Evening star., 1950-05-12
Partial Text of Truman Speech

IF0ffIO ! ext or
FOLLOWING is partial tert of
President Trun1an's address in
Butte. Mopt.::
It is a great pleasure to return
to Butte. I remember very well
my last visit here. not quite two
years ago. The grand reception
you gave me then was an inspira-
ton to me during the days that
followed. ..
This trip is giving me an oppor-
tunity to report to the people
about their Federal Government.
Every year the President reports
to the Congress on the state of the
Union. That is good thing. .
In our democracy the Govern
ment is responsible to the people,
and they are entitled to know just
what the Government is doing. ]
find that one of the best ways for
me to report to you is to come
out here where I can talk to you
face to face.
understand that some people
have objections, but I think the
real reason is that they are afraid
the people might like it too well
when the President comes out to
see them.
Today, I want to report to you
on some of the Governments S
activities and programs that are
of particular interest to working
men and women. But, first, !
want to remind you that welfare
of all groups of the population is
inseparable. Workers, business
men and farmers all depend upon
one another. -. :
| Recalls Mine Layoffs.
This city depends very largely
upon the production of copper.
When the demand for copper fell
of last year. it affected the
Anaconda Copper Co. The results
didn't stop there. The men who
worked for the company also were
affected. There were layoffs in
the mines and smelters.
Now, things are looking up
again. The market for copper
has improved. The company's
busines is better again, and men
who had been laid off have been
put back to work. -.
However, you cannot be pros
porous here unless the rest of
the country is prosperous. Your
jobs and the company'S profits
depend on what people are able
to buy in New York and Georgia
and Texas, and all over this great
country of ours.
You have a vital and direct
interest in the economic welfare
of the entire Nation, and there
fore you have an equal interest in
what the Government does to
maintain the economic welfare of
the Nation.
The Federal Government has
always taken a hand in the coun-
try's economic affairs.
Government Taking Bigger Role.
During the last II years, how
ever, the Government has played
a larger part in our economic life
than ever before. There is a rea-
son for this, and one that is not
hard to find. The reason is the
4 great depression of the early 1930s
-and the lessons we have learned
from that depression and from
the events since then. We have
learned that in a dynamic, highly
industrialized economy such as
ours, the Federal Government
must use its strength and re-
sources to prevent violent cycles
Of boom and bust. We learned
during the period from 1929 to
1888 what happens if the Govern
ment stands on the sidelines-
with men in high places merely
smiling -cheerfully and saying
everything is going to be all
right. ..
All of you. am sure, have
heard many cries about Govern
ment interference with business
and about creeping socialism"
should like to remind the
gentlemen who make these COM
plants that If events had been
allowed to continue as they were
going prior to March 4, 1888,
most of them would have no busi-
mes. left for the Government or
any one else to interfere with.
Don't let any one tell you that
the Government should retire to
the sidelines while the national
economy goes back to the days of
boom and bust" The power of
the Government exists for the
people to use.
Jobs Biggest Goal.
Perhaps our most important
single economic goal is to see
that there are enough jobs for
those who need them. This was
the purpose behind the employ
ment act of 1916. That act
pledged the resources Of the Fed
eral Government for the main
tenance of maximum employ
ment. production. and purchasing
power. We are now committed to
keep our country prosperous. No
one was more influential In get
ting that act adopted than your
own Senator. Jim Murray.
i You sometimes hear it said
land think this comes mostly
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