The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-04-14
Truman Asks
Of America
New President Goes To
Work In Conference
With Leaders

WASHINGTON, April 13.-P)-
With a fearful plea - pray for
mel" Harry S. Truman gathered
up the presidential reins of a ma
ton at war today as millions the
world over mourned the passing OF
Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The new President went quickly
to work, comforting with the heads
of the state and military depart
ments of government.
He arranged to outline his for
eign policies to joint session OF
Congress at l p. M, EWT, Mon
day and address the armed forces
by radio Tuesday night.
But the emotional weight of his
new responsibilities came down
upon him at noon as he returned
to his old haunts at the Capitol to
confer with Congressional leaders.
Tears welled in his eyes when
he saw the familiar faces of Capt.
toll newsmen He reverted to the
language of his Missouri farm
youth to describe the crushing
weight of his new job.
IT don't know if any Of you fel-
lows ever had a load of hay or a
bull fall on him." he said. "But
last night the whole weight of the
moon and stars fell on me. I fee
a tremendous responsibility.
"Please pray for me! I mean
that!'
Mr.. Truman's first executive
proclamation was paper setting
aside tomorrow as a day of nat
ional mourning for Mr.. Roosevelt,
stricken yesterday at "the Little
White House" in Warm Springs,
Ga.
The proclamation called upon
the nation:
'To pay out of full hearts their
homage of love and reverence to
the memory of the great and good
man whose death they mourn.
At about the time the President
was writing the proclamation the
body of Mr.. Roosevelt was leav-
ing Warm Springs for Washington
funeral services tomorrow and
burial at Hyde Park, N. Y, Sun
day.
The body of the dead President
was taken to the ten-car funeral
train on motor-hauled Army Gals
son which rolled through twin
lanes Of soldiers from Fl. Benning
Ga.
Aboard the train were close
friends and associates of Mr..
Roosevelt, people who fastened to
Warm Springs yesterday upon the
startling announcement of his
death
Grief and mourning were world.
wide.
In London a hushed House Of
Commons adjourned out of respect
to Mr.. Roosevelt's memory: Prime
Minister Churchill, his shoulders
slumped by emotion, told Com
mons of the-passing of 'this great
departed statesman a dear anc
cherished" friend.
Messages of condolences stream
ed in from every quarter OF the
globe.
The battle flags flew at half-mas1
over OkinaWa. \
In Washington Congressional
leaders, stunned and distraught
abandoned routine business ane
conferred instead of arranging
memorial service to the deac
President. 1t probably will be mex
week.
All major Congressional commit
tee meeting were chalked off. The
House stood in recess. The Senate
previously committed to session
stransacted no business.
Mr.. Humans speeches to Con
gress and the fighting forces viii
be awaited iinpatiently by a worle
that knew intimately Presiden
Roosevelt confidant of world lead
ers-but knows little of his quie
spoken, bespectacled successor.
But Mr.. Truman's first day a
the White House followed the pat
tern he set for himself last nigh
upon assuming the Presidency: tt
follow the Roosevelt policies ant
press the war on all fronts.
Under dreaW Washington skie
the new President motored to tn
White House from his Washington
apartment at 9 a. M, today t.
start his career as Chief Execu
tive. He wore a grey suit and blu
bow tie.
He was accompanied only b.
two old friends-Lt. Col. A. E. Hol
Continued on Page Three; Col.