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Speech of Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri Washington Day Banquet under the auspices of the Democratic National Committee Benjamin Franklin Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania February 23, 1942 TO BE RELEASED ON DELIVERY Fellow Americans: It is my privilege and honor to be the guest this evening of the Democratic National Committee in the great city of Philadelphia--the rallying ground in the past of the Democratic Party. It is an equal privilege and honor to be the guest of the great Common- wealth of Pennsylvania, so ably represented in the United States Senate by so distinguished a statesman, the ardent supporter of the Administitation and the President, my friend and colleague, Joe Guffey. And the people of the city of Philadelphia may well be proud of the distinguished Democrats that represent them in the United States Congress from six of the city's seven Congressional Districts. In former years the keynote of this occasion has been one of celebration. As true Democrats we were nat urally filled with pride at the record of accomplishments. of our party. lut tonight we cannot celebrate. The time for gaiety is over. This is a US lemn hour--one of the most solemn hours in American history. It is time 1,01 serious talk. It is time that we take an accounting. What progress have we made? What. does the future hold in store? is NATHAN E 8 US