of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 193

But in this period of emergency business must give more than equipment.
It must give men. Machines without trained men would be as useless as men
without machines in modern warfare.

Therefore, it is essential that the business men of Maryland realize that
it is a paramount duty to see to it that every National Guardsman in their
employ is free to attend the 'three weeks summer training period that begins
August 4th.

These men must be permitted and encouraged to entrain with their units
for the great First Army maneuvers. Work schedules may be upset—key men
may be absent from their posts for three weeks—temporary employees may be
required while the National Guardsmen are away. These things are entirely
beside the point, once it is realized that the safety of the Nation itself may
depend upon how effective these citizen soldiers are trained.

It is not my purpose to lecture the business men of Maryland on their
duty to the Country. Where that duty has been recognized, they have always
been among the first to respond, regardless of the hardships involved. How-
ever, as Governor of the State of Maryland, I would be remiss in my duty if
I neglected this opportunity to point out, to stress and stress again the vital
role that must be played by the business community in the success or failure
of our training program for national defense.

I hope and believe that the regiments of the Maryland National Guard
will march off to the First Army maneuvers with full ranks; That no man
will be left behind tending a machine, keeping books, or going about the
business of civilian life because his employer tells him, "sorry, but we can't
spare you now. We're rushed with work. "

But I am confident there will be no such men. I am confident that the
patriotism of the employer will match the patriotism of his employee; that in
this national crisis all of the people of Maryland will stand shoulder to shoulder
in the performance of their respective duties; and that the spirit of patriotism
and sacrifice that has burned so brightly in our State since the days of the
War for Independence, has grown no dimmer with the years.

It is a source of deep gratification to me to be called the Governor of
Maryland—but it fills me with a sense of humility, and something more than
gratification to be called the Commander-in-chief of the Maryland National
Guard.

"IS THE PRESENT RELIEF PROGRAM—FEDERAL, STATE
AND LOCAL—ADEQUATE AND EFFECTIVE?"

Governors' Conference, June 3, 1940
Duluth, Minnesota

THE American people, during the past decade, have been brought face to
face with a relatively new problem. This problem not only has been of
absorbing interest to executives and administrators of public affairs but the
people generally have-become conscious of its significance and implications. It
has crowded many other questions off the domestic stage. I refer, of course,
to the all-important question of relief. ,