Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-19
HONOR HOOVER
FOR GREAT WORK
IN WORLD WAR
Presented With Civic Forum
Medal of Honor at Testi-
:. moniaI Meeting in
New York.

New York, Feb. lS.-Herbert
lIoeSer. hailed as "financier, Dip
omat and statesman" by Charles
T., Hughes at a testimonial meeting
given in his honor here tonight by
The Civic Forum, declared that the
nations sense of duty to the great
est number, is in danger Of being
overwhelmed bv "selfishness and
partisanship." In recognition Of
''his distinguished public service
MIR. Hoover was presented with the
Civic Forum Medal of Honor, with
which only three other American
citizens have been honored-Alex-
ander Graham Bell, Thomas Alva
Edison and George Washington
Goethals.
In accepting the medal. Mr..
Hoover said that he only did so
on the condition that the recogni-
lion include his colleagues and the
thousands of men and women of
America who gave ME their sup
port in my undertakings"
1t was only the common sense"
and "rhole-hearted co-opexation' OF
the American people that had made
his relief work in Europe a sue
cess, Mr.. Hoover declared.
Il believe this quality of cooper
alton will continue" he added. al
though we are faced by another
complex problem.
1--WE are in s9me danger that sell
fishness and partisanship will over
whelm our sense of duty to the
greatest number" t..
Notable Gift of Books.
In rclating Mr.. Hoover's achieve
ments abroad, Horace v Winchell.
retiring president of the Institute of
American Mining Engineers, re-
yealed that the former food ad-
ministrator had gathered in Europe
10000 volumes of literature on the
war. brought them to the United
States and presented them to Leland
Stanford university, his alma mater.
AS result of this generous BEN
efactfon," he added, "the history
Of the great war will be written in
this country and hither for gener-
ations will come students of the
subject from all. parts of the globe"
Mr.. Hughes, in making the pres
entation said that as America has
10 military or naval honors or gov
ernmental recognition to bestow ON
Mr.. Hoover we are seeking to give
expression to the thought of the
people of America and without pref
erence to class, without regard to
partys or to politics, we are gath
cred N the public interest to honor
great civilian hero of the world
war"
Mr.. Hughts reviewed Mr.. Hoov-
er's relief work in Belgium, declar-
ing that "it was conducted not only
without reproach, but with such
efficiency that it challenged the ad-
miration of the world" ,
Fearless and Adequate.
Hoover, as administrators of re-
lief" he continued, was at once
. financier, diplomat and statesman.
He came into contact with the gov
ernments of the allies and with the
despotism of the central powers. He
wa was E Isady, equipped firm, fearless
"The Americanism of Hoover is
shown in every deed, in every utter
ance. His achievements dignihed
the nation and established prestige
Tor the American name abroad
which, none Of the failures of diplo-
Macy can. obscure. He bears a
.iiame untariished. expressive not
only of exceptional ability, but of
the simple life of modest citizen
Aurelia Henry Reinhardt, presi-
dent of Mills College, who referred
to MEs Hoover is the distinguished
American with unconquerable mod
esty,"' spoke a word Of appreciation
Of his work on~ behalf of American
Wcmeil.