WEDNESDAY, November 14, 1945. The Chaplain, Rev. Frederick Brown Harris, D. D., offered the following prayer: Almighty God, our thoughts are sobered by the vastness of our commission as we are here called to engage in an enterprise which reaches to the ends of time and affects all men and all lands. Create in us, we beseech Thee, the strength and splendor of loyalties which cannot be shaken and of those integrities of the soul which shall be our support in any confusion and our light in any darkness. Grant Thy consoling grace to the bereaved family of that one who in this Chamber for so long served faithfully and well his State, his Nation, and his fellow men. We think tenderly of him this day and cherish his memory as the mortal habitation of his choice spirit is being carried across his native land to the soil of the State he honored. Thanks be to God that such have been, though they are here no more! Leaving an enduring record of public devotion and the benediction of a noble character, now that for him the busy world is hushed, vouchsafe to him, O Lord, light and peace and joy as he mounts from glory to glory in the life everlasting. We ask it in the Redeemer's name. Amen. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Maurer, one of its reading clerks, communicated to the Senate the resolutions of the House adopted as a tribute to the memory of Hon. JOHN THOMAS, late a Senator from the State of Idaho. Proceedings in the House TUESDAY, November 13, 1945. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Frazier, its legislative clerk, announced that the Senate had adopted the following resolution (S. Res. 190): Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of Hon. JOHN THOMAS, late a Senator from the State of Idaho; Resolved, That a committee of 10 Senators be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate to take order for superintending the funeral of the deceased Senator; Resolved, That the Secretary communicate these resolutions to the House of Representatives and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased; Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased the Senate do now take a recess until 12 o'clock meridian on tomorrow. The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho [Mr. Dworshak). Mr. DWORSHAK. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution. The Clerk read the resolution (H. Res. 395), as follows: Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Hon. JOHN THOMAS, a Senator of the United States from the State of Idaho. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased Senator. Resolved, That a committee of four Members be appointed on the part of the House to join the committee appointed on the part of the Senate to attend the funeral. Mr. DWORSHAK. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sorrow and regret that we learned of the passing of the senior Senator from the State of Idaho. The other body has lost one of its distinguished Members and the State of Idaho one of its most illustrious citizens. For more than 35 years, JOHN THOMAS has served his city, his State, and his Nation in many capacities and always with devotion and loyalty. He was actuated by fundamental American ideals in his service to his fellow men. He was zealous in his championship of those principles which have elevated our country to its present position. Mr. Speaker, Senator THOMAS' life exemplified what can be accomplished by an American under our system of government. As a businessman and as a public official, he gained distinction and was eminently successful because he had faith in our American way of life. Idahoans are proud of this typical American, and they will cherish the splendid contributions which he has made to the development of our State and the entire West. His colleagues in the House, as well as in the Senate, deplore his untimely passing, and they extend condolences to his daughter and grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Idaho [Mr. White]. Mr. WHITE. Mr. Speaker, the great State of Idaho has lost one of its most useful and illustrious citizens, Senator JOHN THOMAS, of Gooding. A neighbor of ours in describing her late husband said, "He was a good husband, a good father, and a good businessman." Idaho's senior Senator [JOHN THOMAS] was all three of these and more, he was a good citizen and a good states man. Senator THOMAS was one of the sterling characters that are the backbone of America. He brought to the Congress the vision and foresight in dealing with Government affairs and formulating legislative policies gained by a lifetime of experience and useful service in business and in public affairs. A farm boy, teacher, school superintendent, recorder of the land office, mayor, stockman, banker, national committeeman, and Senator. |