Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-19
Congress Applauds
General PersEang
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the officer he addressed and to the
soldiers who will sleep forever in
France, As we'll as to those who have
come home.
Roar Of Laughter.
Speaker Gillett employed lighter
touch. Prefacing his own remarks,
he said that the committee of ar
rangement, having provided for the
address in behalf OF the senate, had
thought it fitting to provide also for
a few plain and hofnely words from
the representatives of the people,
the house" His remark was greeted
with roar of laughter.
The former speaker, Champ Clark
of Missouri, General Pershing"s
home state, had been assigned the
privilege of explaining to the general
the resolution of thanks congress
had adopted. Senators and repre-
sentatives stood to honor Mr.. Clark
as he rose to stand directly in front
of General Pershing, talking in con-
versational tone.
When General Pershing rose to
reply and faced the house, a deafen-
ing applause greeted him, the whole
assembly standing with him. Hand
clappirg, cheering and yells of
greeting continued for several min
utes while Speaker Gillett pounded
vainly for order.
In firm voice that carried to every
corner of the big chamber. the gen.
eral told in modest language of what
the army had done, of its realization
that it was the sustaining courage of
the American people that had made
possible the victory. He showed deep
feeling as he spoke of the graves in
France and when he referred to the
manned and crippled men who have
come back to the nation as CRATE
full charge the outburst of applause
was deafening.
Stirs Deep Feeling.
At ne other point the generals
words stirred deep feeling. That was
when he said:
"The great achievements, the high
ideals, the sacrifices of our army and
our people belong to no party and
no creed" ~
A salvo of applause interrupted
him and it was minute or two be-
fore he could make his concluding
sentences heard.
When he had finished, under the
leadership of escorting committee
the general passed down the center
aisle of the chamber to the door,
members reaching to grasp his hand
as he passed. A diminutive page
blocked his way, and the general
smilingly stopped to shake hands
with the boy. From his seat near
the aisle Representative Wilson of
Ohio thrust forward his baby daugh-
ter, and the general caught her to
him and kissed her while new ap-
plause greeted him.
An impromptu handshaking with
senator's and representatives in the
lobby followed, and then the expe-
dictionary leader was given a press
gallery reception. He was not to
be lured into any lengthy speech,
however. contenting himself with
saying that he realized that all the
tumult and honor of his reception
meant that he was merely the in
strument through which the nation
thanked the army.
Il am not taking it personally"
he said.
Before he left the capitol General
Pershing called on his father-in-
law. Senator Warren of Wyoming,
in the latter's office. As he started
for his automobile crowd of won-
en- sightseers fairly mobbed him.
clinging to his arms and demanding
that he stop to shake hands.
Don't hold my hand too long"
he protested laughingly to one eager
admirer, as he finally broke free
with the aid of his staff.