The sun., 1919-02-04

lea assembled to do honor to the most Ia
nous representative OF their industry IN
tho war followed Eddie Rickenbanker's TO
the box In the balcony and mighty roar
Of welcome went up for the mother OF
Americas ACE OF Aces" There we're
tears OF pride in the eyes OF Mrs. Eliza
beth Ricken hacker. who had journeyed
hero from Columbus, Ohio, to welcome
her son back home. a. she arose and
Acknowledged the tribute that had been
Paid her.
Welcomes Like . King.
twas a day Of days for Eddie Ricken-
hacker, all in all. Always prime Ia
vortte with automobile men from the
first time he electrified them with his
darsdeviltry on the race track. he re-
ceived homage such as few men. even
heroes, ever get, when he walked into
the Waldorf last night to receive their
welcome home.
Manufacturing princes OF the type OF
Hugh Chalmers were on hand IN Iorce,
as were Rickenbacker's old rivals OF the
road, men like Oldheid. De Palma. Chew
rolet, Resta, Milford and Harroun. lead
ing representatives, in fact, OF every
branch of automobiling. These men, as
s1nbled in the city for the Automobile
Show, amply made good their boast that
when Eddie Rickenbacksr came home
he would receive kingly welcome.
The speakers-they were limited to
four. Secretary Baker, Major Gen.
Charles T Menoher. DR.. Henry van
Dyke and w Bourke Cockran-v!ev with
each other In their praise OF the young
Ohioan who earned the title of Aneri-
cas- greatest ace by shooting twenty-six
German planes out OF the skies above
France.
In the evening Of his life" said Sec
rotary Baker. Capt. Rickenbacker's
heart will thrift as ours thrill now. IN
remembrance OF the heroic part he has
played in the salvation OF civilization"
Tribute to Ace in Verse.
All the tributes paid to Rickenback
both those q the speakers and the thou
sand and one others privately paid him
at a reception that preceded the dinner.
were OF like enthusiasm. One, written
by J. c. Burton a. expressive OF the
general sentiment OF his legion Of old
automobile friends. was printed on the
dinner cards:
TO RICK"
To yos from. failing L7uds ue ,krow
TIE forrh. be uo1rs TO Aol5 H hohl
Nov RICK comes homs
From skies that droned with death
Machine gun riddlsd skies
That made lie but. breath
Where Utmost Peril found his hearts de-
Nov RICK comes home.
w,,h SKIN that knows no p..-.
with heart BY daring .te.Ied
kick keep his faith with those
That sleep IA FIander. Acid
He snatched II where they !ay.
Proud wsr. the buzzards OF the Hun
That FELL 10 earth this eagles prey.
Now Rrk comes home. a hero born o..
To live while there ar. eye. to sean
On nIs'ory's pag. his name:
Bat Rex Is something more
modest four-square man,
Full worthy AZ his fame
80 Rick comes home.
The dinner was held under the aus
pices Of the Contest Board OF the Ame-i-
can Automobile Association cooperating
with half a dozen national associations
Of men IN one ranch or the other Of the
automobile business Congressman Clif-
ford Ireland Of Ohio. member OF the
Contest Board and an old friend OF Rick
enbackers, was the toastmaster.
\ message from Cen Persh.ng. whose
chauffeur Rlckenbac ker vas when he
first went 10 France. was read by Pep
resentative Ireland. as were messages
from William Howard TAFT and others
Praise for Liberty Motor.
Secretary Baker, who said that re had
entered the Cabinet quite innocent OF
any knowledge about the War Depart
=Gsa.. sad that he :o-nt Z: TIA;
time that the United States possessed
twelve alrplanes, some OF which could
ny" In April. 1917. he said. the army
had twelve war planes. two training
planes and eleven machines ordered. On
November II last, he said, the United
states had s,472 planes in France and
4se5 In this country and was turning
them out faster than ships could be
round to transport them overseas in.
Mr. Baker reviewed In detail the prog.
resc made by the United States in air
craft production. and. referring to the
work OF Col r. A. Deeds. who was a
guest at the dinner. he said
Col. Deeds was going around Wash
inEton with an alrplane on the tip o.
each finger. Men said that he was a
dreamer. that he foresaw the impossible
and attempted the unattainable. Per
haps they were right, but had Il not
been for the optimism and enthusiasm
Of the dreamers Of those kind OF dreams
We never could have done what We have
done"
A large share OF the credit for the de
velopment Of the Liberty motor. Score
tary Baker said. was due TO the auto
mobile manufacturers. He said that or
the occasion OF his last visit TO In CLAN
the British were willing to trade th'
House Of Parliament for A Liberty mo
tor II they had to, so impressed wer,
they with the value OF these engines.
After paying a tribute 20 Pershing a,
"a man who deserves we'll Of the re
public" the Secretary hailed Ricken
hacker as 1.-The Crusader. who will lool
hack IN his old age 20 these days, glac
N his heart that In his youth he ven
rurod death that men might walk tn,
earth unafraid in liberty and in jus
tice"
A medal inscribed with pair OF wing
done IN platinum and set with diamond
and sapphirss was presented 10 Can't
Rickenbacker in behalf Of his friends b,
Dr. Van Dyke. Efforts to induce IN
Captain 70 relate some Of his stirrlnI
exploits proved rather a failure. Eddi
declaring In a brief speech that the larR
rst share OF credit for American mill
'ery successes belonged 10 the dough
Joys His only reference to aylatIo