Harry Truman

The great difference between our major political parties comes to this: the Democratic Party believes in the people; the Republican Party is bound to privilege.

We all want our country to continue as the leader and the partner in the free world's work for peace.

I don't believe you could do better with the Democratic ticket than the slate of candidates which you have now up for election in the great State of Washington.

Remember, it's the Republicans who opposed Grand Coulee from the start.

I am frank to tell you this time I am here on a strictly political mission.

Adlai Stevenson has been out in this State--some of you may have seen him.

You people are the Government.

We have worked with you, and we have helped to meet your basic needs for power and for water.

That is a fine ticket.

I like Ike--I like Ike so well that I would send him back to the Army, if I had the chance.

I am very happy indeed to be here this morning.

You can't vote unless you have registered.

Instead, the people of the Northwest gradually began to reap the benefits of the enormous blocks of low-cost power produced at Bonneville and Grand Coulee.

There is one man, more than any other, who is responsible for the existence of this dam, and I'm glad he is here today.

And this has been done over the violent opposition of the Republicans and the utility companies who are partners.

In America, the people do through the Government those things that can only be done through the Government.

One brand-new heavy industry plant--a chemical plant at Silver Bow--has already been built, to operate on Hungry Horse electric power.

I want you all to go and vote for Adlai Stevenson for President, just as you did for me in 1948.

This is a year of decision.

If you stand guard with vigilance against those who would take it from you, it will remain as an everlasting source of wealth for us all.

The power of the Government of the United States is in the people, and when you don't exercise that franchise which the Constitution guarantees you, and you get bad government, you have nobody but yourselves to blame for it.

It is your business to find out just exactly what your interest in the Government is, because the fundamental power in the Government of the United States is in the people.

I have been having a grand time in Montana today, telling the people some of the things that they ought to hear and know about their country, and about a certain political party that I don't belong to.

In every way that you can imagine, the Northwest is a richer and happier, more productive and more independent region than it was before these dams were built.

The Republican Party is still against measures that will benefit the people.