Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-28

S. o, ga southerner by birth, a
westerner by circumstances and
choice; a mine owner in the west, a
cluhman in the east; a scholarly
man, strong in speech, but prefer
ring silence. Such are the outstand-
ing characteristics of Hugh G.. Wal
lace, nominated by President Wilson
as ambassador to France. Out in
Tacoma, his home town, the am
bassador-to israted as an Al man
in ability, high character, gracious
in manners and personally popular.
Publicity has no attractions for him.
He shuns it, For him the quiet life
has the greater charm, and this ex-
plains why the public generally ask
ed, "Who is Wallace?" when nomi-
mated for the post at Paris. Yet he
has made several diplomatic trips to
Europe at the request of the presi-
dent, doubtless performing his tasks
in a manner to win the present high
reward. Mr.. Wallace is in his Seth
year.
Just % years ago, February 81,
1891, Mr.. Wallace, then a young man
of %, was the guest of honor of the
New York Southern society. Re-
spending to the toast, THE South
erner in the West" he paid this
tribute to the pioneer empire build
ers:
"For more than 100 years upon
this continent, a silent army has been
marching from the east toward the
west. No silken banners have waved
above it, and no blare of trumpets or
beat Of drum has heralded its prog
ress. And yet its conquests have
been grander than those of Peru or
Mexico, its victories more glorious
than those of Marengo or Friedland,
or of Austerlitz. 1t has subdued an
empire richer than the Indies with
out inflicting the cruelties Of Give,
or the exactions of Hastings. and
that empire is today, Mr.. President,
a part Of your heritage and mine"
Today this speech. Of which the
quoted words are only a paragraph,
is included in a collection Of modern
eloquence selected and compiled by
Edward Everett Hale and Thomas
B. Reed. 1t is typical of his power
OF painting a sublime truth on the
canvas of history.
Lone Star-Senator Morris Shep-
pard of Texas is a native of the state
and stands in the front line of dry
"favorite sons" He put the District
of Columbia on the dry map, though
it is doubtful il he could get the
popular vote Of Washington. AL
though not yet "A years of age Shep-
pard has served six terms in the
house of representatives, and one
term in the senate. To his individual
persistence and insistence is due the
present advanced stage Of national
prohibition.
Ole Hanson, the all-American
mayor of Seattle, who chased 81 boil
sheviki out of town and to the de-
portation station at New York, gives
the Brooklyn Eagle a terse outline
of law and order on the American
plan. "One cannot compromise with
wrong" he says. "The right thing
is always the best thing to do. A
man who will not leave his party for
the good of his country should be
forced to leave his country for the
good Of all parties. We want to
abolish unearned wealth and unde-
served poverty, give men opportunity
and opportunity will give you men.
EhLTlOLlSlUt AOF6 VI GuuAAA - uCSAAO
for freedom must not be lost sight of
in the race for gold. Our struggle
will not always be wise, but in the
struggle for freedom it is always
noble"
Homer s. Cummings. chairman
elect of the democratic national conf
mittee and successor of Vance G.
Mccormack, halls from Stamford,
Conn. He is an easterner by educa-
ton and association rather than by
birth, Chicago being his native city
and Yale his alma mater. A lawyer
by profession he combined politics
with the law and the state of steady
habits" afforded as fine a variety Of
the article as bloom anywhere. Mr..
Cummings served as mayor of
Stamford, president Of the local
board of trade, has been active in
state national politics, and was his
party's choice for United States sem
ator in 1918.