Speech of Senator Harry S. Truman Over CBS, Washington, DC

SPEECH OF: SENATOR HARRY S. TRUMAN Chairman of the Special Senate Committee Investigating the National Defense Program August 7, 1942, over the Columbia Broadcasting System at 7:30 P.M. E.W.T. For release on delivery Steel is the backbone of America's war effort. On a sufficiently available amount of steel depends the lives of American men and women. Every weapon of war needed to defend this nation and to defeat our enemy must be produced. If we lack sufficient steel, then we will lack sufficient ships and guns and tanks and planes. Every facility of America to produce steel should have been now put into high gear. If the alleged shortage of steel does exist, we, the people of the United States, want to know why. If poor planning by Government officials is responsible - - if selfish business interests have interferred-- or if the overnll plan is defective, we want to know. We want to know so that any conditions that exist that are retarding our war effort will be elimin- ated and corrected at once. Not one American lighting man should die because of inadequate equipment. When a great peace-loving nation changes its way of life from peace to war - - when industry changes from its usual peace-time production to that of war - - when Govornment necessarily expands its functions, it can be ex- pected that some confusion should ensue and some error exist. Some of our problems can be solved only through trial and error. However, when mistakes are made they must be corrected at once. The functions of Congress include passing laws and voting money to make them work. But our job isn't done when we voto. It is also our duty to make sure that the laws are carried out and the people's money spent efficiontly and economically. This is done by committees which inquire into the activities TEURIAN l's