Evening star., 1949-01-19
Inaugural
Continued From First Page)

Monday as a result of legislation
signed by Mr.. Truman yesterday.
Banks, stores and other private
business will return to regular hours
Friday.
Mr. Truman will begin Inaugu-
ration Day at breakfast with mem
bers of his World War command
Battery D. 129th Field Artillery,
35th Division-in the Mayflower
Hotel
The formation of Battery D, l29th
Field Artillery, as the honor guard
of the Presidents inaugural parade
will constitute an unusual third re-
union this year for the World War
I Missouri outfit.
Three of capt. Harrys' old war
comrades, who arrived at National
Airport last night with "a of his
other neighbors from Kansas City
and independence, said the battery
has been getting together every year
on Armistice Day and st. Patrick's
Day. The latter date was chosen
because of the large number of Irish
lads recruited for the unit.
The three Battery D men among
the early arrivals were Francis D.
Yeager, John H. Bullard and Harry
Croft.
Mr.. Bullard, recalling his long
acquaintance with Mr.. Truman, said
he thought the President has ma
tured lot in the last few years. "
It don't know that he's more
capable" he added, but that's be-
cause We always have felt he was
tops"
Mr.. Croft added that Mr. Truman
won't be marching with the unit
Thursday.
But I'll tell you this" he said
He'd rather do it than wear those
tails and ride in that car -
Hes the only man alive we'd
make this trip for, and were all pay
ing our own way"
To make the trip, the three men
and their neighbors travelled by bus
yesterday about so miles to st. Jo-
seph, Mo-, when snowstorm
grounded all planes in Kansas City.
To Ride As Posse.
More than 80 other members OF
Battery D, meanwhile-there are
only 1873 still living-arrived at
Union Station by'train this morning.
Accompanying them were "a Kan
sas Citians and % horses they will
ride as members of Sheriff j. A.
Purdome's posse in the parade.
Mr.. Purdome, who is sheriff of
Jackson County, arrived on the
plane last night with the 3 Battery
D veterans.
Another of the arrivals was Fred
Canfll, United States Marshal for
the Western District of Missouri,
who has known Mr.. Truman man
and boy for Is years"
This is something big" Mr.. Canf1l
said. Were winners. When you're
winners, it's always big
After breakfast with his fellow
veterans tomorrow, Mr.. Truman will
go to church at 10 am. The church
has not been announced in accord
ance with custom.
To Take Oath at Noon.
The members of the Supreme
Court, cabinet and Congress will
assemble in the official stand at
the East front of the Capitol at
11:40 am, and the .swearing-in
ceremonies will take place at noon.
Associate Justice Reed of the Su-
preme Court will administer the
oath to Vice President-elect Bark
ley Then, Chief Justice Vinson
will swear in Mr.. Truman.
The Inaugural address, short but
heralded as an important policy
statement, will follow. After brief
luncheon in the Office of Senate
Secretary Leslie L. Bifde, Mr.. Tru-
man will leave for the parade re-
viewing stand at the White House
in the vanguard of the procession.
A crowd approaching 100000 is
expected to fill the Capitol grounds
ana line the parade route 10 wash
ington Circle.
Forty-four thousand spectators
will be seated in the parade grand
stands.
Eight Divisions in Parade.
The parade itself will be grand
affair of eight divisions and some
10000 participants, both military
and civilian. In many ways 1t will
be expressive of the mood of the
Nation today, striving for peaceful
America yet mindful Of the mill
tary needs to preserve that peace.
There will be Grand Marshal
Gen. Omar N. Bradley, the Army