, 1922-08-31

corporation for an association which shall keep
them together and "enshrine their common sac
ridre."
1t is Representative Thomas ID. SehalI of Min
nesn,s who has introduced the Incorporation bill.
Calling the attention of the house to the visitors
In the gallery. he made an eloquent speech that
stirred even the blase house and brought forth
many bursts of applause. Probably one reason
the speech was eloquent was because the speaker
knew what he was talking about. For he had been
under fire with the boys on the firing line. lie was
on the American transport Mount Vernon when
she was t~orpedoed of BreSt September :. with a
loss OF - killed. He was In France during July
and August OF 1918 and followed the Americans
Ia the Chateau-Thierry drive. As he said in his
speech:
Il WIS with Major Fuchs in Conan, where white
hot fragments OF shell lay smoking in the street,
the town being sheiled every 10 minutes. | expe-
renced creeping upon hands and knees for about
hRit It mile to avoid exposure to the enemy. 1
ssvorec the heavy white dust. the flies. the heat,
sud the scantiness of water the smell of decaying
flesh. where the human dominated the animal I
heard the mighty uproar OF night attacks. where
like heat lightning the barrage played along the
sky; the boom Of artillery and the burst Of shell:
the heavy rumble Of trucks bringing troops. muni.
tiouS and supplies to the front; and ambuIances
setting out with the wounded.
"Frnm actual contact with soldiers in action In
field and camp, l know something OF what our
. boys suffered and what they accomplished over
there. I dined with them ut mess and communed
with them in hivouac in the night, at a time when
meas tongues are loosed and they talk. Today
they narrowly missed death. Perhaps it would be
their turn tomorrow. and so on the verge OF eter.
niU they spoke their hearts and told the plnln
truth without fear or favor. No winners among
thetn. No boosters. Just matter-offact. pure
stuG. the dross burned away In actual fellowship
with death. leaving their souls vibrant Instruments
of truth. II | had but one word with which TO
describe the American soldier. | would describe
hlm with the word courage No nation in all the
annals " war has produced average individuals
WIKI such predominant courage. such unheardof
herolsm. such willing Offering OF lfe."
But Mr.. Schalis speech was eloquent for another
reason also; He himself Is n blind man-"Iost
sight through electric shock" says the Congress
slonai Directory. said he, In his introduction:
"No duuht every one ~ these hoys has cried out
In his hour or trial, % Lord, II possible. take this
cgp trum me- and would have chosen To- have
remained upon the battlefield. with no Weakening.
e. hrtr. dny after day. the heavy cross Of silent
waiting. The constantly recurring thought In the
early DAYS nf blindness Is. is not death to he pre-
fcrreif TOR they then rensnn with the mind OF the
ncpuHintances meeting me nfter u lapse 81 time
would say. 'Schall. I heard you were dead I re-
piicl 'Noi dead. Just bindr But ! could readily
inierpwt what they thought. When they heard
that hnd lost my sight, they said To themselves.
Il would rather he dend. And So, having said IT,.
they concluded that I wns dead. But / am not
dead tApplause.l And I am quite sure thar the
hnud soldiers who are here In the gallery today
viii pruve that they ure not dead. tAppinuse.l
"these men are making good under their trials.