Harry Truman

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.

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.

I am very happy indeed to be here this morning.

It is an integral part of the development of the whole Missouri basin.

I have high hopes for the good that it will do in this whole region.

All this development work we are doing here in the West has come about because this country has a government that believes in helping people--helping people to get the things they want and need and are entitled to.

Earlier this year I appointed a Missouri Basin Survey Commission headed by James E. Lawrence of Lincoln, Nebraska, composed of citizens of the basin States.

We have been working to develop the whole country.

I appreciate very much the privilege of being here and taking part in these ceremonies.

This dam will be a wonderful thing for Montana.

Vote for your own interests.

The Missouri basin contains a sixth of the area of the United States.

We are creating assets for the people of the United States when we make expenditures for the development of these great water projects.

I am glad to see work start on Tiber Dam.

I cannot conceive that the people of this country would entrust their future to a party which has that kind of record.

Thank you, Governor. I appreciate that introduction.

It is the job of this Commission to recommend the best way to complete this great development program.

I'm very proud of the crop insurance program that has been developed under Democratic leadership since 1938.

I say, further, that the Republicans in the 81st and 82d Congresses tried to pitchfork the farmer over and over again.

The facts are that a majority of Republicans have opposed farm legislation not only recently, but for 30 years.

There's the position of the 80th Congress.

They don't say that it may take 10 years to turn that corner.

They have at least four positions.

I said in 1948 that the 80th Congress stuck a pitchfork in the farmer's back by crippling the grain storage program.

Today, the Federal crop insurance program is still operated by those same farmer-elected committeemen.