Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-29
SOUNDS CALL TO CIVIC
FORCES OF AMERICA
Richmond Speaker at William and Mary College Finals
sss Pays Tribute to Men and Women at Home Who
Made Victory Possible in Europe
Especial to The Times-p!spa.ch. ]

10, were OF unusual interest because
Z OF the retirement OF President Lyon
tration to DR.. Julian \. 9. Chandler.
The graduating address WAS made by
George Bryan, OF Richmond, his sub
1ect being the part played by the mass
of Americans VINO were not in the
uniform OF soldier. but whose work
of furnishing equipmcn: and transport
tation made victory possible.
,& The speaker also pictured the next
battle that will he fought by this
army to keep down the spirit OF Boil
shevism that threatens all Europe.
ment to young men 20 meet these
problems in spirit; Of optimism, RS
the unrest 1T present is due 10 rather
small band OF aSitators.
Text of MIR. Bryan's Address.
Mr.. Bryan spoke rs follows on the
theme civic Winners OF the War and
IAN invitation over long-distance
telephone to deliver q conmencement
address at venerable William and
Mary is. ii must be acknowledced.
something OF an anomaly. Yet il was
: by that intensely modern means of
President Tyler advised me Of my hav-
Ting been selected as the speaker OF
& this occasion, and Politely urged me
& 10 accept. / confess that l has.tated-
! even thought OF accepting upon con-
dition that I he allowed 20 deliver the
. address through the same medium. the
long distance telephone, supplemented
by a meSaphone attachment N this
room.
Il did not press this. however 70.
felt sure that the suggestion would
receive tho presidential veto-not only
because OF the shock Of u!tramodern..
ism in these halls, which have echoed
20 tread Of either ETutus, but also be-
cause of the prohibitire expense OF the
long distance service. due TO Mr.. Bur
lessons increases of rates.
Il accepted the invitation, however,
and without conditions. and ! snail!
franKy s You HIND TSy the h6noT 5oae
me by my friend Of many years. and.
1 second, because / was bold enough 20
4 think that ! had message for this
company which might be worth while,
3 despite the insutticienCies Of the mes
senger.
Speaks In Historic Atmosphere.
Amy speaker, however eNper.enced
might well pause and refect uson an
close his eyes and almost think re
sees dim outlines of the features and
history-would it be unkind TO the
greatest men: One can pause and al
most hear again the debates OF the
Burgess ses from which came the seed
whiei, later became the plant and the
And thus one speaks here today under
sort of spiritual hand!cap-a Kind OF
sueconscious CONNECTION ma; whsres
- Monroe and Roane and q score Of
Others like them have walked and
talked. silence rather than speech .s
becoming.
But whatever the con,-as: may be
I am TO speak here this evening,
have been given the somewhat danger
GUS liberty OF selecting my subject
me than that OF ;Ge civic winner % the
great war and their next battle.
High Tribute TO Fighting Men
they sailors OF America. II i not the
language OF pancsyr!c but OF simple
fact 10 say tina. no aae. army Q! navy,
ever went forth % war :han iae army
and navy OF the United States = me
year Of human achievement. ISIS. We
IN Virginia had exceptional opportunity
Of knowing both the solder and ne
sailor. We make no local boa.. ".
saw regiment after eg..Gea, from all
Leave our camps and paris ana pass
through ouE cities, singing - ;.=y
went. t.d each Tss 81. .. men who
Esp % oa- e9aasPtio4 q n.
and resolu;s So~. pey:c-ce. by ,a=
lotze-y OF selection were ~, or tails
,Ede and "a not :tsc. ne ae :3 2:
were 1t and re4ty-zll presented ,a=t-
bodies Z living sac-iac=-to score. .!
thousands i, was given 20 ;asSe O; me
great pledge % their dsrIeion. l.
The pess.m!st 49,. t.a! uttered
AkIfu EEoans a! ihe d%:e!.o.zl:on %
Ef JsKer who knows all abnu, avery
kEhg and VINO assured US ina, col
H3Rse would soon come--these aud
I'D shame and silence by deeds winch
{shriil us az We read % th.n--raan
(which the judgment Of history VIII D.
that nothing finer was ever been sung
by poets or done b. men. America
herself pay Justly say. Arms ant my
men OF war--so say we all Of ~.
p si s 9ss ss sas ,iFD @asa 'a re
ogs sr1wSe sD hour TO- VI; q n5 seFiogs ~
Service OF the People.
But an analysis OF our American
lite. and conditions from April. 1917
to November. 1915, which beg ms and
ends with the soldier. would be uu-
scientific for inaccuracy and. there
z essays to tell the story OF the America n
people for that period hut VINO. en-
crossed with The soldier, torgc,s the
people. VIII have his so-called work
consigned summariIy 10 the scrap
( basket, IF, indeed, ii should ana a pub
Usher. For just therein the people
. OF America-!ts civic element--!ts very
American soldier and. TO speak gnox,
conservatively. OF so per cent o.
American achievement.
III am challenged 10 demonstrate
this, the task is easy. The stream
does not rise higher than is source.
An effectiye army has ncver, come from
a letharEic community. Home r-c4
5must be kept burning, otherwise the
flight, will die out u the soldiers eyes
: and how great VIII % tina, darkness
la not too much TO say that Amerl-
can military results, both abroad and
at home, were but the expression o.
the great American spirit which mad
aWoke in time and found itself
1.-THE limitations OF the occasion DC
Il not permit me 10 dwell upon the in.
Vulnerable forms in which this spirir
took shape and went forth 10 var
Justice demands. however that hi:l
place be given 10 the women OF Americl
who first saw, and then took advautar.
OF, the greatest opportunity o: an lin,
to render sane, material and helpful
service In every line in which comm,
+ sense. systematically applied, could b,
made use Of. No longer Cor her onIy
I the quasi-sentimental lines OF wnrE
I nursing and tears, but literally men
work OF all KINDS; substituting for Ia,
sbAant soldier In bank ana crur,;,,, a.