Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-11-05
Truman Gets Great Welcome on His Return to Washington
Huge Crowd
'Greefs Him
At Station

Washington, Nov. 5-P)-Pre-
sident Truman returned to
Washington today and a tumult-
Gus welcome home from cheer
ing thousands.
Tie Presidents train from In
de - lce, Mo-, pulled in at
kIOM = m. (EST).
A cheer went up from the
crowd surging around the sta
ton.
We want Truman" they
chanted.
When the train stopped, Sen.
Alben Barkley, the next vice
president, climbed aboard.
Mr.. Truman beaming proud
ly, came out on the platform
and greeted his running mate.
B Members of the cabinet and
other dignitaries hastily scramb-
led aboard. Some were accom-
panied by their wives. The hand
shaking and congratulations
went on for more than 10 min
utes, while the crowd yelled and
the metropolitan police band
blared away Justify.
Also waiting at the platform
were President William Green
of the American Federation of
ALabor, and Senator j. Howard
McGratth of Rhode Island,
chairman Of the Democratic ma
tional committee.
Aging Senator McKellar of
Tennessee pressed forward to
greet the President as did Sena-
tors OMahoney Of Wyoming,
Lucas Of Illinois, and Herbert
O'Conor of Maryland.
Mr.. Truman alternately shook
hands and waved to the crowd
I which kept up continuous
roar.
Finally, the President said he
would like to shake hands with
everyone, but could not.
Clasping his own hands above
his head, Mr.. Truman said, I'm
shaking hands with all of you"
When the President first came
to the platform, he was wearing
a natty blue top coat.
But the handshaking warmed
>him up.
After about Is minutes, Mr..
Truman shed the coat, uncover
ing his customary gray double
breasted suit.
1t was not until 11:22 that the
parade to the White House fin
ally got underway.
Mr.. Truman, Mrs. Truman,
and Margaret invited Senators
Barkley and McGrath to ride
with them in the lead car.
|; At the request Of photograph
ers, Mr.. Truman and Senator
Barkley sat ON the top of the
back seat, waving their hats as
they posed for pictures.
HOURS before the Presidents
ar. crowds were gathered
along his Pennsylvania Avenue
route from Union Station to the
White House.
At the station plaza there
was a surging mob.
. Government workers were ex-
> cused from their jobs for a
couple of hours. School chill
dren left school with notes
from parents, or simply played
hockey" to get in on the ex-
citement. There were thou
sands of out-of-town visitors.
Washington had seen no such
outturning since 1945 when
Franklin D. Roosevelt's body
came home from Warm Springs,
Ga. where death suddenly
struck the wartime President.
Then it was silent, weeping
assembly.
Today it was a cheering, ex-
cited, pushing throng-eager to
see and pay tribute to the man
who confounded pollsters and
forecasters with the most extra
ordinary, single-handed political
victory in American history.
On the ride from Missouri,
Mr.. Truman got the acclaim ac-
"corded only a popular idol,
Crowds screamed wildly at
his every appearance on his tri-
umphant return from one of his
tory's fightingest election cam
paigns. The sclaps of favored
Republican rival and a COP
Congress figuratively DANCED
from his belt.
Happy but obviously humble
over the sudden turn OF affairs
that raised him in the public
eye from harried executive to
hero, he asked only that the
crowds stay with me and help
me as you did on Election day"
Sources close to the President
said without qualification that
he is not interested in a third
term. Every one around him
seemed to agree with that con-
clusion.