"Fallen Comrades"

One weekday last week the House dropped its legislative labors to hold its first group memorial service for the ten Representatives and one Senator who died within the Congressional year. Such services used to be held on Sundays and fine occasions for flowery oratory they were--only nobody came.

At last week's service the House, taken somewhat unaware, was reasonably full. Two speeches were delivered, one by jovial, wavy-haired Charles Aubrey Eaton, onetime Baptist pastor of John D. Rockefeller's Euclid Avenue Church, Cleveland, now a New Jersey Representative; the other by Democratic Leader Finis James Garrett. The Marine Band played sacred music. The Imperial Male Quartet sang hymns. Chaplain Montgomery prayed at length. House Clerk Page read the roster of the dead: Vaile of Colorado, Madden of Illinois, Sweet of New York, Butler of Pennsylvania, Rathbone of Illinois, Frothingham of Massachusetts, Rubey of Missouri, Oldfield of Arkansas, Faust of Missouri, King of Illinois, Gooding (Senator) of Idaho.

Then followed a minute of devotional silence, a real silence rare for the House. Then Dr. Eaton began:

"We are seeking to express our grief over brave comrades fallen by our side in battle. . . . This tragic toll exacted by the Grim Reaper may awaken the American people to a new understanding. . . . We loved these fallen comrades of ours. . . . Vaile, called from the lofty outlook of his beloved mountains to the infinite horizons of eternity. . . . King, efficient attorney of Galesburg. . . . Oldfield, a man four square. . . . Butler, elder statesman, delicate whimsical humor. . . . Frothingham, gentleman of the old school. . ."

Dr. Eaton quoted Herbert Hoover ("The surer forces of human advancement") ; Scott ("Now is the stately column broke"); Holmes ("Build thee more stately mansions"). He discussed the "mystery and majesty of the grave" and "Death, the universal leveler." In conclusion:

"This is the flaming torch of life which they carried so nobly in the forefront of the fight and which now has been thrust into our waiting hands . . . to carry forward . . . until at last we all get home."

Minority Leader Garrett then spoke briefly of the "perfect democracy" of the House and "the democracy of death."