The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-07-31
SPECIAL HONOR FOR
GENERAL PERSH|NG
ITS NATURE UNDECIDED AND A
FURRY OF POLITICS RISES
IN The HOUSE.
THANKS OF CONGRESS- SURE
commsnder-in-chief Of Expeditionsry
Forces and Other Generals viii Re-
eeive This Distinction. Which Car.
ries Certain Privileges With IL
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.
Washington.-It Is the apparent In
tentiOn Of congress to honor Gen. John
j. Pershing In a particularly personal
way when he shall arrive In this coun-
try. At this writing IL is undecided as
to Just what form the honoring cere-
mony shall take, but In all probability
the two houses of congress will meet
In Joint session In the representatives
chamber and invite General Pershlng
to be the guest Of the combined bodies.
There was furry Of politics In the
hrst proposal to honor General PERISH
Ing by means Of the joint session which
he was to be invited to attend. The
Republicans are In the majority In
both branches, but IL was q Democrat
who made the first proposal. II was
his endeav0r to secure recognition
from the speaker In order to introduce
Q resolution to carry out Its plan. but
the required recognition was not forth
coming because the speaker desired to
refer the matter to the house COM
mittee on rules In order to have the
matter given consideration. Now II is
being charged that politics entered
into the matter because Of the desire
OF each party to be first to propose the
hOnOring Of the man who commanded
the American expeditionary forces.
II Is difiicult to bring any matter OF
high national import before congress
with entire freedom from the charge
of somebody or other that an attempt
Is being made to secure political ad-
vantage. OF course there are always
denials from both Democrats and Re
publlcans that such Is the intention.
VIII Receive Thanks Of Congress-
II is probable that the congress of
the United States will vote Its thanks
to John J. Pershing. and to some other
generals of the American expedition
airy forces, for their services to the
country in the great war. 1t is prob
able also that Rear Admiral william
8. Sims, commander of the American
naval forces abroad during the war.
and one or two other high officers of
the naval service likewise will be hon
ored with the thanks of congress.
There are five men. all Of them con-
nected either with the army or the
navy forces OF the United States, liv-
ing today who have been honored In
the way that II Is the unquestiOned in
tention TO honor Pershing, Sims and
the others To receive the thanks of
congress Is accounted the highest honor
which any official of the American
government can receive. The recipient
enjoys certain privileges thereafter,
and occasionally coupled with the vote
OF thanks there are special provisions
for additional privileges.
The living men who already have
been given the thanks of congress are
Maj. Gen. George w. Cocktails. the
great administrator of the work of
building the Panama canal; Maj. Gen.
William l.. Sibert, who built the Gatun
dam, locks and spillway; Maj. Gen.
William C. Gorgas, the great sanitary
expert who changed the Panama canal
zone from a pest spot into the health
lest place on earth; Maj. Gen. Harry
+. Hodges, who designed the delicate
and intricate mechanism for the PAN
anna locks, a mechanism which makes
II possible to open and close the huge
gates at the touch of a button; and
Rear Admiral Harry II. Rosseau. y. s.
navy, who had charge of the building
of the naval terminal facilities aud
docks at both ends Of the canal.
After the civil war congress gave Its
thanks to several officers In the great
conflict. The last army officer Of the
civil war group thus TO be honOred
died not many years ago. Gen. o. o.
recipient of the thanks of congress for
his victory at Manila bay. TIE died
recently.
Privilege Goes With II.
When any man is given the thanks
Of congress- II is his privilege there
after TO enter at any time upon either
floor of congress during the sessions.
This is the privilege accorded no other
man as a right except, of course.
members and senators themselves.
Men TO whom congress has given Its
thanks never take advantage OF the
privilege TO enter on 10 the floor Of
congress except on occasions OF ma
tional moment. None OF them ever
goes In during the ordinary sessions.
for apparently II is their belief that
their motives might be misconstrued.
When there Is an occasion such as
that of the delivery OF an address by
the president OF the Unitei States to
the representatives and senators such
men as have received the thanks OF
congress. and happen to be in Wash
ington. almost invariably are to be
seen on the floor.
In times past some OF the recipients
Of the honor have appeared at the
doors OF congress In civilian dress and
not being recognized by the doorkeep-
ers. and not having their Thanks Of
Congress credentials" with them. have
been held up by the doorkeepers. On
several occasions II has been neces-
sary for members Of the senate or the
house 10 come forward to vouch for
the fact that the applicant for admisr
sion was entitled thereto.