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SPARKS, NEVADA (In the public park, 9:15 a.m.)
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Rear Platform and Other Informal Remarks in Nevada and California. September 22, 1948 Senator McCarran, Vail Pittman. Mr.Mayor: It certainly is a pleasure to be here with you today. I don't know when I've seen a happier, more smiling crowd-and I'll tell you I have seen a lot of them on this trip and on others. I think that Nevada, from the looks of this turnout, must be vitally interested in the issues of the day. I'm sure they are, because those vital issues affect you as much as any other one of the Western States. I'm interested in reclamation, conservation, and power, the fundamental principles which will make the western country come into its own. Last night in Salt Lake City, I spent a half hour explaining just exactly where I stand on those subjects as President of the United States, and as the head of the Democratic Party. Now, it's an interesting thing that the line drawn between the principles of the Democratic Party and that one drawn-that line that separates the principles of the Dem~ cratic Party and the Republican Party-and it's just as plain for you to see as is pos sible, as if it were drawn right down here on this bench. The Democrats stand for the people. The Democratic Party has always been the party that's interested in the welfare of the people as a whole. It's been the policy of the Republican Party to take care of the special interests. They are the special interes t party. They believe that there ought to be a ruling class that gets the benefit of nearly everything in the country, and that a little of it will trickle down to the farmer and the small merchants and the working man. That's not the principle of the Dem ocratic Party. The Democratic Party believes in the fundamental principles of the Constitution of the United States, which says that the people are the Government. And you are the Government when you exercise your franchise on election day-that is, the right to vote-wh en you go to the polls and pick the candidates who are going to represent you in your local offices and who are going to represent you in the Congress of the United States and the man who is going to be President for the next 4 years. You at that time are exercising a privilege that is the greatest privilege of your life. And, when you don't exercise that privilege, you usually get into trouble. Look what happened to you in 1946 when most of you stayed at home. One third of the voters in this United States in 1946 elected this Republican 80th Congress. Look what you got. Look what they did to you. A little later on in the day I'm going to elabor ate on that and tell you just exactly how they did it and why they did it. And then, and then when you know the facts, if you go to the polls and don't send Mr. Baring to the Congress, don't elect Democratic officials all along the line, then you'll get j ust exactly what you deserve, as you did in 1946. I don't think you're going to do that. I think you are going to go to the polls on election day and I think you are going to exercise your franchise privilege and that you are going to have a Government. When you've done that, it'll be your Government, a Government that represents the people and works for the people. And that's all I stand for. I stand for Democratic principles, and everybody knows where I stand. You don't get any double talk from me. I'm either for something or against it, and you know it. You know what I stand for. I hope you can find out what the other people stand for when the time comes. I very much feel that it will be a long time before you know exactly what they believe. I want to thank you very much for this early morning appearance. I appreciate highly the cordiality and the hospitality of the great State of Nevada. Thank you very much.
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