Press Release, Speech of President Harry S. Truman, Grafton, West Virginia

IMMEDIATE RELEASE IMMEDIATE RELEASE REAR PLATFORM REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT AT GRAFTON, WEST VIRGINIA - OCTOBER 16, 1948 10:00 A.M., E.S.T. Matt, I W ill remember that introduction as long as I live. You and I were always friends. I know your record in the Senate of the United States, and I endorsed that record always. I am here in West Virginia, now, hoping to help Matt Neely, and Bob Ramsey, and Okie Patterson become members of that great Congress of the United States - when it works right. It can be great when the Demoorats control it. I have always liked the story I read once about how Grafton got ARGHTYBE AND its name. As I remember it," it seems that the railroad construction crews REDDRAS that came in here about 1.00 years ago called this place on the railroad the "grafting on" point because so many branch lines were hooked onto the main line here. It wasn't long before the city became Grafton. I certainly appreciate the reception you have given me on my trip into West Virginia in this campaign. I think the folks in West Virginia are really friendly. From what I hear, most of your visitors are as friendly towards you. I read in the paper last week about how the candidate for Vice President on the Republican ticket came here to make some speeches in his campaign for the Vice Presidency. And I heard that the Republican Senator from West Virginia stood around waiting for this California Governor to say what a good Senator he is. That is a clipping I got out of the Washington Star, which I can't say is overly friendly to the Democrats. B ut the Senator waited in vain, at least this news story here says. All the Governor would say is that he liked the 80th Congress. He wouldn't endorse the present Republican Senator from West Virginia, and I don't blame him for that. Now, what kind of a Pa rty is it that can't or won't endorse its candidates? The Democratic Party is not made out that way. I am proud to stand / here and. endorse Matt Neely, Mr. Ramsey, and Okie Patterson, and all the other Democrats on the ticket in West Virginia. I am proud to be running on the record of the Democratic Party and the platform of the Democratic party. I am proud to stand up for all the people in this Country and say that we didn't want the Taft-Hartley Act and all the other destructive legislation that the 80th do-nothing Congress passed. The reason I call it "do-nothing" is because it did not do anything for the people. Now,, there are a lot of people that wouldn't agree with that, because it did a lot for special p rivilege, and spécial privilege has been in the saddle ever since the 80th Congress came to Washington. I am proud that the Democratic Party fought hard to gettlaws to provide federal a id to education, better health, better housing, broader social security coverage, and all the other important things that the Democratic Party stands and fights for. In 1946, two-thirds of you stayed at home and forgot to vote, and we got that Republican 80th Congress. That Congress blocked the steady progress we had been making towards a better life for all the people in the United States. This year everyone is going to get out and vote, on account of the fact that you understand that you are the Government. The people are the Government in these United States, but they cannot be the Government if they are too lazy to get out and vote on Election Day. The Government is in your hands when you want to use the power that you have. Now, you owe it to the country and you owe it to yourselves to get out and vote on Election Day. It is the way we can get a peaceful, prosperous nation. All I ask is that you examine the record carefully. You know where I stand on all the gre at issues before the country.