Evening star., 1951-09-07
Truman May Request
More Flood Aid Funds
AFTER Tour Of Area
By Joseph A. Fox
Star Staff Correspondent

Siar Staff Correspondent
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 7.-Presi-
dent Truman today weighed new
appeal to Congress for help for
Midwest flood sufferers, after TAX
ing a look yesterday at what the
Missouri and Kansas Rivers did in
this area when they rolled over
their hanks in July.
Mr. Truman drove through the
lowlandS of Missouri and Kansas
TO, more than an hour late yes
terday watching flood victims still
picking through the debris OF
stores and factories and homes,
for anything they could find.
He told reporters with him that
the damage was a terrible thing.
and that the scenes before them
were being reproduced for a thou
sand miles in this section, where
more than a hundred towns are
trying to dig themselves out.
"41-6" Signs Displayed.
The President has asked Con-
gress for $40O million for the flood
sufferers immediate need, includ-
ing plans for an insurance setup.
and a short while ago he was
highly critical of the authorities
of Missouri and Kansas for not
working faster in correcting the
conditions the flood has left.
White House sources said he
was thinking of addressing an
other appeal to Congress based on
his personal observation. At one
point in his trip yesterday. the
President saw pickets carrying an
American flag and signs begging
for new homes" direct flood re-
lief" and "41-6."
The last sign, widely reproduced
through the industrial district
here. refers to the desire Of flood
victims for a wall that will check
a water level of Al feet and 6
inches.
The July 13 flood reached a
crest of more than 80 feet, sweep
ing everything before it.
Fears of New Flood Abate.
Mr.. Truman stopped twice
during his inspection trip, once to
walk through one of the fev
houses in the area which was
labeled "structurally safe" and
again atop a bridge spanning the
muddy and still rampaging Kan
sas River.
Fears of a new food abated
today as the crest, approximately
3 feet below the original estimate,
safely coursed downstream into
the wider Missouri from the Kan
sas. Day and night work on the
dikes and levees continued, how
ever, to make certain that the
Kansas stayed within Its
! boundaries.
The President was unusually
quiet and stern-faced during his
motor trip, obviously deeply
moved by the plight Of the thou
sands of homeless people in the
valley.
! Some 10 million tons of silt
still remain in the flood area
covering everything with a fine
dust. The stencil Of the disaster
still hangs on.
Helps Dedicate Armory.
The Presidents flood tour
topped of a busy day in which he
also had Joined his old Jackson
County neighbors in dedicatine
an armory for the organized re-
serves-a movement for which he
is very strong.
In a brief talk to an audience
that included many of his old
World War I buddies of the 35th
Division, the President urged that
the thought of preparedness be
always dominant in an era that
finds the country defending its
principles in cold war.
I He recalled his own interest in
the National Guard, in which he
served more than three decades
ago, and also urged support fol
the armed service unification pro-
gram.
( The President is keeping abreast
of his routine paper work here
and will have a reasonably clean
desk when he goes back to Wash
ington, probably sometime Sun
day.
Trumon's Brother DiscIoims
knowledge of 81 Plans
INDEPENDENCE, Mo-, Sept.
| IR President Truman's owr
brother said today he doesn't know
whether Mr.. Truman will seek re-
election.
But virtually every one else
among the Presidents close friend:
and political associates here are
convinced that his hat was tossed
into the ring with his speech to q
San Francisco Democratic Party
rally Tuesday.
Among the majority of them