Evening star., 1948-06-07

-Sar-Ben Coliseum where only
about 1000 persons turned out for a
rally that was expected to tax the
1O,000-seat capacity of the hall.
There was a variety of explana-
tions for that situation which ap-
peared on it's face to be rebuff for
the Presidents campaign against
Congressional inactivity on his legis-
lative program which was openly in
the making in the first stages of his
l8-State trip.
Breakdown of Machine.
Omaha people who haye been fol-
lowing political trends in State
that has voted for the last two Re
publican presidential candidates,
ascribed it to Republican sentiment
and disintegration of the Democratic
machine in the State. j. j. IsaNcson,
general manager of the Coliseum
who could hardly believe his eyes,
said the general public must have
had the idea that only members OF
the 35th Division whose reunion was
centered in the Coliseum would be
admitted to the affair which was
billed as "nonpolitical.'
James Quigley, Democratic ma
tional committeeman for Nebraska,
said that the people of Omaha had
been looking at the President all
day, and decided to sit out the
speech at the radios. instead of
taking the Smile ride to the
Coliseum, which, by the way, is
lust across the road from the race
track, which has been doing pretty
good from standpoint of attendance.
Democrats figured the radio audi
ence at 100000.
Drew Hotel Crowd.
There is this to be said about
the Presidents visit in Omaha-he
arrived about 7 o'clock in the morn
ing, and was in local hotel for
about "a hours. Within that period
there was always a crowd stand
ing around in the hopes of seeing
him. It was the same condition
that prevailed in Chicago Friday,
when he was in. a Loop hotel for
several hours. so 1t could not be
said without qualification that dis
was the principal factor
in the Omaha development.
Whatever the explanation, the
President appeared serene as he en-
tered Idaho today. He. was pre-
pared to leave his special train
for about 18 hours and take a look
at the Sun Valley vacation resort
of the Union Pacific, the road on
which he is travelling to Washing
ton State and which happens to
be the property of w. Averell Har-
riman, European Relief Program
ambassador. The President is get
ting off the train at Ketchum,
Idaho, in the early afternoon. He
will drive to the swanky Sun
Valley layout. He will be there
until early morning tomorrow. then
resume the rear platform routine
ip Idaho and Montana.
Mr.. Truman came through this
country as the vice presidential
candidate in 1914 and his intention
of taking to the stump again was
spelled out in Cheyenne late yes
terday when he drove to the gold
domed capitol with Wyomings
Democratic Gov. Lester Hunt and
spoke to about 10000 of the citys
$4,000 who turned out to welcome
him.
Flat Promise to Return.
The President said fatty that he
would be coming back to the cow
country to speak straight from the
shoulder on certain things that con-
front the country"
Earlier, the President had at
tackled Congress in rear platform
talks at Grand Island and Kearny,
his Nebraska stops.
Presented with set Of Western
spurs at the former town where his
crowd was estimated at 1000, the
President responded to put them
on, Harry" with These spurs are
When I get them on I
can take the Congress to town. I'll
give them trial just as soon as I
get back to Washington"
In Kearney, where he went to
church with Mrs. Truman and
their daughter, who joined him in
Omaha. the President told the
railroad station turnout who gave
him some boots that: Il got spurs
in Grand Island, so with these boots
I can really take Congress for
ride"
The President and his household
went to First Baptist Church where
the pastor. the Rev. Vernon P.
Pearson, greeted the President. then
delivered sermon pleading for
world peace righteousness and un-
derstanding.
AS the congregation joined in
singing Il Love Thy Kingdom,
Lord" Miss Truman's voice could
te heard clearly. There was a
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