Evening star., 1934-04-13
CONGRESS GREETS
JOKING PRESIDENT
ON RETURN HERE
Roosevelt Warns He Is
"Tough Guy" After
Fighting Sharks.
WRIT SALLY PR0V0KES
MIRTH FROM CROWD
Band Plays Happy Days."
Thousands Gather and White
House Family Is Present.

In gay mood from his extended
fishing expedition in Southern waters,
President Roosevelt came home today
and in an impromptu train platform
speech, jokingly admonished cheering
delegations of recently fractions
Congress that the barracuda and the
shark had made him "a tough guy
The blare of Happy Days" from the
Marine Band, which had led a march
to Union Station by about 200 House
members. interrupted the President as
he laughingly acknowledged the .lusty
greeting of the Representatives. Sena-
tors and several thousand citizens
gathered to welcome him back.
while have been having a Won
derful time" Mr.. Roosevelt said with
mock seriousness, "I gather that both
Houses Of Congress also have been
having a wonderful time In my
absence"
"Wirt to Writ"
When a burst of laughter had SUBJ
sided, he continued
And furthermore, ! expected on
this trip to get some good publicity
about the fish I was catching, but you
couldn't get any publicity in view Of
the fact that here in Washington ap-
psrently you good people have been
going from Writ to Writ"
This sally with reference to Prof.
William Wirt's charges of brain
trust" plot against the Government
again precipitated wave Of appre-
ciative laughter from the crowd
jammed about the rear platform of
the presidential train. Mrs. Roose-
welt, in Spring costume Of light blue,
met the train with her son, Elliott
Roosevelt, her daugher, Mrs. Curtis
Dali; her daughter-in-law, Mrs. James
Roosevelt, and the Presidents private
secretary. Miss Marguerite lie Hand.
Remarking that newspaper men on
the train had suggested he might
like to see Congress leave Washington
before long, the President jestingly
expressed the hope that both houses
would stay here and enjoy the hot
weather Of July and August.
Jokes ON Weather.
Directing his words at one time
70 you younger members Of both
houses" he put his tongue In his
cheek and avowed that ut rarely
gets over Ito degrees here" and there
Is mo humidity"
II don't mind If I stay all Sum-
mer," he announced.
His final fling, tnged with fine wit,
was:
We'll, anyway, wish you had the
chance that I had to get away for
two weeks. It has been q wonderful
holiday and come back with all sorts
Of new lessons which I have learned
from barracuda and sharks. I am a
tough guyl So If you will come down
and see me as often and as socn as
you possibly can, I will teach you
some Of the stunts I learned"
Greeted by Family.
The unscheduled station speech
reminiscent of campaign days-took
place after Mrs. Roosevelt and her
party, several members Of the cabinet.
Vice President Garner, Speaker Rainey
and members of special reception COM
mittees of the Senate and House had
boarded the private car and presented
their compliments to the returning
Executive.
Tanned by tropic sun and obviously
in the best of spirits, President Roose-
welt seemed glad to be back at head
quarters Of the New Deal and eager
to get down TO work. After the brief
informal ceremonies at the station, he
was driven in an open car to the
White House, where he held q family
reunion for half an hour before going
to his desk in the executive offices.
Senators did not participate in the
parade from the Capitol to the sta
tion, but some of them walked along
the sidewalk as the procession. in
rows of four, tramped to the tune Of
s'Dixie" and other Southern airs,
played by the relocated Marine
Band.
Republicans Few.
Republicans were the exception
rather than the rule In the Senate
and House delegations. Newspaper
men noted Senators La Toilette and
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column a.