The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-06
POLITICAL OMEN SEEN IN OVATION
 GIVEN PERSH|NG
Kansas City Reception May Be Forerunner of Movement to Groom General for Seat
 In the White House
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By GREENvILLE BROWN pecial Correspondent of The Age Herald (Copyright, iD2I, by The Age -Herald)

SpecinI Correspondent of The Age Herald Copyright, l0s1, by The Age-Herhid)
 Kansas City, November 5.---Unques- tionably the most spectacular feature of the American Legion convention here this week was the ovation to Gen. John J. Pershing. In the con vention hall he was cheered for eight minutes when he made his first ap- pearance. That same evening. as he mingled among the "doughboys' on the streets and in hotel lobbies, he was carried on their shoulders and wildly acclaimed
 Many keen observers profess ;o see in these events distinct political omen Of the future When General Pershing was talited of last year for tho republican nomination for Presi- dent 1t was freely said that he could not command the soldier vote. It was said that he was unpopular with the rank and file of the men who had served In France. because they blamed him for everything that nap pened to go wrong, and gave him no credit for all that went right.
 Gen. Charles G. Dawes, who was | one of the men behind the Pershing boom" last year, admitted after a | thorough canvass that the time to put the general forward politically had not arrived.
 Tt may be yeaf&." he said before General Pershing Is fully appreciated by the American people; 1t may be years before the extent of his service to this country is fully understood"
 Proudest In the End
 Gauaral Ya1f aQ did n otl.ers. that this appreciation and an- derstanding must come first from the men who served under Pershing in France. General Dawes had the ad- vantage of serving with Pershing at headquarters. It was different with the men out in the front line trench. They had many real or fancied griev- ances. In every big army there are inevitable hardships, disappoint- ments. resentments and heart burn ings. Most of these are based upon misunderstandings and misconcep~ tions. Therefore, the friends of .ien- eral Pershing, who would like to see him eventually in the White House realized last year 1t would take some time to sweep aside the petty griev ! ances of the men who did so much "grousing." as the old British Tom mics say, when they first returned to their home. As these disappeared it was felt the big side. of Pershlng's s job would come more and more to the surface, and that the men who complained the most bitterly against the harshness of his discipline would | in the end be the proudest to have served under him.
 Popularity Increases
 The reception given the "Old Man" | In Kansas City this week seems to l indicate that time, with it's healing influences. passes more quickly than even closest friends of Pershing re- alized. The American Legion con- yention body was composed, for the most part. of former privates and the spacious galleries of the hall were packed with men of the ranks when Pershing first appeared last Wednes- day. |. 1t was from this throng that the general received perhaps the greatest ovation ever accorded an American commander by the men who had served under him. The pa rade added to the popularity of Per shing. When police lost control of the crowd, Pershing ,naturally and automatically took command. Stand- ing in his automobile, he opened a lane of 50,000 men marching behind him and gestured the crowd back. Ine dOuBnDOyS aumireu the way tnetr old comrade acted.
 As plain matter of fact, most of the men in uniform were seeing their general for the first time. The battle lines in France were too far flung to permit of much contact be- tween a commander in chief and his soldiers at the front The conditions of the World war did not permit of high personal command in battle. And so. to most of the men in France. Pershing was name rather than a personality. His pictures showed him grim and gray, with stern lines about his mouth. But the Pershing who greeted them In Kansas City wore winning smile. and those who knew him best in France marked a noticeable softening of the lines that had lent the aspect of grimness to the commander of the A. F. F.
 Mingles With "Boys.
 On the night of the parade and the ovation in his honor, Pershing asked to be taken to see his boys" having good time. His guard of honor cautioned but he insisted, and his car travelled through six solid blocks | of former doughboys. most of whom were engaged in counting the fortune (Continued on Page TwoJ