Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-01
PERSH|NG NPLEA
FORUNKNOWN DEAD
Asks Congress to Bury Hero
in Arlington as Special
( Irrational Tribute"

The return from France OF the body
;of an unknown soldier for burial in
Arlington national cemetery as "a f1t-
ting national tribute to the men who
fell in the world war" was advocated
today by Gen. PershinS before the
House military affairs committee.
which is considering a bill for that
purpose.
Similar proposals have been disap-
proved by Secretary Baker. who ruled
that the War Department could not
break a solemn promise to the rela-
tives of the soldiers that their bodies
either would be returned to them or
left in France.
Urges Impressive Ceremony.
81 think this proposal should be car
ried out" said Gen. PershIng. 1t
should be done with Il ceremony made
as impressive as possible and every
honor should be paid this unknown
man. And il should be simply an IN
known man. That should be Sufh-
cient to cover all states of the Union
and all branches of the military and
naval service"
The general suggested that next
Memorial day should be designated
Is the time for the ceremony. II"
said he favored Arlington national
cemetery rat her than the rctunda
OF INC aIltoi. as It-t! SiSS'f9t-
ed because of the sentiment which
attaches to the nationally known
cemetery.
Lejucne Also FavOrS Plan
Mai. Gen. Lejeone, commander of
the Marine Corps. who commanded
the I'd Division in the Scissor drive,
also recommended the return of the
body Of one unknown soldier.
Test of Real Progress.
Truxton Beale of Washington. who
was to have been witness before the
committee was detained at the State
Department. but submitted the follow
ing statement:
I'VE are beginning to realize that our
great material achievements are not
our sole measure of civiliZation-to
realize that civilization is more mat
ter of the heart than of the head. and
that sympathy is the raw material
from which it is made. If the me-
mortal, the solemn rights and the
burial place proposed in Mr.. Fishs
resolution will create and keep vivid
our sense of the sufferings OF others
1t will Suhserve great public use and
a thousand perhaps indirect, but
nevertheless. beneficial effects will
come from this one cause.
Test Of Real Progress.
THE test of real progress is the
rate by which our sympathy for our
fellow citizens is Strengthening, and
it is in such ways as the resolution
suggests that the soul of goodness in
things evil may come from the suffer-
ings Of the frightful war.
If the carrying out of the resolu-
ton were only an expression of ma
tional sympathy for the families of
the unidentified soldiers. / think il
would be justified. Those who were
obliged to endure the long period of
agony before learning the fate of
their relatives in the Army in France
suffered more than any of the others
who were grief stricken with losses
in the war.
Time. which usually appraises the
grief of most. only kept theirs more
keen.
1T is human to believe what we
fervently wish. Trifes often suffice
Tor US to contemplate the grief after
which many American families were
kept. and their hopes were constant
~ revived that their loved ones would
return to the frcside and again oc-
cupy vacant chairs, only in the end
to have the sickening conviction driv-
en- upon them that they were lying
In foreign land in an unmarked
grave.
Memorial Well Worth While.
unlike many vainglorious memori-
ais seen both in Europe and in this
country. which only tend to revive
age and act as a Stimulant to our
fighting propensity. this monument
will arouse sentiment of an entirely
different kind. / believe 1t would be
we'll worth the public money expend-
I'd upon it