Evening star., 1945-01-28
Jameson Installed
As Press Club Head;
Jesse Jones Speaks

Jesse Jones, recently dismissed
from President Roosevelt's official
family after IL years of service, told
the National Press Club last night
that he stands better with the Ma
tional Press Club than with the
administration. The club is going
to keep me as member despite
the fact 7 have been with it since
1927"
Mr.. Jones was attending the in
augural celebration of Edward
Jameson, Houston Chronicle cor
respondent, as 1945 president of the
club. Mr.. Jones, publisher of the
Chronicle, said he came before
this group as lame duck"
He recalled that another employe
Of his paper, Bascom Timmons, had
been indicted as the club president
13 years ago. The former Secretary
of Commerce called "for free press
and a free expression, regardless of
how irresponsible some of the press
may be at times" for las long as
we have them we have free coun-
try"
Rayburn Gives Oath.
Speaker Rayburn, who admins
tered the oath to Mr.. Jameson, also
made plea for a free world press.
He declared freedom of informa-
ton on a global basis bears directly
upon our plans for the establish
ment of lasting and ordered
world" He noted that tyranny
arises where the press is muzzled
and freedom and justice prevail
where the press is vigorous and
free"
The House leader cited the unani-
nous adoption by the Seventy
eighth Congress of a resolution ex-
pressing confidence in "the world
wide right of interchange of news
without discrimination of any kind"
He said newspapermen were well
aware that misunderstanding
breeds misunderstanding and con-
f1ict" and concluded by hoping I'VE
can in the future look for the estab-
hshment and maintenance of these
and other freedoms"
Participating in the ceremonies,
in addition to Mr. Jones and
Speaker Rayburn, were Vice Presi-
dent Truman, Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wickard, War Food Admins
traitor Marvin Jones, Jack Benny
and Col. Oveta Culp Hobby, direc-
tor of the WAC.
Benny, Truman Star"
Jack Benny played Love in
Bloom" with Vice President Truman
as his piano accompanist. The two
artists" found it difficult to keep
together, Benny at one point STOP
ping the piece to declare, Vice
President or no Vice President, keep
time" He later told the audience
this was strictly business and 1 am
going to finish it at any cost"
Towards the end of the song, the
Vice President was playing snatches
of American folk tunes while Benny
continued Love in Bloom"
After the performance, Benny
told the audience he did not read
the papers often and was confused
by the reports saying Jesse Jones
was making Elliott Roosevelt's dog a
brigader general" He also declared
the Jones and Wallace thing was
making the Benny-Allen feud look
like nickel"
Jan Savitt and his orchestra |
broadcast over national network
from the club. During the show,
Mr.. Jameson spoke over the radio
with Joseph Driscoll, New York
Herald Tribune correspondent in
Germany, and Col. Lloyd Lehrbas,
of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's staff
in the Philippines. Both CORE
spondents are club members.
Other Officers Installed.
Other officers installed were Paul
Wooton, New Orleans Times-Pica
yune, vice president; Merwin H.
Browne, Buffalo Evening News, sec
retary; George w. Combs, Baltimore
Sun, treasurer, and Howard Suttle, |
Greensboro IN. c. News and Rec
ord, financial secretary.
Members of the Board of Cover
nors for 1945 are Warren Francis. |
Los Angeles Times; Bert Andrews,
New York Herald Tribune; Jack
Stinnett, Associated Press; Joseph
Short, Baltimore Sun; Radford Mob
ley, Knight newspapers; c. P. Trus-
sell, New York Times, and John C.
O'Brien, Philadelphia Inquirer.
Sam O'Neal of the Chicago Sun,
is the retiring president. He leaves
active newspaper work this week to
become director of publicity for the
Democratic National Committee.