Evening star., 1948-11-03

STAR, Washington, D. C.
NOVEMBER 8. 1913.
tive went quietly to Excelsior
Springs, q resort 80 miles from
Kansas City, last night and slept 10
hours, while the wave of votes in
his favor piled up on the tabulating
machines.
The President was back at his
rooms in the Muehlebach listening
to the radio when William Boyle Of
the White House staff came in with
the Dewey telegram.
Within a few minutes, as the news
spread, reporters and photographers
hurried to the Presidents suite, fol-
lowed by the parade of personal
friends.
Standing against the wall, with q
broad grin on his face, the President
could only say, thanks"
Joined by Wartime Pals.
The joy OF Henry Nicholson, big,
rosy-cheeked Irishman, knew no
bounds. One of the assistants to
James Rowley, chief of the White
House detail, MIR. Nicholson has been
a pronounced partisan throughout
1880 miles of campaigning with
Mr.. Truman.
A former Capitol police officer, he
got his taste for politics In ward 16
in Democratic Boston.
The others on the detail appeared
just as happy.
Mr.. Truman was surrounded at
one point by old comrades of World
War I with whom he served in
France.
He had his picture taken shaking
hands with Federal Judge Albert
Ridge, Federal Judge Richard Dun
can and other friends.
Only three Secret Service men ac-
companied the President to Excel
sior Springs.
After a hot bath for which the
4CoO4t 10 4olllo0o, q Sd1lNW&Si d440 O
glass of milk, Mr.. Truman was in
bed by o'clock last night. He got
up at midnight and heard early re-
turns from his spectacular race
and then went to bed and slept five
hours more.
Outside of the hotel management
the three Secret Service men prob
ably we're the only persons who
knew Mr.. Truman was in the Ex-
celsior Springs establishment.
He went to his third floor room
on the freight elevator and didn't
leave until dawn today.
When exulting neighbors gath
cred at the Truman home in nearby
independence last night and set up
Ia chant of I'VE Want Harry" Miss
Margaret Truman stepped outside
and said, "I'm sorry, but daddy isn't
home" There was, however, no
word Of the Presidents whereabouts.
Mr.. Truman, of course, didn't ex-
actly ignore election returns which
showed an upset without parellel.
He was in touch with party officials
during the night, and the optimism
reflected by aides clearly gave an
indication Of the way the Chief
Executive felt.
Defeat Never Hinted.
With $1,000 miles and about $50
speeches behind him, he had pre-
sented the case of "the people VS..
the special interests" Mr.. Truman
was entitled to take some credit no
matter which way the Presidents
race turned out, but his camp never
discussed the possibility that its
man might lose, once the votes
started showing up in such imposing
fashion.
Friends recalled today that the
President made his bid for the
presidency in his own right after
some indecision.
He was sorry this was a political
year." He expressed his feeling
that another year of quiet would
help the country Immediately.
Mother Provided Story.
There is little story in that con-
nection.
A year ago this last summer, when
the Presidents 94-year-old mother
was spending her last days in the
little yellow cottage at Grandview,
she called out to him one day as
he worked on the dining room table.
When he answered, Mrs. Truman
said, Harry, is Senator Taft going
to be PRESIDENT"
Mr.. Truman responded that if the
Ohioan wanted to run that was his
right.
Mrs. Truman thought over that
for moment, then asked: Are you
going to run for President?"
Mr.. Truman said fatty he didn't
know.
well, don't you think it is about
! time you made up your mind?" was
the tart rejoinder.