Evening star., 1949-01-21
Bust Given Truman
AS He Cracks Jokes;
HOPES Il Will Last
By Miriom Ottenbero

In the presence OF many OF the
women who worked to keep him in
Office, President Truman said today
he hoped they would always feel
that he deserved bust of himself
presented by the Democratic Ma
tional Committee.
Presentation of the bust to the
President and his family climaxed
the womens inaugural meeting
sponsored by the womens division
of the Democratic National Com
mittee at the Departmental Audi
torium.
Before Mr.. Truman came to the
meeting, four Government leaders
and Representative Helen Gahagan
Douglas, Democrat, of California,
assured the women that the Presi-
dents campaign promises would be
carried out. Several of the speakers
urged the women to back the legis-
lators trying to carry out the Presi-
dents program.
Introduces His Relatives,
President Truman's appearance
turned the meeting from a serious
contemplation of the future to the
semblance of family affair, in the
course of which he introduced his
relatives here for the inaugural.
Despite only two hours sleep,
Mr. Truman laughed and cracked
jokes with as much vigor as man
just back from long vacation.
When Chairman McGrath of the
Democratic National Committee
presented the bust to "our dear
friend" the President thanked the
committee for presenting me with
myself"
Mr.. Truman observed that the
only view a man usually gets Of
himself is in the mirror, and he's
never sure of that one because he
thinks he's better looking.
Hopes Bust Will Last.
Striking more serious note, he
said he hoped that it would never
be necessary to have the bust de-
stroyed as has happened with men
in the past who were honored.
II hope you will always feel that
I should have had it in the begin
ming and should continue to have it
in the future he said.
Earlier, Mrs. India Edwards, di-
rector of the womens division, told
the women that without their loyal
help I'VE Democrats would not be
enjoying this week of victory" She
urged the women to encourage their
legislators to translate the Presi-
dents campaign promises into ac-
ton and she assured them:
These promises are going to be
kept"
Secretary of Labor Tobin told the
capacity crowd that he was conf
dent the 8lst Congress will go along
with the Presidents labor program.
He foresaW the greatest period of
prosperity this country has ever
seen"
Sees Taft Hartley Act Repeal.
Mr.. Tebin attacked the Taft
Hartley Act predicted its repeal, but
cautioned that permanent progress
slve labor legislation depends on
telling Congress and the people
what was wrong with the Taft
Hartley Act
He said the Taft Hartley Act
provisions have had the met effect
of disrupting long established labor
relations patterns and weakening
collective bargaining.
! Altmeyer Wants Doubled Tax.
Arthur j. Altmeyer, commissioner
of social security, said he believed
the size of social security payments
should be increased by 100 per cent,
He said the President. in calling for
increased benefits, said "at least
so per cent.
Mrs Douglas told the women they
could see from the cost of food how
Congress was doing and she added.
Unless Congress gets busy right
away, you ought to let them
know it,
George V. Allen. Assistant Secre-
tary of State for Public Affairs, out
lined the philosophy behind the
Voice of America" program and
emphasized: I'VE are not primarily
concerned whether foreign govern
ments like what We say to their
people. We are only concerned with
what the people themselves think
about it.
/ Attorney General Clark pledged
that the Government will see to it
that no Communists hold Govern
ment jobs.
Sweden Makes Rood Units
A Swedish plant has announced
it is making 80 road-construction
11tnitc dacnrihnd "a q O