The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-19
CLIMAX OF WELCOME TO |PERSHING COMES WHEN
 NATOWS THANKS GIVEN
Former Speaker Champ Clark Explains to Com mander Resolutions of Thanks Which the Con gress Had Adopted
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Washington, September Is, Reaching it's climax in scene in the House chamber that drew dignity from the simplic- ity of the setting, the nations welcome to General Pershing came to an end today when the thanks of Congress and of the American people were extend ed to him and to the army he commanded.
 There were no military bands or ranks of soldiery, and but one flag, that draped on the wall back of the speakers chair, was displayed. The only other touch of color was the uniforms of the high officers of the army and navy gathered to see com rade given highest honors.
 The House assembled early. put al- 7 ready the galleries were crowded with members families and guests and every doorway framed with faces peering down in the great chamber.
  or more of children, sons and daugh- ters of members. added~to the almost informal character of the gathering. For the most part, they were little tots, seated round-eyed. on their fathers laps to watch this historic event
 After the Senate membership, ac- cording to custom. had marched into the House chamber to find seats in the front benches, the senior officers of the general staff, headed by Gen era. March, took their places on the | benches to the right, while Admiral Benson led the bureau chiefs of the 1 navy to similar seats on the left. Mem bers of the Presidents cabinet filed | in to take seats in the semi circle be- 1 fore the speakers desk, leaving va 1 cant a score of chairs in the center for 1 General Pershing and his staff PERSHING ENTERS l "Mr Speaker" announced the ser geant at arms. "John Pershng, gem eral of the armies of the United States, l and his staff"
 Senators. representatives and the hundreds in the galleries rose to face the main entrance 10 the chamber. The door swung back and the joint reception .completed by Chairmen EWadsworthe and Kahn of Senate and House military committees. respec- lively, their ranking democratic col leagues and including Representative Mondell. majority floor leader. and former Speaker Clark came in Be- hind them walked General Pershing the head of the staff roar of ap- plause, punctuated with a shriH rebel yell. greeted him.
 Marching like soldier on parade the general strode to the chair in the very center before the speakers desk reserved for him. The tumult subsided only whenf Speaker Gillett rapped for order
 Senator Cummins of Iowa. president pro-tem of the Senate from his place beside Speaker Gillett, gave the first greeting.
 1 PAYS ELOQUENT TRIBUTE
 His reference to the valor of the troops u France brought frequent bursts of applause. He paid eloquent tribute to the officer he addressed and to the soldiers who will sleep forever in France. as well as to those who have come back home.
 Speaker Gillett employed lighter touch Prefacing his own remarks. he said that the committee of arrange
 ments, having provided for the ad- : ! dress in behalf of the Senate, had
 thought 1t fitting to provide also for a few plain and homely words from
 the representatives of the people, the
 House. Ills remark was greeted NilI roar of laughter by senators and representatives alike.
 To former Speaker Champ Clark, of Missouri, General Pershings home state ! had been assigned the privilege of ex- plaining to the general the resolution of thanks the congress had adopted
 Senators and representatives stood to , honor MT. Clark as he rose to stand { directly in front of General Pershing ! talking in conversational tone. 3 ENTIRE ASSEMBLY STANDS When General Pershing rose to reply and faced &he House deafening ap- . plause greeted him, the whole assembly 5 standing with him, and clappng, cheer 3 ing and yells of greeting continued for several minutes while Speaker Gillett
 pounded vainly for order. Tn firm voice that carried to every l corner of the big chamber. the genera told in modest language of what the army had done, of it's realization that it was sustaining courage of the Amer ican people that had made possible the ) victory. He showed deep feeling as ht
 spoke of the graves in France and wher he cited the mained and crippled mer 5 who have come back to the nation a. : result of the greatest sacrifice the outburst of applause was deafening. On one other point the generals
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