Running mate congratulated by Roosevelt
Happy to have you run with me, he wires
By John L. Cutter, United Press staff writer
Chicago, Illinois (UP) –
Senator Harry S. Truman (D-MO) today received “heartiest congratulations” from President Roosevelt on his nomination for the Vice Presidency and a promise that they would get together soon on campaign plans.
The President wired to Senator Truman, his fourth-term running mate:
I send you my heartiest congratulations on your victory. I am of course very happy to have you run with me. Let me know your plans. I shall see you soon.
Committee aim to be his
Senator Truman’s only immediate plan was to resign the chairmanship of the Senate War Investigating Committee which for three years has been his substitute for inability at the age of 60 to assume his World War I role as commander of an artillery battery.
He will retain as his personal platform, however, the basic aim of the Committee – to win the war as speedily as possible with the minimum cost in lives and money.
It was on such a program that he launched the Committee, commonly known was the Truman Committee. It was his personal creed as he went into the campaign as the running mate of President Roosevelt in the latter’s “win the war and preserve the peace” program.
To resign Aug. 1
Senator Truman set Aug. 1 as a tentative date for resigning the committee chairmanship after other committee members asked hi to wait until Congress reconvenes. He said the other members apparently wanted him to retain the post until his successor was decided. He said he felt the work of the committee is far from done and that it should be continued under another chairman.
In response to the President’s telegram, Senator Truman telegraphed to the White House:
Thank you, Mr. President. I am happy to be your running mate. I will be in Missouri until Aug. 1, our primary day. I am at your command and I want to see you soon.
Wire from Wallace
From Vice President Henry Wallace, whom he beat for renomination, Senator Truman received the following telegram:
Congratulations upon your enlarged opportunity to help the President and the people. Both of us will do our maximum for Roosevelt and what Roosevelt stands for.
Senator Truman said he will wire his thanks to Mr. Wallace, whom he tried to reach by telephone this morning.
Senator Truman said at a press conference:
He is my friend and I like him. He is still Vice President and if he were here, I would call upon him personally. The only thing I don’t like about it is that I had to beat Henry for the nomination.
War costs lowered
The Truman Committee has been credited with keeping high the quality of war material, speeding production and lowering costs by at least a billion dollars. Senator Truman hopes he can do even more along that line as the second high elective officer of the nation.
That was the theme of his acceptance speech last night to the convention.
Senator Truman said:
It’s been my privilege to be a U.S. Senator for 9½ years. I expect to continue the efforts I have been making in that capacity to help shorten the war and win the peace under the leadership of our great President – Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Senator Truman, who said he had not sought the nomination, told reporters he had been far more interested lately in the German upheaval than in the vice-presidential contest.
He planned a visit with the Democratic National Committee today before leaving by auto with his family for Kansas City, to stay there until after the Missouri primary Aug. 1.