The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-04-10
PFRsH|NG GETS BIG OVATION
At LEGION POST RECEPTION

crowd on its feet cheering for nearly
half al hour. Prior 10 the arrival OF
General Pcrshing, Judge Ben s. Hon
ecker. who presided. was introduced by
Attorney j. W. Cummins. Judge Hon
ecker then introduced the first speaker
of the evening, Senator Sutherland.
Senator Sutherland traced the history
Of The proud armies of America. and
told OF their achievements on the fields
Of battle. In his speech he paid the
American soldier who participated tn
the late war a particularly high tribute.
CHASING him as the greatest colder OF
all history.
After senator Sutherland. the chair
man introduced Congressman n. NJ.
Nicely. Major Nicely spoke Of the I'M
stitutions OF democracy which. have
their home and their birthplace in
America. He closed his speech with
personal tribute to General Pershine,
the leader Of the American Expedition
AIRY force. closing his speech with
quotation from Virgil. ...-
Pershing Gets Ovation.
When General Pershing was announc-
cd the entire audience rose to its feet
seemingly in single movement. The
cheering lasted nearly five minutes, be-
fore the general was able 10 make him
self heard above the outcry. He said:
IL gives me great pleasure TO be~in
Wheeling aud in West Virginia today.
I am particularly glad to grasp the
hands Of men with whom I nave seen
service abroad and 10 greet them as
'Comradc.'
Il ain reminded Of story concsrnins
:; ccr,ain doughboy in France. This
particular soldier had been selected TO
go to an officers training camp where
, he remained but a few days until he
, had a dream. Gathered around with
his huddies the following evening he
told them Of his dream. He told them
that he believed that h" had in him
large amount of latent military talent,
because during his dream he had been
standing on the field Of battle marshall
ing his corps aud his divisions for the
fray. In his dream he had called out
corps right, March. Forward-Marcb!
PcrShing to the line OF Tile closcrs" l
want TO be not general tonight but
buddy.
Tribute TO Vets Of '61-'65.
1T is not fitting that We should gath
or here tonight without paying some
tribute 10 the men who wore the blue
and the gray. There are the men who
transmitted the great ideals of Ameri-
cansm under which We live. No truer
men eyer lived than those who wore the
bldc. unless il might have been those
who were clad in gray. in that titanic
struggl: that united our country.
when America entered the war, un-
der the leadership Of your governor and
YOUR city officials and your representa-
, tlvcs lin both houses Of congress, you
people OF West Virginia organized your
interests I" support The armies over
seas In funds. and loans the business
and other interest OF Wheeling did It's
share. The patriotism Of your people
back hom: here proved an inspiration 20
those abroad. 1t made possible the
carly victory which was won.
Praises eoth Division.
To tho people OF THIS district can
say hat tho soldiers of tac Eignticth
division bore themselves with gal
lantry and aggrcssivcueSs unsurpassed
by any soldiers lin tho \. l.. r. These
soldiers gained something besides the
military viCtorv won by their holy de-
sire 10 carry out their purpose; they
learned 10 conduct themselves m such
way that they gained high record
Of morality uucquallcd by any nation,
ny any army. at any time. ...
Women wern especially helpful in
,hc war To them must be given the
credit for the high standard maintain.d
by the American soldier abroad. Tn"
men wished TO remain true 10 the obli-
cations at home. To- obligations placed
,Irun them BY wives. and mothers and
sweotheaTtS ~ home. have seen
American womcu i"uDrc on the battle
ii"ldS caring for the sick and WOUNDED
When one knows IF those sacr'Icc&
but say. All Praise (" th" American
Women.
"Duc 10 aXpcr curc gained IN the
great war. Americans AZ" today ready
10 TAX: on the obiiGat.o-mS o. citizenship
with n Seriousness never known. Tn"
trials Of war hay" made II better able
10 cope with nv" trials nt peace. 49,
"tftrr tho clos" uf tn" war the
American Legion WAS Organized. TINS
orrunizatto. stands for God and
country; il stands acaIusi autocracy on
the part uf either the classes or the
masses. /, urholds tho principles o.
true tm.r.rauism. and its Greco ~ one
ina. ..n,ild he endorsed By every Am"ri--
,au Il is non-partiSan. and II IL liNeS
nm 10 its principles VIII always oc
great Factor in American life. II VIII
H. , treat S;cadying factor IN Amer
can hr". and will S"ttl" many dincr-
ri.r:, Nil who may become mcmpcr*
If the organization should give II scri-
aus thought.
,,nun:crcd in my reaching this building
thfs evening. 7 will. however, unload
Tho 4utir,, responsibility upon the
shoulders of those who have been my
managers throughout the day. MY VS.
- in this city has been very Satisfac-
;nry, and if the hospitality Of Wheel
ing is a fair sample Of tn" rest or the
stat. ! hope 10 return not only 10
Wheeling but to the rest Of west VIZ
cinia At an early date.
II am glad that | was able 10 accept
,nc invitation 10 come TO TINS cry anu
in closing thank YOU sincerely lot tHe
rrccrtion given me which would ike
:, ,,rcp, not only for myself but for
~, brave mcr. living and dead, VINO
,,cr. undcr my command in France.
DO You Sleep wenf