Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-02
Text of RooseveIt's Speech
Coils New Dam Monument to Productive
Partnership Of All Kinds Of Citizens
the building back Of soil fertility
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the building back Of soil fertility
through research into phosphate
fertilizers, the use Of nitrate
plant life and the Investigation
Of crops and the reforesting Of
millions Of acres of land. The
third objective was to improve
the social and economic life Of
these citizens with their cooper
atomic plan with them for q
greater diversification Of human
effort, to make richer farm life,
to add new industries, to give
employment and to bring . larger
return in cash each year to the
average Of our families.
Today we see the progress that
we have made, that we are max
ing and that we propose to con-
tinue to make. We have come
far along the road. In this val
ley. as In the Nation. we do not
propose to abandon the goal that
is directly before our eyes either
by sitting down or by going back.
These splendid changes have
not come by compulsion-for
thousands of farmers and thou
sands Of townspeople have met
together in the common effort.
They have debated and discussed.
Participating in the processes Of
their Government they have al
tered the looks of their towns.
They have added fertilizer to
their soil. They have improved
their industries. No farmer was
forced to join this conservation
movement. No workman was
compelled to labor here under
onerous conditions, or for less
than rightful wage. No citizen
has lost single one of these hui
man liberties we prize so highly
IN this democracy. This is dem
onstration of what democracy
at work can do, Of people unit
ing in a war against waste and
insecurity.
There were, and are, those who
maintain that the development of
the enterprise that lies largely in
this State is not q proper activity
Of Government. As for me. I
glory in it as one Of the great
social and economic achieve
ments of the United States.
Pledge Made to Retain
Social Security Gains.
Today we are facing a time Of
peril unmatched In the history
OF the nations Of all the world.
And because we are undertake
ing the total defense Of our Ma
ton, the Tennessee Valley region
has assumed, In addition to its
own domestic betterment, its
share Of responsibility for ma
tional defense.
Already, and several years
ahead of our carefully planned
schedule. we are creating new
plants which of necessity will
use more power. I am glad. in
deed. that in spite of partisan
opposition, the Congress Of the
United States has overwhelming
ly voted the necessary funds.
That money is now at work.
New defense industries are
more safe from attack in this
region behind the mountains
than If they were located on
our more exposed borders. It
is. therefore, good for our safety
to develop further and to use
the natural resources and the
man power of this region. In
that development, let us always
remember that we must and
shall retain the great gains that
have been made for human social
security in recent years. We
propose, indeed, not to retain
them alone, but to improve and
extend them. Most assuredly we
are determined neither to re-
peal nor to weaken them.
We. understand now what we
did not understand in 1917 and
1slS-that the building up Of Army
and Navy equipment and the
training Of men to Use it ought
not to result in waste of our
natural resources, and at the
same time ought not to break
down the gains OF labor or the
maintenance Of living wages.
We are seeking the prepared
ness Of America, not against the
threat Of war or conquest alone,
but in order that preparedness be
built to assure American peace
that rests on the well-being of
the American people.
Let us, therefore, today dedi-
cate this dam and these lakes
to the benefit Of all the people,
the prosperity they have stinu-
lated, the faith they have .justi-
fed, the hope they have inspired,
the hearts that they encourage
the total defense Of the United
States of America.