Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-18
JOINT SESSION
PAYS TRIBUTE
TO COMMANDER
Congress Formally Thanks
General for His and
Mems Services.


in the chamber of the house of
representatives. with the full mem.
bership of the senate and house
about him and with galleries
crowded with admirers, General
John ]. Pershing received today
the formal thanks of congress for
the services he and the officers and
men he commanded in France rem
dered during the great war.
Senate and house assembled in
their respective chambers. Then
the senators marched in pairs
through the old corridors Of the
capitol to seats on the front
benches of the house. Senator
Cummins as president pro tempore
of the senate, sat with Speaker
Gillette and when General Persbing
had been escorted to the floor be-
fore the speakers desk, facing a
great American flag draped on the
wall, it was Senator Cummins who
extended the first greeting.
Greeting of the Senate.
General Pershing," he said. ''it
is my high privilege to extend to
you the sincere and cordial greet
ing of the senate of the United
States. The message l have the
honor to bear is not a greeting
alone, but an earnest welcome and
hearty congratulation upon your
safe and victorious return to your
native land. Nor is it a welcome
only, for it is full Of deep appre-
citation of the tremendous task you
IA -
accomplished. You were called
upon to assume the immeasureable
responsibility of commanding the
greatest body of soldiers who ever
marched under the American flag,
and you led this superb, invincible
host of our brightest, best and
bravest boys, to the very summit
of military fame and national glory
While our tears are flowing and
our hearts are breaking, as we SOL
emnly remember the tens Of thou
sands who sailed away with spirit
so resolute and courage so perfect
and who will return nevermore un-
til God calls US all on His Judg-
ment day we received with un-
bounded Joy and undying gratitude
those who have passed unharmed
through the perils of the cruelest
war in the history Of the world.
Recalls Arrival in France.
Your entry into France, follow
ed by an army which exceeded in
numbers and surpassed in daring
the most enthusiastic prophecies,
was the most impressive spectacle
in all the annals of warfare, for
America FASTENED to the aid of
that stricken but defiant country
in way and to a degree never be-
fore witnessed and which has no
parallel in the record of nations Of
this or any other age. A little
more than a year later, with a pur-
pose which never faltered and a
skill which never failed. the United
States had accomplished its mis-
sion and when the day of armis-
tice dawned. it had won the admir-
alton and held the confidence, es-
TEEN and affection of every coun-
try of earth who loved justice and
revered justice and manhood.
Upon that day. the name and
fame of the American soldier and
the nation Of his allegiance had
risen to the highest point ever at
tanned in the cause of humanity.
May the Ruler of the universe help
us to maintain through all the
stormy years to come the respect
and faith which you and your gal
liant army so magnificentIy won for
America and her beloved institu-
tons"
Tribute Of the. House.
Speaker Gillette followed:
Human nature loves to person
ify its IDEALS" he said. "It loves
a hero and hero worship. And so
we all rejoice to see personifed in
the commanding general the gal
lantry, the high purpose. the un-
conquerable determination of our
crusading army. Those boys
were our bravest and best.
For those who fell we render tear
full homage. For those who re-
turned MANNED and crippled we
owe tender care and support But
for the great army which has come
back disciplined in body and in
charcter. having bravely offered
the supremest sacrifice,
for them l have indeed gratitude
and admiration, but my strongest
emotion is envy They will be our
heroes. -
And in you, sir. their command
ing general. we like to see typified
the spirit Of that noble army, the
courage, the self-reliance, the en-
durance, the chivalrous daring
which made them invincible. AS
their fit representative, we repre-
sentatives of the people, welcome
you home"
Clark Presents Resolution.
The formal resolution of thanks
was then presented to the general
by former Speaker Champ Clark.
Grim visaged war hath smooth
ed her wrinkled 'front.'" he said.
land peace. with healing in her
wing, like a gentle spirit, now is
broOding DER a sore and storm
rocked world. God be thanked
And you. General Pershing, were a
master workman in this wondrous
and blessed transformation con-