Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-11
Tribute to Inaugural Commit
tee Chairman and Secretary.
GIVEN TESTIMONIAL
PRESENTATION MADE AT SPE-
cIAL MEETING HELD TODAY.
Gen. Wilson characterized as Highest
Type Of American Citizen ~
and Soldier.

General John M. Wilson and Mr.. Frank
H. Hitchcock, chairman and secretary, re-
spectvely, of the inaugural committee or
1906 were honored today at the old head
quarters of the committee in the New
Willard Hotel by both verbal and material
expressions of regard and esteem. To Cen
eral Wilson was presented a handsome
silver service of six pieces. and to Mr..
Hitchcock was presented a magnificent
loving cup. Both gifts were appropriately
inscribed, and were offered in speeches Of
praise and good fellowship.
The donors-the members of the inaugu-
raj committee of 19O5-were present, and,
following the presentations, were received
by Gen. Wilson and Mr.. Hitchcock, and
| cordial handshakes were the order of the
hour.
Before adjournment the committee he'd
| brief session to consider a resolution Of
fered by Mr.. George E. Hamilton On BE-
half of Commissioner Henry l.. West, vice
chairman of the inaugural committee and
chairman of the committee on permanent
auditorium. The resolution provided that
the surplus funds now in the hands Of
the treasurer of the inaugural committee
be appropriated to the auditorium fund.
After much discussion this resolution
was adopted, and the auditorium fund
will be about $4,000 better off.
Meeting a Special One.
The meeting had been called by a spe-
cial committee composed of Messrs. Geo.
E. Hamilton, Charles C. Glover, Henry B.
F. Mcfarland Charles ]. Bell and John
Joy Edison. Mr.. Hamilton presided. He
characterized Gen. Wilson as "the high
est type of the American citizen and
soldier and eulogized him and his work
in behalf of the inaugural committee, at
tributing the great success of the Roose-
welt Inauguration to him and to the
competent, well-equipped and patient
secretary" Mr.. Hitchcock.
Mr.. Adds B. Browne was asked to make
the presentation Of the silver loving cup to
Mr.. Hitchcock. Mr.. Browne declared him
self to be "unprepared," but there were
those present who said afterward that Mr..
Browne could not have done better with SIX
months of preparation. He referred to the
first assistant postmaster general. who had
served as secretary to the inaugural COM
mittee. as ''our friend Brother Hitchcock"
This made everybody forget the Formally
Of the occasion. Then Mr.. Browne assured
Mr.. Hitchcock that he never could have be-
come an assistant to the Postmaster Cen
eral without the course of sprouts In the
inaugural committee.
This made everybody laugh who hadn't
laughted the first time. and the presenta-
ton speech became more interesting.
In More Serious Vein.
But Mr.. Browne soon reached the more
serious vein and pronounced a forceful
eulogy upon the character and ability of
Mr.. Hitchcock.
He said the erstwhile secretary had dis
played Strength, clearness and fidelity"
seldom equalled IN the performance Of a
public service, and concluded by urging
Mr.. Hitchcock as government of
ficer, to keep the loving cup brim full
of the milk of human kindness, so that the
government may do what Is right by the
people. With respect to your work as Sec
rotary. let me descend to the vernacular,
for l know that in all respects, you are
Presentation Address.
Gen. Wilson was made by Mr.. R. Ross
Perry.
Peace hath her Victories" said Mr..
Perry, mo less renowned than war. This
thought springs to the lips as we civilians
gather here this morning to tell a soldier
of our admiration for his signal success in
the conduct of what has grown to be a
great national function. That Gen. Will
sons record in his profession should be
pre-eminent is only the inevitable result
Of his capacity and of his character. That
after a service extending from boyhood to
age in many grades and departments this
soldier should retire with his countrys
grateful and full. yet regretful, thanks Is
only to say that our nation does not forget
those who faithfully and strongly give
themselves to her. His has been in some
respects unique career. 1t began when
the red light of war tinged the air with
blood. 1t Is coming to close while the
evening sky Is all amethyst with the after
glow of peace. AS soldier. he fought as
engineer, he built; as chief, he fortified
his beloved land. so that when the future
he looked into and foresaw from afar shall
have come, and when he shall long have
passed away his foresight and skill and
patriotic work will yet remain to speak
for him in his country's defense.
IT must say one word OF his conduct as
chief of engineers. 1t requires more cour-
age to firmly and faithfully scharge the
duties of that high office than it docs to
charge a battery. Gen. Wilson had had
courage. Occasionally difficult s:tuat onS
arise which would tax the art of the most
accomplished diplomatist. Gen. Wilson was
adequate to these trying demands. Just
one more word of his skill as an engineer.
The Washington monument was to tower
high above mans other work on this EARTH
so as to tell in some feeble way how the
nations love for Washington climbs into
the heavens. Its foundations had to be
strengthened The great shaft had to be
bodily rocked from side to side-truly q
giants work-say, rather, the work of
genius. General Wilson did it.
General. your feHowcitizens of the In
augural committee ask you to accept from
them this token of their esteem and re-
gard. In the conduct of this latest and
superb Inauguration you have only shown
yourself as you nave always DeeH-cour-
ageous, patient. capable, courteous-the
man for the time, the place and the duty.
Gen. Wilson's Response.
In reply General Wilson referred feel
ingly to the death of Wallace II. Hills,
former chief clerk of the treasury and
member of the inaugural committee. who
died yesterday in New Mexico. If l had
all the eloquence of the great statesmen
of this republic" said General Wilson,
IT could not find words to express to you
today in fitting terms my grateful thanks
for this spontaneous tribute of esteem and
affection of the noble body OF splendid ctti-
zens who stood by me during the past few
months as If they had pledged their lives.
their fortunes and their sacred honor in
behalf of the great inaugural work COM
mitted to our charge.
This exquisite set of silver tells its own
story and II we followed 1t from the time
the ore was taken from the mines, through
the period of its refinement. its manufac-
ture into its present beautiful shape, the
work of polishing and the final work Of en-
craving, we would find that 1t Is all truly
American. starting from the mines of the
great west and eliminating in the expert
factories of the magnificent east and today
in the capital of the nation 1t Is presented
a trfhufe m esteem and affection tn n