It is no longer possible to depend upon makeshift policies and piecemeal remedies to solve the problems which the industry faces.

The office of the Presidency carries with it the authority and influence to explore and work out solutions within the framework of our foreign trade policies for the problems peculiar to our textile and apparel industry.

President Truman led the way in appointing the first Negro lifetime Federal judge and the first Negro on the court of appeals.

I assure you that in a new Democratic administration there will be far better representation, on the basis of merit, of persons of all our racial groups, including particularly those who in the past have been excluded on the basis of prejudice.

I would, of course, be delighted to discuss with you and with industry leaders the import problems of the textile industry and the development of constructive methods for showing the growth and prosperity of the industry in the future.

Clearly the problems of the industry will not disappear by neglect nor can we wait for a large scale unemployment and shutdown of the industry to inspire us to action.

This means that appointments must be made on the basis of merit.

The Republicans tells us that we are dreamers, and that we are making impossible promises and misleading the American people.

Today I would prefer to confine what I have to say and the discussion afterward to this one subject.

I accept, with gratitude, your endorsement of my candidacy.

The Democrats have traditionally held that the officials who man our key posts in defense and foreign policy should be selected for their superior ability, whatever their party affiliation may be.