Speech of Senator Harry S. Truman at Kirksville, Missouri

Delivered-Kirksville, Missouri, April 11, 1940. Young Democrats meeting by Honorable Harry S. Truman, U. S.S. Ladies and Gentlemen: In 1934 when I announced my candidacy for United States Senator from Missouri, it was only after very careful consideration on my part and only after having received numerous insistent requests from the many leaders of democracy in Missouri, Prior to my announcement there had been a number of trial balloons sent up, three or more from Kansas City and several from other parts of the state, but before these balloons had reached any height at all they were punctured by objections from our many leaders. I had other plans for 1934 but was constrained to heed the call of the Democrats of Missouri and made my campaign on the platform of supporting Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his very humane program for relieving suffering and improving economic conditions in this country. This I have strictly addered to and have supported the President through all those six years, and I intend to keep on in the same manner. I shall introduce two issues of my own, which will not only provide for better administration but will be helpful to all businessmen. First, I propose to use my efforts in obtaining revision of the various laws both in the State of Missouri and in the National Congress which will provide for the adoption of 100% merit system in the selection, appointment, retention, and promotion of all persons in the employ of the Federal and State Governments. I renounce all rights and privileges to patronage that I may have and promise to devote my entire energies toward the end that the real intent and spirit of the merit system of appointments for public jobs will prevail and, furthermore, will bend my efforts toward the reformation of the existing Civil Service laws in the Federal Govern- ment so that all favoritism and academic influence of the many colleges and universities will be eliminated so that Civil Service may be placed squarely on a really efficient and competitive basis. Second, I will work toward the amendment of the existing Social Security laws both in the State and in the Nation, which pertain to the operation of the Unemployment Compensation benefit program. This program, though it has been in operation for the last two years, has not reached more than 30% of the workers for which it was intended. Huge funds have been accumulated in the treasury because the many arbitrary interpretations of these laws have tended to disqualify the worker and heckle the employer. I believe that a statistical study can be made in the State of Missouri which will show the payroll taxes now in effect. can be reduced at least 50% and still permit the benefits to the workers to be extended so that this law will serve many workers who are out of jobs through no fault of their own. I also want to urge certain economies in the S. RUUMAN NARA