Speech by Judge Harry S. Truman, Kansas City's Regional Plan Association and Jackson County's Road System, to Club President's Round Table
Images (9)
Document
| id |
id
207521564
|
|---|---|
| contentType |
contentType
document
|
| source |
source
import
|
Source image fields (6)
Extracted text
OCR Page 1 of 9and Kansas Association 16.1930.
City's Regional Plan
and Jackson County's
Road System.
In January 1923 I became a member of the Jackson
County Court as associate Judge from the Eastern
District, which consists of that part of the
County outside the city limits of Kans : as City.
We found the County's finances muddled, its roads
in a deplorable condition, and its government
unworkable.
The
finances
we
endeavored
to
straight
en out, and its road system we are working out
to a satisfactory conclusion. The civic bodies
interested in the necessary gov ernment reform
are working on that, too. Last October I told
this organization my ideas on County Government.
In 1924 I was defeated for reelection, and the
succeeding Court spent its two years in doing
what Judge McElroy and myself had done the
previous two years -- finding out what it was
all about. In 1926 they were defeated for re-
election and I was elected Presiding Judge, Major
Robert W. Barr was elected Judge from the Eastern
District, and Howard J. Vro oman was elected Judge
from the Western District. Both these gentlemen
were very much interested in the public welfare,
and after several meetings previous to our taking
office January lst, 1927, we outlined a pr ogram
for a road system for Jackson County which was
the greatest problem then confronting us. We
agreed that the public welfare demanded that a
system of roads be outlined that wo uld be for the
use of traffic and the public, and not for any
real estate venture or for the improvement of
any special privilege roads.
It was decided that I should see the political
powers of both parties, and see what the reaction
would be to a bond issue along proper lines.
I called on the Democratic leaders, Mr. Pendergast,
Mr. Shannon, and Mr. Alyward who were enthusiasti-
cally
for
it,
but
doubted
our
ability
to
put
it
ove: