Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-26
Community Attention
To Servicemen Urqed
By Truman at Meeting

Representatives Of more than
100 American communities and
nearly as many national organiza-
.tions divided into discussion
groups In three hotels here to-
day in the National Conference
on Community Responsibility
to Peacetime Servicemen and
Women.
President Truman. addressing
the opening session last night in
the Hotel Washington, told the
500 persons that today's service
men should receive the same
treatment communities accorded
members Of the armed forces
prior to We day and vi day.
Pointing out that about so per
cent Of the 1900. 900 men In. uni
form are less than "a. Mr.. Tru-
man said they are the leaders OF
the future and deserve good
treatment"
The President declared that
"they," apparently referring to
the Communists. accuse us Of
being materialists because we seek
q high standard of living" Ac-
tually, he continued. it only means
living according to the Sermon
on the Mount"
Fights for Whole World.
I'VE are now fighting for the
peace and for the welfare Of the
whole world" Mr.. Truman as
serted. He pointed out that never
before In the history Of the world
has there been an instance OF q
Nation helping rehabilitate its
former enemies, as the United
States is doing.
Meetings today are scheduled for
the Washington, willard and Ra-
leigh Hotels. The conference,
which ends this afternoon, Is spon-
sored by the Presidents Commit
tee on Religion and Welfare In
the Armed Forces.
Undersecretary of Defense Ste
phen T. Early warned last night
that the morale Of married serv-
icemen is rapidly breaking down"
and the services are losing them at
an alarming rate" because OF
Inability to find adequate housing
for their families.
May Never Meet Need.
"Our national Government will
not be able to meet the housing
needs Of its military men for years;
in fact, If our armed forces remain
at their present size the Govern
ment may never be able to meet
It." the former White House press
secretary under President Roose-
welt asserted.
Mrs. Agnes Meyer, wife Of the
chairman Of the board Of the
Washington Post, differed with
Mr.. Early on the responsibility for
housing married servicemen.
1.-THE armed forces might Just
~ well make UP their minds right
now that they will never achieve
good relations with the civilian
community until housing is &C.
cepted as the social responsibility
Of the tepsmilitary commands and
the Congress" Mrs. Meyer as
serted.
Social Security Administrator
Arthur j. EAltineyer pointed out
that community programs for
service personal have TALENT to
their lowest level since l941" de-
spite the fact that the need for
services us as great. II not greater.
than before" +.
Frank H. Osborn. deputy United
States representative on the
United Nations Atomic Energy
Commission, declared the groups
concern with community particle
patton Is "a reaf1rmation Of our
basic political beliefs" at q time
when the world is faced with two
fields Of conflict, religious and
political.
Chairman Of the Presidents
Committee Is Frank L. Well OF
New York. president Of the
National Jewish Welfare Board
and co-founder Of the United
Service Organizations. Inc. He
presided at last nights meeting.
Other committee members are
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