Evening star., 1948-11-05

train were Senator McGrath,
Secretaries Forrestal Of National
Defense, Brannan Of Agriculture,
Krug of Interior and Attorney Cen
eral Clark; Undersecretary OF State
Robert A. Lovett, Navy Secretary
Sullivan, Air Force Secretary Sy-
mington, Admiral Louis E. Denfeld,
chief of naval operations; District
Commissioners Young and Guy
Mason, William Green, presi-
dent of the American Fedora
ton of Labor; representatives of the
diplomatic corps and members of
the committee which arranged the
Homecoming celebration.
Police Chief Barrett was the first
to board the train and greet
the President before the auto
mobiles were backed into posi-
ton near the entrance gates. The
cars taking part in the motorcade
were lined up on the platform and
as the train began backing in on
Track Is, the Metropolitan Police
Band broke out with I'm Just Wild
About Harry"
A crowd estimated at 5000 to TO-
600 thronged inside the station to
witness the Presidents arrival.
Thousands more were gathered on
the plaza outside the station.
Told You So Buttons.
| The weather itself smiled on Mr..
Truman's triumphant return, even
as, it did throughout most of his
81 900 mile, cross country cam
paigning. After a misty morning
when fog enveloped the Capital, the
sun broke through the clouds at 10
O'Clock on the thousands who were
already gathering to witness the
Homecoming.
Long before Mr.. Truman's Vic
tory Special" pulled into Union
Station, people began lining the
sidewalks along the line the motor
cade followed. Many of them wore
buttons bearing the legend, Il told
you so."'
Only cabinet officers and mem
bers of the White House staff were
permitted to surround the north
portico for Mr.. Truman's address.
Flanking, on either side Of the
porch, were the batteries Of news
reel and news camera men and the
radio and television, operators and
their equipment.
The areas 100000 Federal work.
ers and $4,000 District employees
were released to see the Presidents
return. School students were ex-
cused on written permission of
their parents long enough to watch
the homecoming.
The route of the motorcade was
from the station up Delaware ave-
nue. to Constitution avenue down
Constitution avenue to Pennsyl-
vania, along Pennsylvania to Fiji
teenth street to the Treasury De-
partment, along Fifteenth to New
York avenue and then along Penn
sylvania to the entrance to the
White House.
Huge Banners Bear Greetings.
Arches arranged by the ladder
companies of the District Fire De-
partment bore huge banners read
ing, welcome Home, Mr.. Presi-
dent" and extending greetings to
senator Barkley.
Buildings, Government Offices and
trees were decorated with flags,
bunting and huge pictures of the
winning Democratic candidates.
The 30-car motorcade was led by
Maj. Barrett and In the second car
were the President, Senator Barkley
and their Secret Service escorts.
The press, members of the local
Committee on Arrangements, Demo-
cratic and Government officials and
others filled the other cars.
Bands and their places along the
march were:
United States Navy Band on the
station plaza; Metropolitan Police
Boys Club, Delaware and Constitu-
tion avenue; st. Johns College High
School at Fourth street and Consti-
tuition avenue; Negro Elks at
Seventh street and Pennsylvania,
and the Quantico Marine Band at
Tenth and D streets. 49,.
Also the Nation Guard Band op-
posite The Star Building on Penn
sylvania avenue, the Howard Uni
versity Band at Fourteenth street
and Pennsylvania, the Army Band
at Fifteenth street and the Air
Forces Band in Lafayette Square.
The Metropolitan Police Band
also moved to the White House by
bus after playing at Union Station
and the Marine Band Orchestra
was stationed inside the White
House.
Enthusiastic Welcome En- Route.
The enthusiastic welcome accorded
Mr.. Truman climaxed a triumphant
victory trip from Independence, Mo-,
where he spent election day.
At stops all along the way. thou
sands thronged to the station to
greet the President and his party
and wish him well during his next
flour years in the White House.
After cheering welcomes in Sc
Idalia and Jefferson City, NO. Mr..
Truman came into st. Louis in mid
Afternoon yesterday to find a crowd
of $4,000 awaiting him at the rail-
road station.
To them, the President said: "It
thas been a tremendous fight, and 1t
was a fight for the welfare of the
country and the people, I think"
Later as his train stopped at
Vincennes, Ind, he told welcoming
throng: II dol not feel elated by the
victory. I feel overwhelmed with
the responsibility"
The Victory Special" pulled into
Cincinnati, home town of Senator
Taft, Republican leader, at 10 o'clock
last night and ldly-cheering
crowd swarmed into the train yard,