Senator Harry S. Truman Speaks at Rally
Charleston Had It All # 43
By Mildred Reeves Burnett
Charleston Democrat, October 22, 1936—
THOUSANDS EAT
BARBECUE PIGS & GOATS AT DEMOCRATIC RALLY
“On Monday October 19, 1936 the Mississippi County Democratic Party held an all day barbecue on the athletic field behind the High School south of town. A great pit 120 feet long had been dug along south side of the running track and there all Sunday night a crew of skilled barbecue chefs labored to prepare a hundred head of hogs and goats secured for the feast…
“More than five thousand persons participated in the great Democratic rally from nearly every county in Southeast Missouri. Seating accommodated 1,600 persons. The rest of the throng sat or stood on the football field turf, in cars surrounding the grounds, and the high school steps, being able to hear and see the three speakers scheduled…”
The barbecue was to begin at 12:30, and shortly before about fifty cars entered Charleston from the west escorting United States Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri. A squad of State Highway Patrolmen led the procession. Truman visited, shook hands, and ate delicious, wood-smoked barbecue at the rally before his speech at 3:30.
The Honorable S. P. Dalton of Cape Girardeau spoke first... Dalton urged the re-election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and local Democrats.
Sikeston Standard Oct. 23, 1936
5000 HEAR TRUMAN, HAY AT CHARLESTON RALLY
“Roosevelt’s assistance to farmers and small wage earners was chiefly Senator Truman’s speech.”
Come stand near me. While he walks to the microphone let me whisper in your ear, “Truman will become the 33rd President of the United States at the death of President Roosevelt April 12, 1945. We’ll still be in terrible World War II.”
“I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me.” President Truman told reporters at that time. 1
So, let’s listen to what he has to say today.
“This administration has done and is doing more for agriculture than all the administrations since the Civil War put together.” He continued, “Under the Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover administrations, the farmer was kidded and exploited until he became the lowest paid of the whole social scale.”
He said, “The farmer has been the victim of the tariff policy of the Republican party ever since the Civil War. He has been forced to buy on a closed market and sell on a world market. The present Democratic administration is seeking to restore some of our lost foreign markets and to equalize the tariff burden for the benefit of the farmer. Thirty million dollars of the tariff collections are to be used every year to help make the new administration farm plan a success.”
“Senator Truman said the soil conservation program established after the AAA was invalidated will do ‘much for the American farmer’, increasing his income as federal agents co-operate with state agricultural departments in making the program a success.
“He accounted for a large surplus of foodstuffs with a statement that many farmers are now using tractors and other power machinery instead of horses and mules, which in past years consumed a great deal of the farm produce. Science, however, is preparing to overcome this deficiency by developing to supplement the diminishing supply of gasoline with new fuels which will be made of farm produce in the form of by-products.”
“Reminding his audience of the nation’s improved economic condition, Senator Truman spoke of the banking situation, particularly of the marked decrease of bank failures under Roosevelt’s administration and of the Home Owners’ Loan Corporations which he said has kept more than a million home owners from losing their property and has ‘put the second mortgage cut-throat out of business’.
“In closing he said he had no time to discuss relief but declared the only manner in which it can be continued, either under Republican or Democratic governments, is through taxation.”
Charleston Democrat, October 22, 1936
…At seven o’clock a great bonfire 50 feet in height, which had been built east of the speakers’ stand, was lighted while bells rang, whistles blew and horns tooted. The fiery flames roared upward to be seen for many miles and continued burning all night. Democrats were aflame with excitement and determined to win the coming election.
“The Honorable Charles M. Hay, a special assistant United States solicitor general in Washington who was introduced by Danforth Joslyn president of the Mississippi County Young Democrat Club, urged the re-election of President Roosevelt and declared the New Deal’s policies are ‘economically sound.’”
Long after the speaking had ended crowds milled around the athletic field, continued to eat barbecue and discuss the spee-ches and events of the day…
DEMOCRATIC LANDSLIDE
The November 5 election rolled around. Democrats had beat the bushes for votes all over the county and approximately 1,700 more Democrats participated in the presidential election than ever before, making it the largest turnout in Mississippi County’s 100 year history. 2
“All Democrats running in Mississippi County were elected. The fight of Jim Haw for prosecuting attorney and Walter Beck for Sheriff was quite bitter, but each piled up a large majority of the votes and was elected.” Lloyd C. Stark became Missouri’s Governor. 3
From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat via The Enterprise Courier— “…President Roosevelt advanced today to the greatest victory any candidate has had since the nation grew up.”
1 Welcome To The White-house—President Harry S. Truman –Internet
2 The Enterprise Courier Nov. 5, 1936
3 Charleston Democrat Nov. 5, 1936
To be continued |