Barbecue

The first Jackson Day dinner since 1944 turned out to be Harry Truman's kind of party. Though Washington's Mayflower Hotel had put out its best napery, the affair had the informality of a barbecue. Fortified with bourbon, 1,800 Democrats uncomplainingly ate the 700-calorie "austerity dinner" (tomato soup, baked chicken, potatoes, salad and one oatmeal cookie) for which they had paid $400 apiece. They whistled, whooped and slapped backs. Soprano Grace Moore rose with a flash of jewels, and sang a hillbilly song. Leon Henderson gave her a cigar.

Midway in the proceedings the President left his seat in the grand ballroom, led a noisy, serpentine parade through the outer rooms where the party's lesser fry were seated. Then, after the whole crowd had jostled into the ballroom, he listened as speakers flayed the Republicans, praised Jefferson, Jackson, Wilson, F.D.R., the common man and themselves.

Samples:

From soprano-voiced Mrs. Charles W. Tillett, assistant chairman of the Democratic National Committee: "If Democrats have this much pep on 700 calories, God help the Republicans. . . .",

From Toastmaster Joe Davies: "We are doing honor to a man who will be one of the great presidents. . . . [Harry Truman] took every ball that was pitched with a clear eye, a sound head and a straightforward swing. . . ."

From Henry Wallace, whom Stage Manager Bob Hannegan co-starred with the President: "We know that [Republican] normalcy will lead to boom, bust and chaos. [The Democratic Party] stands for the people first, property second."

Polite Applause. But when it came his time to speak, Harry Truman could not join in the general expansiveness. Party harmony, which the dinner supposedly celebrated, had been disintegrating steadily during his eleven months in office. His first formal political speech as President was an earnest "plea for party unity and party responsibility." He knew, as well as everyone who heard him, that those were things that could not be bought with after-dinner speeches.

The applause was polite. At least Harry Truman had not disturbed the air of conviviality by any talk of trying Franklin Roosevelt's old political whip, the political purge. And the Democratic Party had got a good round sum for its war chest.

Last week the President also:

P: Chatted with French Socialist Leon Blum, in Washington to seek a Government loan.

P: Imparted final instructions to General Walter Bedell ("Beedle") Smith, off to Moscow as U.S. ambassador.

P: Named Harvardman Edwin A. Locke Jr., 35, onetime adviser on Chinese economics, to be a special presidential assistant on Government reorganization.

P: Signed a bill bestowing permanent rank and a $5,000-a-year bonus upon Generals of the Army George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Henry H. Arnold and Fleet Admirals William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King and Chester W. Nimitz.

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