The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-11-11
HARDING LEADS
AS PROCESSION
WENDS ITS WAY
Thousands of People Parade
Down Historical Pennsylvania
Avenue to Arlington
AT THE UNKNOWN's BIER
Great Amphitheater at .Arling-
ton Cemetery is Filled as
President Speaks

President Speaks
Washington, Nov. 11.-Home at last
IRON France, an unknown American
soldier, was laid to rest with all the
homage grateful people could pay.
For him a people stood at pause q
little apace, the rush and tumult of a
nations hurrying life stilled In rev.
erence.
For him a President gladly trudged
afoot through the streets, chief
mourner to tell peoples proud sor-
row for the dead
For him admirals and generals and
judges and statesmen flung of the
weight Of dignities and years to walk
humbly with lesser folk and do him
honor.
For him the worlds most precious
tokens for the valiant, were laid upon
his bier; crosses and medals and rib
bonds and the tears of mourning
mothers: comrades standing apart
among men for their high-hearted
deeds Of courage alone might touch
his casket; cannon roared him last
glorious salute.
And for him, a shattered, nameless
bod from some battle field In France
where his great sacrifice was made,
was provided place for his long
sleep that "kings for such tomb
could wish to die" Yet in it all, after
all, there was little of sorrow. There
was pride and circumstance and the
ordered movement of martial pageant;
but over and under 1t all there was
everywhere a note that spoke Of the
swelling spirit of brotherhood Of the
nation, the democracy that brought
the highest1 and lowest shoulder to
shoulder about the tomb Of the un-
known soldier who gave his all for the
flag.
CROWDS GATHER EARLY
Long before the rising sun
broke through bank of cloud
long columns of soldiers, sailors, and
marines, today began making their
way to the capitol plaza, there to re-
ceive into their keeping Americas
unknown soldier and to accompany
him to his final resting place at
Arlington.
The day promised to be clear and
sharply cold, an almost exact duplica-
tion of the first Armistice day three
years ago. There was scarcely
breath of wind stirring and the half
masted flags about the capital hung
virtually stationary.
Historical Pennsylvania avenue
today to see new tribute to the ma
tion's dead was roped off and all
traffic stopped as during an inaugur-
al parade Before sunrise spectators
began to line the sides of the avenue.
There was stir about the White
House and at 1880 O'Clock aptpmo-
biles were in waiting to take Presi-
dent Harding to the capitol to take
his place in the funeral procession as
the nations chief mOurner.
AS each door of the rotunda swung
open there entered the first flood Of
sunshine to tighten the bronze figure
sent by the President Of China to rest
on the base. The mountain of flow
ers stacked high against the wall and
and on a circle on stands closer in
remained gundisturbed during the
night. au g
Trucks were waiting to transfer
them to Arlington ahead of the pro-
cession but by another route.
SENATOR'S JOIN IN
AS the band outside played NEAR
er My God to Thee" the coffin was
lifted on the shoulders of the body
bearers and taken through the east
door to the caiss0n few, moments
before 8 o'clock. The honorary pail
bearers followed. There was no cere-
mony in the rotunda. AS the body
was removed the soldier guard of
honor that had stood about the bier
since the night before last was re-
moved. The flower-strewn casket was
borne tenderly down the broad steps
Of the capitol, soldiers standing in
line along the steps and the as
semblage of thousands on the plaza
stood at attention. Flags of the color
bearers were grouped while those on
the capitol were half masted.
At S:15 o'clock President Harding
left the White House and motored
toward the capitol to take his place
in the funeral procession He
arrived there at 1927 o'clock
Meanwhile the senate met and ad-
Journed, going on the rOtunda to fall
| in line.
| WILSON IS IN LINE.
At the house the delegation marched
out and took up its position behind
the senate Representative Alice
Robertson, of Oklahoma, the only wo-
man in Congress took her place near
the front dressed in the uniform of an
America Red Cross nurse.
A soldier was detailed to march
with her. The procession moved out
of the capitol grounds at 1892
o'clock.
President Harding who had stood
ahead of the line talking with Chief
Justice Taft and others stepped for