Mid-Century VEISHEA: President Truman Lights the Torch of Higher Education

in the torch lighting ceremonies dr. Charles E fry Li president of Iowa State College will hand the match to mr. Truman and then the torch of higher learning will be lighted by the president the torch will then be picked up by Don Ferguson Iowa State College student from Ottumwa carried to a waiting car the torch will be driven to Des Moines from whence it would be run in relay style by Iowa State College students to Ames where it will be used to light the permanent Visha torch which will shine over Visha week each week each year rather as a symbol of the light of higher education taking their places now the presidential party Bess Truman is sitting immediately to the left of the speaker's stand on all right this is Harry Truman and Margaret Truman being shown to her place two seats over taking nowhere we have on this platform but we certainly are very proud to have them visit us we are grateful to mrs. Truman and Miss Margaret Truman for their presence here our friends a distinct honor and privilege has been extended to me today and might be being permitted to welcome to Ottumwa and to introduce to you at this time the President of the United States thank you very much thank you very much I can't tell you how very much I appreciate this wonderful wonderful reception from the finest gatherings I have seen in a long time not since Dexter highway have I seen such a gathering 1948 that was if you remember there were 10 acres of people at that meeting everybody wanted to know me how you measured people by the acre and I said you could put about 9600 people on an acre and you multiply that by 10 that's 96 thousand I don't know how many there are here I understand and I've been reliably informed that there's a young man working for the opposition who's been following me in a plane to look the situation over now that young man is perfectly welcome to save a little money he'll buy himself a ticket to get on the train I'll take it along and I and I sincerely hope that he's been as highly pleased with the reception I have had this morning and with the crowds as I have and I hope you'll make that report to the opposition so they can govern themselves accordingly this morning I want to talk to you briefly about your future and the future of Agriculture all over the country that's why I'm here to tell you the truth about what your government is doing it's a most difficult thing for me to get the facts to the people but I think I've demonstrated on a another trip and on that trip I was followed also I demonstrated to the people at that time that when they know the truth and the facts you can't fool them these are troubled times in the know that the only way we can get a peaceful world is by keeping you straight and prosperous that you're expecting business and all the other businesses you tell depend on the incomes of the farmers for miles around you know - that's your businessmen and your farmers and your workers have a mutual interest in the prosperity of all of our economy well that's true in the whole country - but for this country okay remain prosperous unless you in this area proper make sure that our farmers never again have to burn their car for fuel collected it 20 years ago I'm tend to keep on working to say that farmers workers and businessmen get a fair deal and that's all anybody could ask for just like the attacks which are being made today against progressive measures but it's even more interesting but cause a few miles north of here at Ames the Iowa State Agricultural College has been using hatch act for since 1887 it is still using them today and there's been no limitation on anybody's freedom in Iowa as a result that I know of I think that our system of agricultural research and education provides real strength see the old Iowa State College at Ames is outstanding is an outstanding part of this great system at the same situation down in Missouri and they've even got it in Kansas where that senator made that statement the agriculture colleges in other states are doing likewise each one is a part of this great system of research and education that extends all away from the federal government to the individual on the farm wherever you hear people attacking agricultural education or other progressive measures for the benefit of the farmer the worker the rest of the people just remember that agricultural education has been a part of our democratic way of life since the days of Thomas Jefferson and I hope it always will be in the future I want two people distinctly understand that I'm here reporting to you as your servant I am here is the President of the United States giving you an outline of things just as they are in Washington and just as I would like to have them to be in Washington I have a perfect right to do that that's part of my job to let you know just exactly what the facts are and when I tell them to you I think you can understand them they're not garbled by somebody who wants to give a wrong impression you understood them in 1948 you're gonna understand them in 1950 and when we get through when I report to you the next time you're going to be happy and satisfied with the result I can't tell you how very much I appreciate this magnificent reception this morning it's grand I'll remember it all my life thank you very much we thank you very much President Truman now we have a little gift on your birthday 125 pound cake made by the members of Baker's Union number 412 two young people Harriet Lester and Lynn McCullough would like to present the cake to you at this time yeah he came back he is running to the butcher Carl morning maybe I'll on lighting ceremony then and now the parties love the touch in higher education and Don Ferguson after shaking hands with President Truman in relay style the torch is passed from hand to hand as a new runner takes over and now the last of the 150 runners will rock the torch from Des Moines to Ames Glen brand is arriving on campus with the light which was lighted in a tumbler by President Truman torch of Higher Education the torch has now been placed in his permanent resting place the plaque will be fitted into place permanently her to be put there a symbol of Higher Education and so we have come to the end of these opening ceremonies which began in Ottumwa this morning with the arrival of President Truman and the eventual lighting of the torch down there and the carrying of that torch to Des Moines by car and in the series of 150 runners who have brought it by stages from Des Moines to Ames and so viescha is officially lit up for this season and officially opens this is the plaque itself which has been placed on his permanent pedestal here in the middle of the Iowa State College campus the pedestal which has been constructed for this year's Visha celebration this symbol of Higher Education in America was lighted by the 33rd President of the United States of America harry s truman by lighting this torch in Ottumwa Iowa to signify the light ahead in higher education the president cited Iowa State College as an example of progressive American colleges and universities promoting greater effort toward cultivation of the intellect Iowa State College will forever be thankful to the president for his contribution to the state of Iowa and the nation in advocating higher education for American youth you