The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-09
In Recognition of His Services
to That Country.
IT IS FOLLOWING HIM over
Great Crowd Welcomes HIS Ar
rival at New York.
Red Ribbon Pinned on His Coat
by Ships Captain.

New York, Dec. s.-Ah0 .
Cross of the Legion Of Honor IS on ''a
way across the sea from the presiuen'
of France to Myron T. Herrlck. III TO-
ognition of Mr. Herrick's service 10 'ho
French people while American am
sador TO France. Mr.. Herrick was oec-
or.ted with 4 red ribbon. emblematlc
of the cross. by the captain OF the
steamship Rochambeau, acting OH
wireless orders from the French am
hassador at Washington, who SAID ne
was actino under instructions Oh fresi-
dent Poincare.
The decoration was pinned upon Mr..
uorricl.,s coat as soon as the steamer
reached the three mile sea limit OF
American sovereignty. Announcement
of tba hestowal of the honor was made
today when the Rochambeau docked.
The Grand Cross of the Legion OF
Honor is the highest honor which the
French government can bestow. There
are including Mr. Herrick. only 40 lv-
ing persons throughout the world who
have been thus decorated A Spectacu-
lar reception was given the retlrlng
amba ssador and his wife when the YES
sci docked.
France. lined the rail and cheered as
Mr. and Mrs, T. rrick walked down the
gangplank and the cheering was taken
up by hundreds of persons who hao
gone to the pier to greet him on pc
half of the city, state, nation and the
state of Ohio. Mr. Herrick appeared to
be annoyed when he heard he had been
mentioned for the 1915 Republican
presidential nomination.
Il do not want to talk politics. he
said. II don't want to talk about such
foolishness. If any credit is due me.
for the small part I have played do
not want to capitalize it. ! did not
come home to talk about myself.
"I am very tired and very near
broke I have lust learned that the
Ohio society has engaged rooms for
me at hotel for which I will not
have to pay. This is the best news
1 have heard in a long time.
Il want to make particular mention
of the American clearing house society
which has been organized in Paris with
a view to minimizing the waste of
charity.
1.-The American people have shown
their sympathy for the oppressed in
this conflagra ton. There has been
spontaneous response to the calls OF
suffering humanity, but as in the San
Francisco and other great disasters the
help has not been organized and much
charity has gone to waste.
THE need for clearing house be-
Al
resulted in the organization Of the
American Clearing House society which
will centralize the aid being given by
this country and is already saving
twenty per cent of the charity"
Mr.. Herrick declined to say when HI
thought the war would be over.
Mrs. Herrick said she did not be-
lieve any of the stories concerning al
legged German atrocities.
Il do not know of one case of which
sufficient or convincing proof has beer
offered concerning these so-called afro
cities" she said
when he war and excitement is owe
I am sure that all such stories will b.
found groundless''
Mr.. Herrick is the only living Amer
lean to wear the Grand Cross of tn
Legion of Honor. So far as is know
no other American was ever thus dec
GRATED in the 112 years that hav
passed since the order was created b.
Napoleon Bonaparte in 1902
BOnaparte was then first consul an,
he created the order to replace tn
old orders of knighthood which wer
abolished at the time of the Frencl
revolution. Since that time the vari
GUS degrees of the order have bee,
conferred in consideration Of civi
. and military achievement, particular
ly the latter. The honor was con
ferred upon many British subject
who distinguished themselves in tn
Russian war of 1S54-6 and in the Par
is exhibitions. Many Americans hav
been created officers and chevaliers O
the legion-of lower rank than tn
grand cross-in recognition Of thei
literary work, their services to Franc
or at the various Paris exposition:
The holders of the grand cross ar
almost exclusively French ambassa
dors; generals of the French army an
vice admiralS of the French navy