Evening star., 1919-02-23

| tribute to Washington and Wilson,
gifts of the south to America and the
| world"
Allied Flags Displayed.
The spacious ballroom on the top
floor of the hotel had been generously
decorated with the flags of the allied
nst tions The American colors and the
standard of freedom of the world
was dominant in all the flag decora-
tions. A large stringed orchestra
played the accompaniment to the
singing of old southern songs, led by
Prof T. w. Dykema of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin, who led the
boys in many of the camps and can
tonments all over the country while
they trained for war overseas The
Star Spangled Banner was the sig
nal the b.eaking out OF the colors
and the enthusiastic singing by the
entire company of that national an
them. During the evening, following
the speakers representing france ana
England, the national anthems OF
those countries were sung, the audi
ence standing.
Speaker Champ Clark was the guest
of honor, making a speech which ire
quently brought out rounds or ap-
plause, especially when he mentioned
the name of President Wilson. At the
close of his speech, when he paid
tribute to the craftsmanship of Mr.
Wilson. the large audience numbering
more than 500 representative south
erners, arose and cheered vigorously.
Praise for President Wilson.
Speaker Clark said that it was a re-
markable coincidence that 100 years
ago the greatest man in the eyes or
the world was Virginian-Washing-
ton-and now that century has
rolled away the greatest man in the
world today is a Virginian-Wilson.
president Wilson," said Mr.. Clark,
''has been caustically criticised by re-
publicans and democrats alike for
making his trip to the peace confer
ence. He had as much right to go to
Europe as he would have to make a
trip to Baltimore, and under the Con-
stitution is empowered to direct the
functions of his Office abroad as much
SO as in the White House"
Discussing Washington as states
man and common citizen. Mr.. Clark
said that when a boy he had read all the
histories of Washington, all of them
showing the great man on dress pa
rade. But none of them, he said, had
shown Washington as he really was.
Washington, he thought was the
X
Washington Real American.
'The name of Washington declared
Mr.. Clark, lis today more honored
than on any other occasion / have
listened to the reading of Washing
tons farewell address in Congress
twenty-four times and never before
today when it was read in the House
has it been cheered-it was Justify
10 ffYra tar t(,H
Washington In private life was an or
dinary man, possessed of all the small
vices of the same breed of men as you
and / are of today-he was red
blooded man and the best type OF
real American ! would to God that
every history Of washington's life in
which he is pictured without fault
were burned by the public hangman
and that some genius in the writing
of the truth of history would pro-
duce a biography Of the great man
just as he was.
Lincoln was a great war President.
made SO by the opportunity of the civil
war. Had that history-making epoch
not occurred, Lincoln would have
served one term and passed along.
But the opportunity offered and he
grasped it and did his country big
service and made name for himself
President Wilson can be compared
to Lincoln in that respect. The great
world war broke out during his admin
istration, this country was drawn into
the conflict and Mr.. Wilson rose to the
emergency and has proved himself
the worlds greatest statesman"
Capt. Pierret Wins Favor.
Capt Christian Pierret of the French
army, representing the French ambas-
sador, won the favor of the big audience
when he said
81 love your south. I love your south
ern men and women. l have lived among
them in the sun-kissed land Of your
country and enjoyed the hospitalities
shown me personally and as an officer Of
the army of my country. There is so
much in your southland that is akin
to that of my country that 1 am drawn
closely TO it. There is SO much in COM
mon between US. Your family tradi-
tions and your love of the deeds Of your
ilIustrious ancestors are alike to those
of France, where that love and venera-
ton have made the patriots and brave
men Of France who have so bravely
fought for their homeland In the es-
tablishment of the worlds peace In
which your distinguished President has
taken so large part must be a peace
that you want; that France wants !;
that England wants, and that Italy
wants"