PRES. COOLIDGE LAUDS JANE ADDAMS
Mayor Dever Also Pays High Tribute
The Greeks who have lived in Chicago for any number of years have always found the doors of the Hull House open to them, and those who still live in the "old neighborhood" have reason to be proud of their acquaintance with Miss Addams and the advantages they have received from the Hull House in Americanization and educational training.
Miss Addams has been lauded by President Coolidge as "a citizen who has given her life and strength to the service of humanity" and Mayor Dever has termed her the "first citizen of Chicago and of the republic."
Jane Addams was hailed as "the most useful citizen," at a civic dinner in her honor in the Furniture Mart last week attended by 1,500, while as many more who sought admission to [image: MISS JANE ADDAMS] pay tribute were denied because the hall was jammed to capacity.
The President of the United States, by letter, praised Miss Addams' work. In the audience were politicians and statesmen, millionaires and day laborers; white men, black men and yellow men; young people and old people; Jews, Catholics, [Buddhists], Theosophists and Protestants; immigrants and native born. Rarely has such a cosmopolitan gathering assembled in Chicago to pay homage to anybody's endeavor and personality.
Coolidge's Letter Read
The President's letter, addressed to Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, who was to have been toastmistress, but was prevented by illness, was read. It was written at the White House two days after Christmas and follows:
It is a real satisfaction to know that a dinner is to be tendered to Miss Jane Addams by her friends and admirers on the 20th of January. Her work at Hull House during the last twenty-five years of benevolence and charity has been a great contribution to the public welfare.
It has set an example which has been an inspiration to the well doing all over the country.
It was but a short time ago that Miss Addams called at my office when I was much impressed by the fact that she had given her life and strength to the service of humanity. I trust that the testimonial which you are about to offer her may give her renewed strength and courage to carry on her work of peace and good will.
Very cordially yours,
CALVIN COOLIDGE
White in Address
Henry P. Chandler was chairman of the banquet committee and Miss Julia Lathrop was toastmistress. William Allen White, Kansas editor, made the principal address, while Charles E. Merriam spoke and Judge Hugo Pam told how he was born within two blocks of Hull House and how it was the inspiration to himself and young friends to start the Maxwell settlement and brought the settlement idea before the public so it spread throughout the world.
Mayor Dever, who came to Chicago in the same year that Miss Addams came, received tribute from and paid tribute to the Hull House group. He said that he did not believe he, or any other mayor, could make Chicago a better place by use of police force and sending the patrol wagons dashing around. Betterment would result much more surely, the mayor said, from such work as Miss Addams and her associates carried on at Hull House.
The group which jammed the hall to the doors was alive and a spirit of enthusiastic suppressed excitement was noticeable with a tendency to cheer and applaud mentions of Miss Addams and her work.
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