t nl 1 u fo'r. 1n o.lv I on 1 n l l, 1n t1 ' ' 1t)t\ 1 n t n t ou 11 r 0 t o r!on ;; ul,1 n n 1 n y. 1 o1.!on t .n n 1 1.

Transcription

1 . t nl 1 u fo'r. 1n o.lv I on 1 n l l, 1n t1 ' ' 1t)t\ I t n t ou 11 " 1 "' 1 n 0 n 1 of r 0 t o r!on ;; ul,1 n n 1 1 n y. 1 o1.!on t u ~l b of ~ nt 1 1.n n 1 1. n

2

3 o ol an ol 0 1 ca n t n n t ot r o! n 0 ll nt. 111 o1n 1. G 0 r 1.in u l: 1 t ) 1nt b 1t1 0 I' r 1n ()() tl n tl lt -Wl 1 n h 1on.. " tt n t or f 1o f l' I 1 n 1t ut d 1 no Ju 1 Q o. t t" n t. J't () t 0 0 e Q 1. u lt l' 1 1 ~tl tlo Q t t 0 0 ur on.n in lit n;v! n 11 0 r on to t1 tr f oon 1 n. 1 tl n l' 1,ino j r r l bor. () t t

4

5 - 6-1 r wo t 1r II. n n ~ n. r o 1 v u. o to rl. t e u on t ~ t r1t an t r tt tul t of our l n lt\j 11n th t v r r o 0 r on b t r bu 1n t 1 OUt' o n t nor t 1.loo tion _li oll 111 u t t1m ne 1n l tr 1., 1 ' 0 ve n 0 t 11:1 I h 1d t l r t 0 1.a e ot c1 t J' t t yor o t t t of ln n I c s. lnt n t oo UQ of in t n t 1 1 U o r Q f" t-. ~ p h ll. Q t h 'l l\1n 01 t bl 1 v. inn r r v nu fi n t 11 1 t o n et t r 1, 1 t Q, u 11o 1 n 1 no 1 n t 1on. 0 nno ' tt r r- ro c ll n rt y o t t1ln ct 0 t 11 QJ' n 1 1.1v r p ot d tt ou UJ" r at 1 o. c t not t

6 t 1 1~1 y r Jain uh on 1bl l 1o 1 1 0!on t t t 1n 1!o 1 v tl t e r t r n b W" ~1 n r t., h t 111 look u -n 1 r p on n b 0 t p.. pl 1, t 11'- _. n w 1 e. r I {) n o1z 0 n 1 t o1t d 1. lt t o.tt ol l. 1 t t 0 n 1 n tor lt. ol 1J l 1 tu h f'.j- n t lon.!t 1 ion 1 l :r 1o n pr ot 0 other 1 1 'l n..rv n n. r1 oul b 01- rt 1 n n. :UO tlon. u t ty t t h n r 1ty. 1 o1.. Jo1n otv to o., n l h 1t our robl 1n 'f o 0 1on, 1t our b 1& in u.l. t u t 1- in r th 0 1. t c n 1t d. l q the 1nt 1 Q e t ct

7 - 7- t 0 njo t 0 1 t t c) r t ) t r - t tnn 1 ul Jo 1 in t tur f) r v r ou n tt r rl to t 11 n f nt 0 our n n n tnn ol1 1 un e t t~ j n 1 n!nth t 1 1 u l 0 t 0. Ul" 1 n t'o n 0 0 e n r ef 1!no b th1 c d 1t ol t nt t h u f ent \J.'1 1t p I' 1 t 1 1 ot ro ot v1 $1\t. r ~ r.t!\- u ~ end t 1 1 r 1-nt t1.. i.) 1 0 t t h t 1 v rnm nt,.._ 0 t tor n. to n n 1 on., ol 1 1 oi I v I () 4 th 1 w., ' n 0 1}, n 1 1, 1 h f 1ny!' u 1 1 ton t n

8

9 'RADIO ADDRESS BY HUBERT H. HUMPHREY, CM~DI~ATE FOR AYOR OF MINNEAPOLIS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY OVER WCCO, SATURDAY, JUNE... _ ~ -=1=9-=4=5-L /1-J ~ ' ~~ <JJJ-i~,....:l~O~:...::: l~5_;.p::...:=m= -----~- We are approaching tonight the end of this municipal election. On.Monday you, the voters, will elect the men and v.romen whom you wish to manage the affairs of your city government. As one who believes fervently in the right of self-government and in the ability of democratic people to manage their o n government, I urge you to vote in Monday ' s election. In America today, as in no other country, the success of eovernment must rest upon the capacity of the individual citizen to understpnd or manage his 01.m political affairs. We here on the home front have a duty as great as that of our fighting men. That duty is one of steeping ourselves in the democratic faith, of knowing not only what we are fighting against but of understanding what \'!e are fighting for. That duty involves making democracy real at hom~. It meanw t &t ou.1 Ia.i1in ln democracy must be given concrete expression in our political, social and economic institutions. It means the participation of every adult citizen in the determination of our political life. Democracy can be meaningful o nly if government is responsive to the needs and desires of the great mass of people. A democratic government cannot afford to have great sec t ions of its population in poverty and unemployment, living in slums and insecurity. A democratic government cannot afford the exploitation of.,rtf man by man. A tdmm~ constructe~ on democratic principles must be a ~MMU~ that practices the brotherhood of ajl men on a local, national, and international oasis. -

10 - 2- Today, we are living in the presence of great and terrible events. It becomes our duty to think seriously, plan constructively, and speak responsibly. Persons seeking public office today, more than ever before, h'1ve an obligation to their country and to thei r fellow Americans ~~~J,===~h~e~e==~=~~f~e~I~q~e~s to act end speak as responsible persons, basing their program upon facts ana constructive proposals. During this campaign, I have done my utmost to help make our citizens aware of the government of our community. I believe that democracy is, above all, a community process. I believe that no government can long function democratically without an enlightened and awakened citizen body. I have discussed with you the powers and responsibilities of the mayor rs office. I have demonstrated that the office of mayor is not without authority. The mayor has complete supervision over the police department. He has appointment power to the Civil Service Commission, the City Planning Commission and the Board of Public Well'are.. He is a member of nearly all the boards and commissions of this city. He can and E!houlo ple.ce b fore these boards and agencies his program and plans for the solution of community problems. He should be in constant touch with our City Council and hi~ office should serve as a clearing house for community planning and community redevelopment. ( ftm.v..t ) Minnea.polis city government is in need of revitalization. It needs the s timulation o.f new ideas to fight against the corrosion of indifference that has so long characterized the mayor ' s office. ~ needs the type of community redevelopment that will provide jobs for returning veterans in the post-war, a housing program that will I

11 provide clean and wholesome living conditions, and a number of other programs aimed at social and economic betterment. I emphasize this point ~ that the mayor's office can be one. of real influence in our government. I emphasize this point because I have outlined to the citizens of Minneapolis an extensive program of civic betterment, which is predicated on the knowledge that such a program can be realized through leadership supplied by the mayor working in cooperation with the city council and the other boards and commissions. We must understand the mayor ' s office for what ~t is. It.J is not without authority and influene. There is no justification for the claims that the mayor can do nothing of importance under the terms of the city charter. The power is there. The position and authority are guaranteed. It is up to us to clear away this fiction of weakness and to launch forward in the firm conviction that we can have and will have a greater Minneapolis. ( ('~) Our city today stands on the threshhold of a new period in its life. The war has brought many changes,in our community. Already thousands of servicemen ~ have returned, and future months vrill find many more thousands on their way home. War workers will soon be looking for new jobs in peace time industries. We will face a tremendous task of readjustment and reconstruction. It will be imperative that our city afford job opportunities to those who seek gainful employment. We must have new industries. We must expand existing retail and industrial establishments& In short, there must = be profit for business and jobs for labor.

12 I am pledged to this program. No amount of scar~ campaign on the part of the opposition -- no amount of ridiculous cha.rges and deliberate falsehood can alter thefact that I have presented a program of industrial expansion and a constructive approach to labor and industrial relations which will do much to make possible a growing and prosperous Minneapolis. l f~l From time to time I have mentioned the relationship of Hinneapolis to our state, to our nation and to the world. A.city of 500,000 people, in the heart.of the great Northwest, is a great factor in the American economy. Our strategic geographic position places upon our e+afciv/~ leaders and public officials a great responsibility for political and economic leadership. We must be prepared to move on to new fields of expansion and to explore all possibilities of growth. My program calls for new industrial de,telopment, needed public works, encouragement of research, veterans rehabilitation and reemployment, and the establishment of a Greater Minneapol~ Association to integrate and coordinate the work of both public and private agencies concerned with our post-war planning. lf'~j I wish to stress again the importance of industrial peace and sound labor relations. Industrial relations can no longer survive by the law of the jungle. We have arrived at a point in our economic life where it is a~olutely essential that those responsible for production, both management and labor, dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to a program of expanded employment and expanded production which will provide more and new job opportunities.

13 -5- It serves no constructive nurpose to dwell upon old disputes and upon the strife and struggles of the past. It is our responsibility to be faithful to our solemn 'pledges to the men and women of our armed services that they retu~n to suitable jobs at fair wages. We cannot ignore the tremendous dislocation which will come when war workers must find new places in peace-time industry. The magnitude of the task is so overwhelming and the challange is so compelling that every resource and every effort must be made to guarantee cooperation between business, labor and government throug~ out our city. I have said to labor and business groups that I am the candidate of no special interest. I intend to be and shall be the mayor of the whole city -- the mayor of the people of Minneapolis. Thig is the type of mayor labor wants. This is the type of mayor business wants. I am fully aware of the public trust- and responsibiliv.y that will be placed in me as mayor. One is not worthy of the respect and confidence of this community if he becomes the pawn of any special interest. We ha ve had too much of special privilege for se_ecial interest in the past four years. Now, if the nost-war program that I have outlined and if the plans of the city planning commission are to be carried out, our city must have additional revenue. We cannot afford to increase taxes upon real estate and personal property. Already our city is over-burdened with this sort of taxation. Minneapolis is facing an ever-growing financial and tax problem. Every effort to obtain our proportionate share from state revenues has been defeated. I call this a challenge which cannot be ignored.

14 - 6- It is imperative that the mayor join with responsible civic leaders in launching a campaign of educa.t ion and information to assure our city that in the next legislative session we will have more sympathetic understanding and treatment by our friends and neighbors from the rural areas. I pledge to the people of Minneapolis t hat I will look upon this responsibility as one of my major tasks. It can be done because the p~ople in the farm areas as well as in the cities are fair- minded and are willing t o see the other man's problems~ It do no good to chastize ~1d ~riticize those who smaller communities a. the rural areas. e ha~re ty.. A cit tn t has permitted itse t ~rom the publici lax law enfo~cement throughout t~te cannot expect fe"voral:>le onsi~_ eration fe>r ts claims in legislature that h~s a predomin nee of rura re esjnt~tion. <(It becomes our task to meet this situation with realistic and practical measures. Two years from now another legislature will be in session. The intervening period should be used for a concerted and well- planned program of information and education. There must be a unity of effort on the part of every group in our city. The mayor of this city should join with civic leaders to mobilize immediately our forces and go to the people with our '?-) I am confident that we can bring a better understanding between urban and rural representatives because I have talked before.. and visited with many farm groups and leaders. They are solendid people. They are intelligent citizens. They want to know the facts

15 , -7- and they want to enjoy the fellowship that comes with understanding. The people of this city and state can have a great future. Minneapolis can and should play a major role in the attainment of that future. ) W'i 2w~ it ts 8li!'zslves QREi &Hi!' fleigl'rflei ~ 1io 01 eate a urh;y tas.1i,,.,.ill guape.atee 1;fi:e ft1lfillmeft1i of oetf ef<le:re in a nev aaei It is commonly recognized that one reason why Minneapolis is unable to obtain just consideration in the legislature of its financial needs is due to the adverse publicity that has come to our city from laxity in law enforcement. Even as early as 1941 Governor Stassen told the city it must set its house in order before it could expect consideration from the ste.te. Since the beginning of this campaign I have made it clear that I wanted the issue of law enforcement to have its proper place within a total program of civic bett8rment. Adequate and proper law enforcement is an integral part of my over-all community program. There must be an end to laxity in law enforcement. There must be an end to special privilege for There must be an end to the invi ib e P-"overnment -- a mysterious and secret force responsible to no on~ which seems to have control in this city. I have repeatedly stated, in no uncertain terms, that, when I am elected mayor, I will enforce the law. I will enforce the ~w impartially, and without fear or favor to any group or any comqination of interests.

16 , ' ' - 8- ~~ Law enforcement is not merely a matter of police administration and activity. A peaceful, harmonious and law abiding community comes only.vhen people live in conditions which are conducive to normal and healthy community relations. There is a direct relationship between full employmen! at decent wages and ~spect for law. Thera is a direct relationship between ~ood hous1ng, m9dern parks and playgrounds, progressive schools, adequate library facilities and respect for the laws and ordinances of the community. It has been with this thought in mind tbat I have placed before you a constructive program which includes the expansion and development of our libraries, parks and playgrounds a program which includes new and better housing for Minneapolis a program which demands industrail expansion. All of these things mean a better Minneapolis. All of these plans and programs provide a wholesome and healthy environment for the people of Minnea,polis. If we remove the social and economic causes of crime and if we fortify our positive efforts with an extensive program of crime prevention and control, the problem of law enforcement, as we now knmw it, will be minimized. Yes, the people of Minneapolis want law enforcement, just as they want good housing, industrial expansion, efficient administration, and community redevelopment. I am a candidate for mayor because I believe that I can help ~ promote the realization of ~ much needed program of community redevelopment. With your help and understanding and with the proper leadership in the mayor 1 s office, Minneapolis can and will move on to a greater future -- a future which will guarantee to our returning servicemen and women the kind of a city that justifies the sacrifices they are making in the defense of our country and of our democratic institutions.

17 Minnesota Historical Society Copyright in this digital version belongs to the Minnesota Historical Society and its content may not be copied without the copyright holder's express written permission. Users may print, download, link to, or content, however, for individual use. To req uest permission for commercial or ed ucational use, please contact the Minnesota Historical Society. 1 ~ W'W'W.mnhs.org