Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-13
Super Glowing Tributes in
Speeches and Song Placed
at Memory Shrine of Lin
coin and Washington.
VETERANS MARCH IN LINE
Success of Washington Inspires
His Successors, A. w. jeff
eris Tells Listeners.
LINCOLN TYPICAL AMERICAN

Omaha PAID homage to the memor-
les of the nations martyred emanci-
pator and to the father of bis country
at a patriotic mass meeting at the
Auditorium yesterday afternoon.
Super-glowing tributes in speeches
and song were placed at the memory
shrine of the two outstanding figures
in American history-Lincoln and
Washington.
Prominent Omahans occupied seats
on the stage at the carrying out of the
Lincoln-W Washington program, while
IN the Auditorium proper of the huge
building were civil war veterans. hun
dreds of school children, troops Of
Boy Scouts, members Of various
patriotic societies and Omaha citizens
in general. Starting from the court
house at 2 O'Clock, the following
organizations marched to the Auditor
ium: Grand Army of the Republic
and Spanish war veterans, high school
cadets and band and Boy Scouts. The
Fifth regiment and the Omaha bat
talon of the National Guard were un-
able to march in the parade. The
Womens Relief Corps distributed
flags and flowers to the those in the
thinning ranks of veterans when the
old soldiers assembled in the court
house rotunda.
The Auditorium was specially dec
GRATED with a profusion of flags and
red, white and blue bunting. and
above the stage was large framed
picture of Lincoln, with likenesses of
Washington and President Wilson on
either side. Boy Scouts acted as
ushers. The huge building was riot
of patriotic cheering and flag waving
when the civil war veterans-some of
them bent with age and walking with
difficulty, but all doing their best to
maintain a sprightly step-marched
down the center aisle and took their
seats in the first six rows reserved for
them.
Sing National Anthem.
When Mayor Dahlnan, who pre-
sided, stepped to the. front of the stage
and announced the first number on the
program-the singing of the Star
Spangled Banner by the entire au-
dience-every man, woman and child
rose to their feet and to the accom-
paniment of the high school cadet
band sang the anthem.
The mayor made a brief intro
ductory talk, declaring that it was
particularly fitting, in view of the pres
ent crisis, for citizens of Omaha to
gather in patriotic assemblage and
pay tributes to the memories OF the
United States two most illustrious
presidents.
Rev. G. A. Hurlbert delivered the
invocation.
The present hours are momentous
ones for the United States. and
Americans may we'll look to the life
and deeds of Washington in wonder
ing how to act now, when war clouds
loom up and the United States is fac
ing a crisis, A. w. Jefferis, who made
an address on Washington" told his
listeners.
Inspiration for Others.
Mr.. Jefferis asserted that nations
must either resort to fore; or in
timidation, or on the other hand have
abiding love in its citizenship. WASH
ington, he said, stood for more to his
country and to mankind than any
other man in history. Since the father
Of his country died, his success is that
which has always inspired his sue
cesors, Mr.. Jefferis averred.
Mr.. Iefferis expressed doubt as to
where we would be today, or whether
we would be here at ALL if it had not
been for divine providence, which
he declared watched over Washington
and made possible the United States.
"But while we are praising Wash