Evening star., 1948-06-01
Truman Official Party
Will Be Limited 10 Staff
On Trip, Ross Says
By loseph A. Fox

Inc Wnlte house announced To-
day that President Truman's Of
fetal party on his forthcoming
Western trip would be limited to
eight members Of his staff. thereby
disposing effectively of reports that
some representatives of the Demo-
cratic National Committee might be
aboard the special train when 1t
leaves here Thursday night.
Press Secretary Charles J. Ross
said the group in addition to him
self would include: Matthew j. Con-
nelly, the Presidents appointment
secretary; Clark Clifford, counsel;
Charles Murphy, administrative as
sistant who serves as the Presi-
dents liason with the Capitol; Brig.
Gen. Wallace Graham, White House
physician, and three aides, Maj.
Gen. Harry H. Vaughan, Army;
Capt. Robert Lee Dennison. Navy
and Col. Robert B. Landry, Air.
Was Original Plan.
The President will be joined by
Mrs. Truman and their daughter
Margaret in Omaha. Asked If 1t had
ever been planned to take any one
else along-such as Chairman Nc
Grath Of the Democratic National
Committee-Mr. Ross replied:
"A great many plans were dis
cussed; this was the original plan
and 1t remains the plan"
Mr.. Truman will make five ma jor
speeches and numerous platform
talks, and Mr.. Ross said he under
stood that some Of the latter might
be broadcast. But he added that
would be entirely up to the local
people in the communities involved
Return Trip Plan Uncertain.
Mr.. Ross sal dthat plans were still
In the making for the return trip,
which will start in Los Angeles June
"A. 1t has never been announced
whether the President plans to fly
back or continue by train. He ex-
poets to spend few days at his
home in Independence.
The White House has insisted
that despite the fact the trip is
being taken on the eve Of the presi-
dental campaign that it is not a
political trip.
Mr. Ross explained that the trip
"just grew" Originally 1t was in
tended only that the President
would go to Berkeley, Calf, to re-
ceive degree at the University Of
California commencement on June
IL. Then he accepted an invitation
to address the Chicago Swedish
Pioneers celebration Friday night
and later decided to attend the re-
union of his old outflt-the 35th Di-
vision-at Omaha Saturday, where
another speech will be made. After
wards other speeches were added in
Seattle and Los Angeles.
Trip Gibed at by Reece.
In the meantime, Chairman
Reece Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee, gibed that the
presidential trip will of course be
as political as the Pendergast
machine" The latter reference was
to Mr.. Trumans early connection
with the Kansas City political Or
ganization headed by the late Tom
Pendergast.
Mr.. Reece. in a letter to party
workers, asserted:
Just why it is deemed necessary
to pin a nonpolitical label on an
obvious campaign trip is something
of a mystery, although some light
might be shed upon the subject If
it we're revealed whether the
United States Treasury or the DEM
ocratic National Committee is foot
ing the bill"
The White House said the cost will
come out Of the Presidents annual
travel allowance.
Democrats Prospects Called Dismal.
Mr.. Reece conceded the cost angle
is comparatively minor point"
in view of the travel allowance on
which Mr.. Truman may draw at
his own discretion" But he added:
His obvious purpose in travelling
across the country, accompanied by
a retinue of newspaper reporters,
photographers and newscasters is
to bolster up the waning prospects
of his party and of his own candi-
dacy"
Mr.. Reece said after all Mr.. Tru-
man cannot be blamed for starting
his campaign as early as possible" :"
He and his party" the COP
chairman said, face the most dis
NAL prospect since the Democrats
split on the issue of slavery in 1860"
With Henry A. Wallace leading
the "leftist lunatic fringe on made
in-Moscow platform, Mr.. Reece as
serted, the Democrats are far more
aIi.- = l..