Press Release, Speech of President Harry S. Truman, Newark, New Jersey

IMMEDIATE RELEASE IMMEDIATE RELEASE TRUMAN REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT AT "NATIONAL THE MOSQUE, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ARCHIVES AND RECORDS October 7, 1948 - 9:06 P.M., E.S.T. SERVICE Mr. Mayor, Mr. Chairman, Monsignor Kelly, Distinguished Guests, and Fellow Democrats of this Great City of Newark: You have given me a wonderful reception, the kind of reception I knew I would get here in this great city. I have been here before and I had a reception that a Senator is entitled to, but nothing like this. I have heard rumors down in Washington that the Democratic Party is going to get this same kind of a turn- out at the polls on November the second. Am I right? Remember, now, keep that promise. That means that the next United States Senator from New Jersey is going to be Archie Alexander. That means that here in Newark you're going to send Peter Rodino to the Congress, and Hugh Addonizo and Harry Dudkin to the House of Representatives. Every one of these men deserves your support. They will fight your battle in Washington, and how that fight needs to be made nobody knows better than I do. They will fight your battle there, and men like them all over the nation will be fighting that battle -- and will win that battle if you're behind us -- the battle for the people, a fight which started with Jefferson, continued with Jackson, was won by Franklin Roosevelt in 1934. There was a sad thing in connection with that: two thirds of the voters of the United States stayed at home in 1946, and the Republicans who slipped in on that mihority vote have started to turn the clock back to the 1920's -- and further, if you let them do it. I don't believe you're going to let them do it. I've seen in this country on my recent trip the most prosperous that the sun has ever shone upon. Well, if the voters do their duty we can continue that situation in this country and keep on working, and I hope successfully, for peace in the world. I would rather have peace in the world than to be President of the United States. I've spent all my time working for peace in this world, and I shall continue to do just that. That's the most important thing with which we are faced. Now, I'm in this fight because it is in the nature of a crusade. This is a fight for the people against special interests, and if the people support me in that fight -- and I believe they're going to do it -- the Government of the United States will continue to be in the hands of the people, where it belongs: Now, one of the basic propositions is our welfare as a Nation, and our prosperity as a Nation. When someone asks, "Why can't we keep our prosperity under the Republicans?" the answer to that question should be obvious. But in case there is still any doubt in anyone's mind let me speak just a little plainly tonight and try to set you straight. The Republicans are committed to a program that benefits special interests, the powers of big business and monopoly. The only people who have prosperity under the Republicans are those who live on the fat profits made by exploiting the workers, farmers, and the common, everyday citizen. Need I remind you of what was going on here in this great city back in the Republican Hoover depression? You know what was going on. People were walking up and down the streets hunting for jobs. People were being evicted from their homes. Farmers were being thrown off their farms. (OVER)