Evening star., 1948-04-18
Nations Initiation Peril Grave,
Truman Warns Editors in Talk;
Again Urges Congress to Act
President Ridicules
Charges His Plans
Create Crisis
(Tert Of Presidents Speech ON
Page A-6.f

President Truman last n1gnt
renewed his demand for imme-
diate enactment of the anti-in-
f1ation controls he has urged un-
successfully on Congress for the
past five months, declaring that
"the strength and vitality of our
economy are being undermined
by initiation"
The program which I presented
to the Congress was sound and nee
essary last November" the Presi-
dent told the closing session of the
annual meeting of the American
Society of Newspaper Editors. 1T
is still sound and it is even more
necessary now
Talks Off Record.
The Presidents speech was broad
cast from a dinner at the Hotel
Statler. At its conclusion, he talked
extemporaneously and off the record
to his hosts for about 20 minutes.
He was applauded frequently.
Seated at the head table were
Chief Justice Vinson, Gen. Bradley,
Army Chief of Staff, and Senator
Vandenberg. Republican, Of Michi-
gan.
The President interpolated one
brief passage in his prepared speech,
He told the editors:
I'm amazed when sometimes you
disagree with me. But when you
disagree among yourselves, then
am comforted."
Second Warning in Two Weeks.
In his speech he said fatty that
the Nations economy is in "seri-
Gus danger" from high prices. 1t
was the second time within the
past two weeks that Mr.. Truman
has emphasized the gravity with
economic situation. The quarterly
report of the Council of Economic
Advisers which he made public re-
Gently, contrary to custom, pointed
up the growing dangers Of sky
rocketing prices.
AS he has done on other occa-
sions, President Truman also
stressed that the success of the vast
European aid project on which the
country has embarked is dependent
on the maintenance of sound
economy at home.
Il believe that imitation is so
grave a menace to this country and
to the world that do not propose
to let it be forgotten" he said.
Il believe that the Government
has clearcut responsibility to deal
with high prices. l believe that we
know what measures the Govern
ment should take. I cannot sit by
silently while imitation continues to
creep up on the American people"
The President scoffed at charges
that the proposed imitation curbs
and the new defense program are
administration moves to create a
crisis He asserted that exactly
the opposite is true.
Officers Introduced.
The Presidents was the only
scheduled address at the ASNE
dinner. Nathaniel R. Howard of
the Cleveland News, retiring presi-
dent of the society. presided.
Mr.. Howard introduced officers
who we're elected by the directors
Yesterday to serve in the coming
year They are Erwin D. Canham OF
the Christian Science Monitor. pres
ident; B. M. McKelway, The Wash
ington Star, first vice president;
Dwight Young, Dayton Journal
Herald. second vice president;
Wright Bryan, Atlanta Journal,
secretary. and Alexander F.. Jones,
Washington Post, reelected treas
urer.
Mr.. Canham, the new president,
had been the society's first vice
president. He returned Thursday
from Geneva, where he was serv-
ing as a delegate to the United Ma
tions Conference on Freedom OF
Information Mr.. Mckelway has
been second vice president of the
organization and Mr.. Young secre-
tary. Mr.. Bryan is new addition
to the list of officers.
The society adopted eight resolu-
tions yesterday. One opposing CEN
sorship led off the list. They also
heard of the problems of getting
out a newspaper without benefit
of printers as a result of strikes.
COP. Plan Criticized.
Mr.. Truman took an oblique dig
at the Republican-sponsored plan
for dealing with initiation, which
fell far short of his own l0-point
program whose major proposals in
(See EDITORS, Page A-6D