Evening star., 1949-04-17

ng his most consistent support in
| at the main entrance. as soon as
I could get there. I had not much
of an idea of what I would be
faced with when I arrived.
II was informed by Mrs. Roose-
velt that the President had passed
away. I Immediately asked her If
there was anything I could do for
the family, and she very kindly
and courteously told me that there
was nothing at that time, that 1t
was not herself and her family
who needed help. but that 1t was
the former Vice President who
needed help.
THE Chief Justice was sum-
moned, and at 81z minutes to 8
minutes after z o'clock on the eve
ming of April IL, 1945, ] was sworn
in as President of the United
States.
"I want it very clearly under
stood that on my part there is no
celebration on this day. 1t is a day
of sadness for me, because we lost
on this day four years ago Frank
lin d. Roosevelt, in my opinion,
one of the greatest Presidents this
country has ever had, and it be-
came necessary for me to assume
a tremendous burden on that
evening.
IT have tried my level best to
carry that burden, in the interests
of all the people Of the country,
and hope that when the history
of the period is written, 1t will be
said that the effort was not in vain.
II thank the Senate most sin
cerely for their courtesies to me.
for the pleasant luncheon which
I have had. and I hope that this
will not be the last time I may
have the privilege of meeting with
you. Thank you very much"
1t was a simple and friendly
gesture-this unexpected little ad-
dress to the Senate. commemorate
ing a historic occasion. But a
gesture which obtained for the
President widespread and favor
able publicity.
Opposition Still Present
How long the era of good feel
ing will persist Is anybody's guess.
Senators who have opposed some
of the Presidents program insist
that their attitude of opposition
has not been changed. They see
no lessening Of opposition to re-
peal of the Taft-Hartley labor law,
to price controls. to increased
taxes, to compulsory health insur-
ance and socialized medicine, and
on the part of the Southern Sen
ators to the civil rights program.
On the other hand, the Presi-
dent eventually probably will be
able to write alongside Of rent
control legislation as an accomp-
lishment of the present Congress,
measures for public housing, Fed
eral aid to education, extension Of
social security and an increase in
the minimum wage fixed by law.
He will be able to chalk up as an
accomplishment. too. extension Of
the reciprocal trade agreements
law. On the other hand, 1t Is not
expected that all these measures
will get through In the form orig
inally suggested by the admins
tration.
Some Republican Backing
The Presidents program, 50
far as public housing, public aid to
education, extension Of social
security. etc., are concerned, will
have the aid in the Senate Of a
number Of Republicans. Senator
Taft Of Ohio, chairman Of the
Senate Republican Policy Com
mittee. has fatty told his col
leagues that the Republican Party
must support welfare legislation
designed to aid or protect the
great mass Of the people or con-
tinue on down the road to defeat.
The President Is working, and
working hard. on this matter Of
establishing better relations with
the Congress and winning votes
for his program. The severest test
of all may come on the Taft
Hartley Act. But the administra-
ton has called on organized labor
for aid in this fight, and the
White House itself is leaving no
stone unturned. Also. the admin
istration is pulling out all the
stops in it's effort to build UP SEN
timent for its latest and most
fantastic perpetual-motion agri-
cultural pyramid club-the Bran
nan plan-which is to give the
farmers high prices and the con-
sinners of farm products low