer given Unfortunately away. For
months he has to work from morning
until night. He rises at dawn and re-
tires long after sundown, worn out and
weary. modern officer must know
an endless number OF things. The
writer has a small handbook published
for officers. 1t Is only syllabus.
bare outline of military knowledge.
covering the greater problems Of war
ing. etc. On each of these subjects
great tones have been written. But In
this little book, which slips into the
pocket. the science is condensed. There
And it is only small part.
The writer visited the other day an
officers training. camp, a place wnere
the soldier, If the candidate has al
recommended by his superiors for a
commission, a man from civil life,
goes to learn how to be an officer In
two and half or three months he comes
out an officer after a grueling expert
ence Some remain longer on trial. If
they fail to make good they return to
the ranks and fight their country's bat
tie there. 1t doesn't seem to take long,
when one considers that a peace-ttme
course in military school takes four
years. but this is intensive cultivation
Is wasted. 1t Is work, work. work, all
the time. If man can stand 1t, he is
really worth while. No weakling could
endure.
The things a man learns here are SIM
ply endless. He learns how to dig a
trench, to make map, to fall nat on
his face when engaged in a charge
without losing his rife, to hide behind
a tree and to take advantage OF every
bit of cover. How to kill an enemy
with rifle, bayonet and machine gun.
how to give orders, how to drain a camp
and keep his men in good health, how
to feed them-all these things and
countless others are driven into his
brain in these comparatively few
weeks It's a case of work all day and
study all night.
The whole thing is simply the science
of taking and saving life-taking that
of your enemy. saving that of your own
Evening star., 1916-05-28

Through the system under which
these officers training camps are oper-
ated no man gets a commission without
knowing all about the precise condi-
tons under which the privates under
him live. In the battalion in this cadet
unit every one lives just as tommy
lives-same kind of quarters. same
drill, same discipline, same food. After
a man passes from the battalion into
the school he fares little better. His
experiences In the battalion teach him
to look at a thing from the private's
point of view. to understand tommys
trials and tribulations and to sympa-
thize with him. 1t is a short cut to
discipline.
Copyright. 1915 by Curtis BrownD
Evening star., 1916-05-28

a 7AkING speeches IN and out Of
M\MI Congress is not as easy for
UNu representatives as il appears.
q w They admit it themselves.
Some of them say they positively dis
like to talk. Others declare that they
have made speeches under circum-
stances when they would have given
anything to have escaped and gone
fishing. or engaged in some other pas
time with legs work and glory in it
And none of a score of congressman
recently interviewed on the subject
would say that he could not RENE ber
the time when he suffered from embar-
rasement. cold feet or plain. old-fa sh-
ioned stage fright upon being called
upon to say few words in public.
Nor could any of them give a posi-
tive sure-fre method Of mastering the
art of public speaking. The most uni
vsrsal advice was for the embryo ora
tor to practice on live targets and
not cattle and trees. as some of our
former day statesmen are said to have
done.
The surest way 10 conquer is to round
up an audience, step forward and have
your say and survive or perish at your
own hands. Public speaking positive
ly is one job at which once you get
YOUR feet, no one can help you except
by listening attentIvely.
One should not be discouraged these
experienced speakers unanimously de-
clare, IL he is nervous just before be-
ing called upon to talk. or even a few
minutes after he faces his audience.
Some of the best orators in the House
admit that they still approach a speech
with shaking knees and churning
Adams apples.
And not few never have learned 10
think on their feet" the profes :
sional speakers refer 70 delivering i'm
promptu speeches. That makes little
difference nowadays, though. for most
least three days ahead of the time they
are 10 be delivered.
Now take Representative Hefiin OF
Alabama. for instance. OF comma anding
figure. striking personality. splendid
voice and manner OF delivery, words
lust seem to flow from his tongue with :
out the slightest effort. Yet, he says
as a matter of fact, II always takes
him from two to five minutes to get
control of himself when he takes the
floor
II practice made perfect, Hefin
should have gotten over being nervous
long ago. For not only has he served
about thirteen years in Congress, but
he began preparing himself for his
present job when he was mere strip
Nng.
1 As = boy Hefiin conceived the idea
Evening star., 1916-05-28

troops. military law. duties and re-
sponsibilities of battalion star. ofiicial
correspondence, sanitation. use of neld
dressing. organisation and administra-
tion OF company aircraft-co- opera
ton with and against-machine gun
tactics. military bridges and crossings.
attack and defense of localities and OF
buildings, the attack in the field, in
Guiding launching. endorsements, am
munition, the assault, preparation for
and counter attack. defense-active and
passive - retirements. protection. the
enemy's ruse and espionage. advance
guards and flank guards. rear guards
and oLtposts. wood fighting, night opera
tions and all the things that are related
to these.
1t seems a formidable list. but the
mere curriculum is not the most i'm
portant thing. The prime object of
the school is to teach the future on
Ger not only to acquire knowledge,
but the knack of imparting il to others.
That is considered most vital of all
Each officer turned out from this school
Will have the task of imparting what
he knows to scores, possibly hundreds.
of others.