Ohio History Journal

518       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

Following Mr. Burton's address, President Johnson

said:

We may well hope that a million radio listeners, scattered

from lakes to gulf and from coast to coast, have been sitting at

their instruments, listening to these lessons of truth and mag-

netism. We are greatly indebted to Mr. Burton for the message

which he has brought us.  I am sure you will all join in a vote

of thanks to him for coming to Columbus and appearing before

this assembly. Mr. Burton has made arrangements to return

to Washington on the 4:50 Pennsylvania train; so if it becomes

necessary for him to leave before the conclusion of the pro-

gram, you will understand the reason why.

Had the inclemency of the weather not driven us to a change

of program, we would now be proceeding to the unveiling of The

Victorious Soldier. In the arrangement of this program we

sought to pay a tribute of love and respect to the War Mothers

of Ohio, and for that reason there was chosen to represent them,

Mrs. Elizabeth L. Clark, the President of the Department of Ohio,

Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion. The last speaker

on the program will represent the service men and women of

Ohio. In order that Mrs. Clark, and the War Mothers she rep-

resents, may not be deprived of their rightful place on this pro-

gram, I am going to ask you to rise and be presented to Mrs.

Elizabeth L. Clark. (Applause.)

 

ADDRESS OF MRS. ELIZABETH L. CLARK

Mrs. Clark came forward and spoke briefly and feel-

ingly as follows:

Mr. President and Friends: When the Congressman was

speaking, I, as a mother, could not help thinking of a day when

under that golden dome in Washington was gathered together a

body of men who held in their hands the destinies of this nation.

On one side sat the members of Congress, above them in silent

dignity sat the Supreme Court, on the other side were the envoys

of foreign nations. Back here sat your War President, on one

side the Vice-President, and on the other the Secretary of War,

and outside the nation waited.

And you women know how we felt when we heard those

words, "We are at War". I shall not take time to go over the

things you know, but I saw those Ohio men go overseas, I saw

them in England and France and Italy and Belgium, and you

know their coming home, but over there they left precious

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Dedication of Ohio's World War Memorial       519 shrines of America where side by side sleep Catholic and Prot- estant, Jew and Gentile, black and white, and while they slumber on foreign ground, they are protected by the flag of this country and it will keep them. Let the people of America keep the faith we have today. As women, we want peace, and no woman wants it more than I; but we want that peace with an ample army, Mr.

Congressman, with an adequate navy; not to bring on unjust and unwarranted wars, but to insure us everlasting and abiding peace. Mr. President, that statue that was unveiled today will bring to the women of the state a kindlier thought in their minds, a ten- derer tone in their voices, and a warmer throb in their hearts, because, while we want peace, we love peace, these men for whom it stands love it more, because they know war. We love that flag,

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520       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

but they love it more because they have seen its crimson colors

reproduced in the blood of America. We love this country, but

they love it more, because they have seen the sacrifices which have

made it what it is, and while we hope that we will have peace,

we are going to claim our right and recognize our right under

any circumstance, at any time, to protect our homes, our loved

ones, our country, and our flag, to maintain American institutions

and to preserve American traditions. I thank you. (Applause.)

 

ADDRESS OF MAJOR-GENERAL BENSON W. HOUGH

President Johnson next presented Major-General

Hough, who in behalf of the service men and women of

Ohio thanked the Society for its manifestation of inter-

est and the interest of the great state of Ohio in the

erection of the Memorial this day dedicated. President

Johnson spoke as follows:

Now, we have come to the last of the addresses of the day.

It is to be made by one of our own, Late Colonel of the 166th

Infantry of Ohio, 42nd Division of A. E. F., who recently re-

ceived a deserved recognition and honor, appointment to the Fed-

eral Judgeship of the Southern District of Ohio. I have the honor

to present Major-General Benson W. Hough, who will give a

response on behalf of the Service Men and Women of Ohio.

Judge Hough responded as follows:

Mr. President, Senator Burton, My Comrades, Friends, La-

dies and Gentlemen: It is no insignificant duty to be called upon

to state the congratulations and sentiment of more than a quarter

of a million Ohio service men. It is no small task, either, to tell

this Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, in adequate

terms, of the appreciation that is due that society for and in be-

half of this their splendid permanent Memorial. It is my belief

that this should be approached in modesty and humility, in a spirit

of thankfulness, for what has been accomplished, in a spirit of

thankfulness that the occurrences of 1918 have terminated and

with the voice of hope that those times may never be reenacted.

The man who conceived the idea of this project must have been

a patriot. To James E. Campbell and his associates, whose

thoughts developed into plans, and whose plans through effort

finally developed into this completed enterprise, all thanks must

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