The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-04-19
Senator Tydings Pays Tribute To His
Old Chief; Praises President Truman
Marands Senior Senator In Radio Address, Also Predicts
Japan VIII Sue For Peace When European War Is Ended.

In a radio address over station
WBAL, Baltimore, on Sunday at
ternoon, Senator Willard E. Tyd-
ings, of Maryland, told his hearers
that he believed that President
Roosevelt would find his highest
niche in history as the War Presi-
dent.
Speaking of our Thirty Second
President, Harry S. Truman, SEN
ator Tydings referred to him as, "a
careful, thoughtful, common-sense
American who will bring to the Of
flee of the presidency thoughtful
consideration which, now that the
war is going well, will be very de-
sirable in the days that are to
come"
The text of the Senator's address
follows:
"The Flag of Our Country flies
at half mast over the scores of gov
eminent buildings here in the Ma
TONS capital. President Roosevelt
is dead. Many knew that his
health had seriously declined in re-
cent months, that he had lost much
weight and was very tired and
worn. Yet in spite of the visible
warning that his health had been
greatly impaired, the news of his
passing came as a great shock to
everyone. A pail of sadness pre-
walls all over the nation.
when but a few weeks ago he
appeared before the Congress to
deliver his report on the Yalta con-
ference, we all knew that the Pres
ident was very far from well. His
old vigor was gone. His voice was
not strong and at times faded away
so that it was difficult to follow his
words. However, he made brave
show. He used his infectious smile,
the toss of his head and other
Roosevelt mannerisms to put over
his message and gain the support of
his audience. He was a gallant fig
ure sitting there, sick and very,
very tired, yet attempting while he
spoke to convey the idea that there
was nothing seriously wrong with
him physically. However, few
who heard him that day in the Cap
itol failed to see that he was a
greatly changed man, that the
strain of these war years with their
long trips abroad and firing con-
ferences under difficult conditions
had taken a great toll.
when we learned that he had
gone to Georgia for rest, we were
all hopeful that he would regain
some of his lost vigor. This was
not to be. Yet it is strange that
even in death, victory remained his
habit, for as he passed away he mad
just heard the news that American
arms were sweeping with incred-
ible speed toward Berlin and
junction with the Russians. He
knew that it would only be a mat
ter of weeks before organized re-
sistance in Germany would come to
an end. He knew that the first
great objective of this war, the de-
feat of Hitler, was as certain as
anything human can be. Likewise,
he knew that the American flag was
moving ever closer to Toyko and
that there, too, a final successful
end of the war seemed indicated by
the facts.
President Roosevelt came to of
fee during the dark years of the
depression. His great service then,
particularly in the first few months
of his first term, will long be re-
membered, how he met the difficult
ties of those tragic days with con-
fident determination and action,
and started the country upward
from its Slough of Despond.
However, it will be as the War
President, in my opinion, that he
will find his highest niche in his
tory. From the date of Pearl Har-
Dor down to the date of his death,
he performed his most significant
service to his nation and people,
and to war-torn world. The men
picked to lead our Armies and
Navies in every theatre of opera
tons were the best that our mill
tary service could provide. The
Army and Navy were given free
hand. They were told what the
general plan was, but they were
left free to develop the strategy
and tactics necessary to bring the
original plan to success. For this
President Roosevelt deserves most
of the credit.
''Then, too, he was tower of
strength in bringing the leaders of
the Allied Nations into a harmoni-
GUS working group DESTROYS of vic
tory. In order to accomplish this