Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-04
Nebraska's Own War Hero
Guest of 5000 People at Re-
ception in Auditorium
Makes Brief Speech.
WOMEN'S VOTES PLEDGED
HIM FOR THE PRESIDENCY
General Defends Actions of
Soldiers in France and
Praises Activities of Middle
West During Conflict.

oNh. ! oiil J. L Si oliiiiS, 4>Npi doNft .
own, spent three hours in Omaha
yesterday afternoon on his way te
Chicago. During his stay he made
a 10-minute speech at the Audi
torium, shook hands with nearly
5000 people and was promised the
support of Nebraska women for
the presidency by Mrs. Draper
Smith, leading Omaha suffrage
worker.
The train carrying the generar5
private car arrived at the Burling
ton station at $3.50 p. m. As the gen
eral descended from his car a lusty
cheer went up from a crowd which
packed the station and lined the via
duct above.
A reception committee, made up
of members of the city council and
board of directors of the Chamber
of Commerce, was on hand, and with
the aid of several police officers, cs-
corted the general through the
crowd to the waiting automobile ot
Senator Joseph H. Millard.
Cheered on Streets.
II. H. Baldrige, chairman of the
reception committee, rode by the
generals side as he was driven from
the station up Farnam street 10
Eighteenth street. down Harney
street to Fifteenth street and to the
Auditorium. Although there was no
unusual crowd on the streets, hearty
applause from pedestrians caused the
general to rise frequently and salute
As General Pershing stepped ont
on the Auditorium stage the Fort
Crook band struck up "Thc Star
Spangled Banner" and the great
crowd rose with cheer lasting fully
two minutes.
w. G.. Ure explained that in the
absence Of Mayor Smith, II. H.
Baldrige had been asked to present
the general Mr.. Baldrige, in short
introductory speech, expressed the
pride which Omaha took in enter
tanning the general, reviewed the
generals record during the crisis Of
The world war and compared the
generals humble beginning as Mis-
souri, store clerk to that of Washing
ton and other great military geniuses
Of this country.
Military in Speech.
As General Pershing stepped
forward to speak there was a sud
den hush of expectancy. He stood
before his audience, straight, mil
itary figure of tanned face, gray of
hair and close cropped mustache.
looking straight into the faces of
his audience for nearly a minute
before speaking.
Then, in his precise military
manner, in voice which softened
at times, he told Omaha Of the
heroism of its own men, men who
had filled the breech in the allied
lines and stopped the onrushing
enemy.
at was the spirit of the people
of Nebraska and the middle west"
he began, that was our greatest
source of encouragement during the
great war in Europe. We always
felt that the people of Nebraska
were behind us, heart and soul.
Praises Nebraska Troops.
"The way in which the people
undertook to carry on their part
in the war most of all, through.
THE great farming districts of the
west, made victory for this coun-
try and the allies inevitable. The
men that you sent to represent
you in the.war attained, with COM
paratively short training, the dis
tinction of being equal, more than
equal, to the best troops in Europe"
A shout of applause marked this
last sentence.
II remember very clearly the val
or of the 89th division, division
made up of Nebraska men-of
Omaha" More applause.
THE division distinguished itself
at the Aygopne, had distinguished
themselves before that battle and
continued to distinguish themselves
afterwards" The general here took
an opportunity to discredit many
reports of disorderly conduct of
American soldiers Ill France.
Proud of Soldiers.
"The people of Nebraska should
be proud of the reputation of their
soldiers. American soldiers, in
Europe" he said. "There was in
the hearts and mind of those boys
an earnest desire to get at the en-
emy and drive him back where he
belonged. These men have returned
with new experiences. which came
to them through their association
with all classes.
Their victory was not altogether
military. They have left behind i'm
pressions of the young American
manhood. which have caused the al
hes to express surprise and praise.
They helped widows and orphans in
Continued ON Fage -Four, Column One.)