Letter from William R. C. Baker to President Harry S. Truman

8/11/21/45 Community Church Mirst Methodist Church BUFFALO, MINN. W. R.C. baker. MINISTER MONTICELLO. MINN. BOX 251. BUFFALO, MINN. PHONE 154. BUFFALO, MINN. October 11.45 The Honorable Harry S. Truman P.P.F. The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. President: B The following quotations are from an article written Sept.29 145 in the daily Minneapolis Star Journal--circulation more than 250.000:- "On Saturday night, Truman sat down at poker with his secretary of the treasury, Judge Fred Vinson, who won heavily. Truman was reported to have lost $310. Afterward he had a good time kidding Secretary Vinson. "I'm going to have his income-tax return checked to make sure he reports his winnings," the President wise-cracked. Next night, (unquote--this would be Sunday night) the President won his money back again-and then some Presidential luck was with Truman when it came to hat pool. Chip Robert, ex-secretary of the Democratic national committee, and George Allen, got up a couple of hat pools on the day's races. Truman participated, but sold half of his ticket to fellow Missourian Breckenridge Long, ex-assistant secretary of state. Truman won the pool and split $40 with Long." End quote. I sincerely hope, Mr. President, these statements are false. Ruin stalks any gambler. A nation needs a leader unfettered at least by such a habit. My wife, daughter and I must live in an old parsonage, this winter, heated by four small heating units, due to inability to borrow slightly more than the amounts totalled in these gambling episodes. We have ordered a. heating plant which is not forthcoming,due to restrictions of production. We shall be in a predicament if and when it comes, due to the financial status quo of our small church membership at Buffalo. Our church needs repairs also. How I wish I could persuade someone with financial resources, having the gambling habit, to legtimately put their money to a better purpose. If we could borrow $500 at 5% interest, we would desperately endeavor to raise a similar sum with which to repair our church and heat the parsonage. Personally, Mr. President, I wish you would either affirm or deny these Drew Pearson criticisms. I cannot accept them as true. You have much too extensive program, to waste time and money gambling. The fate of a nation merits more than a gambler's chance among the other national leaders of the world. Humbly and sincerely, in your interests, Mr. President, I beg to remain. TRUMAN IT Co. Wm. R.C.Baker. HARRY ARCHIVES ANDS "NATIONALD SERVICE" U.S. GOVER weersaker Buffalo, Miam 100 GREAT CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE Selected by Dwight E. Marvin Abiding Chapter John 15 Keeper of Israel Psalm Psalm 121 Annunciation Chapter Luke 1 King of Kings Psalm Psalm 72 Ascension Chapter The Acts 1 Kingdom of Heaven Chapter Mathew 13 Antichrist Chapter II Thessalonians 2 Lazarus Called to Life Chapter John 11 Armor of God Chapter Ephesians 6 Liberty Chapter Galatians 5 Bondage of Sin Chapter Romans 7 ff Life's Brevity Psalm Psalm 90 Bread of Life Chapter John 6 Living Water Chapter John 4 Brotherly Consideration Chapter Lord's Supper Chapter 1 Corinthians 11 Romans 14 See also Mathew 26; Mark 14 and Luke 22 Brotherly Love Chapter 1 John 4 Lost and Found Chapter Luke 15 Burden-bearing Chapter Galatians 6 Loving Kindness Psalm Psalm 103 Charity Chapter 1 Corinthians 13 Missionary Psalm Psalm 96 Chastening Chapter Hebrews 12 Nativity Chapter Luke 2 Character Building Chapter 1 Corinthians 3 Old Age Chapter Ecclesiastes 12 Christ's Supremacy Chapter Hebrews 1 Passover Chapter Exodus 12 City of God Chapter Revelation 21 Paul and Agrippa Chapter Acts 26 Concentration Chapter Philippians 3 Penitents Psalm Psalm 51 Confidence Psalm Psalm 46 Peter and Cornelius Chapter Acts 10 Consecration Chapter Romans 12 Praise Psalm Psalm 148 Consolation Chapter John 14 See also Psalm 146, 147, 149, 150 Contentment Chapter Philippians 4 Prayer of Christ Chapter John 17 Courage Chapter Joshua 1 Preacher's Chapter 1 Corinthians 2 Creation Chapter Genesis 1 Proverb Psalm Psalm 37 Crucifixtion Chapter Mathew 27 Refuge and Fortress Psalm Psalm 91 See also Mark 15; Luke 23 and John 19 Regeneration Chapter John 3 Day of Penticost Chapter The Acts 2 Rest Chapter Hebrews 4 Decalogue Chapter Exodus 20 Resurrection Chapter Luke 24 Divine Enthronement Psalm Psalm 97 See also Mathew 28; Mark 16 and John 20 Divine Knowledge Psalm Psalm 139 Rich Man's Chapter Luke 16 Divine Revelation Psalm Psalm 19 Separation Chapter II Corinthians 6 Election Chapter Romans 9 Sermon on the Mount Chapter Mathew 5 ff Encouragement Psalm Psalm 42 See also Luke 6 Exodus Chapter Exodus 13 Service Chapter Luke 10 Faith Chapter Hebrews 11 Seven Churches of Asia Chapter Rev. 2 ff Faith and Works Chapter James 2 Signs of the Times Chapter Mathew 24 Fall of Man Chapter Genesis 3 See also Mark 13; Luke 21 Flesh and Spirit Chapter Romans 8 Spiritual Life Chapter I Corinthians 12 Fool Chapter Proverbs 26 Suffering Savior Chapter Isaiah 53 Freedom From Sin Chapter Romans 6 Tempest Psalm Psalm 29 Glorying Chapter II Corinthians 12 Temporal Supply Chapter Luke 12 Godly Man's Psalm Psalm 1 Temptation Chapter Mathew 4 God's House Psalm Psalm 84 Tongue Chapter James 3 God's Mercy Psalm Psalm 136 Transfiguration Chapter Mark 9 Good Sheperd Chapter John 10 See also Mathew 17 and Luke 9 Good Sheperd Psalm Psalm 23 Grace Chapter Ephesians 2 Unity Chapter Ephesians 4 Greatness of God Chapter Isaiah 40 Vigilance Chapter I Thessalonians 5 Heavenly Home Chapter Revelation 22 Watchfulness and Faithfulness Chapter, Holiness Chapter Colossians 3 Matt. 25 Holy Spirit Chapter John 16 Wisdom Chapter Proverbs 4 Humility Chapter Philippians 2 Witness-bearing Chapter John 1 Immortal Life Chapter 1 Corinthians 15 Word of God Psalm Psalm 119 Instrumental Music Psalm Psalm 149 ff Worship Psalm Psalm 95 Invitation Chapter Isaiah 55 Young Men's Chapter Proverbs 3 Justification Chapter Romans 5 Zion's Glory Chapter Isaiah 60