Bernard M. Baruch, noted philanthropist and special adviser to the Office of War Moblization, was presented last night by Gen. George C.Marshell, Chief of Staff of the U. S. Army, with a gold medal ” for distinguished service to humanity.”
The presentation was made in behalf of the National Institute for Social Sciences at the annual dinner of the Institute at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Two other persons received the gold medal at the dinner. They were Mrs. Henry P. Davison, chairman of the Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and James G. K. Mclure, president of the Farmers’ Federation of North Carolina.
In a brief speech of acceptance, Mr. Baruch said that the chief lesson he had learned in his seventy-three years was that if the American people are to continue their pursuit of happiness under freedom, four pillars supporting the American life must be maintained. He listed the pillars as follows.
“First, spiritual, Unless we maintain, without swerving, our moral standards, our ideals and our purposes will lose nobility and become empty.
“Second, education. We must equip our minds to better discharge the responsibilities imposed upon us by our Americanism and our humanity.
“Third, economic. Since happiness flows more readily from a life that is not embittered by hardship, we must constantly seek to improve our own conditions and help the rest of the world to the same end.
“Fourth, military. We must be strong enough to make it plain to one and all that we are able to back reason with force. Never again are we to be unprepared, resulting in the needless death of thousands. This American earth, of which we are a part, is worth living on, worth fighting for and worth dying for.”
In reviewing the events and personalities connected with his long career, Mr. Baruch named Woodrow Wilson as “the greatest man I ever known,” and added, ” I am proud to have been his friend and follower.” He also listed as mong his friends Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, J. Pierpont Morgan, Sr. Williem J. Bryan, Enrico Caurso, John L. Sullivan, Georges Clemenoeau, Marshal Foch, Marshal Joffrs and Lord Relfour.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
