242 State Papers and Addresses

War today is no longer a rule-of-thumb, disciplinarian affair where, as
was often said in 1917-1918, "soldiers were not supposed to think. They were
to obey orders. " Today's mechanized warfare, as developed to such a high
degree by the dictator-ruled forces of Europe, is a war of experts, of sur-
prise, a conflict where judgment may be infinitely more important in an emer-
gency than even the soundest discipline.

That is why I say we are fortunate, in that there are men available for
our State Guard who, by reason both of their previous military experience,
and their ripened years, can be depended upon to display, in emergencies, the
ability to meet situations as they arise, and to cope with eventualities that may
not be provided for in the military regulations.

Before leaving the question of this Number One function of Government—
Adequate Preparedness—I wish to state that it is my firm opinion that we
are making, and have made, the progress in this direction that could be ex-
pected. When we look back to 1917, and remember how few American-made
airplanes ever reached Europe in time to fight the Boche, and see the progress
that has been made in that regard to date, we cannot but have a distinct
feeling of reassurance. I had the good fortune to accompany the President
on a tour of the gigantic Glenn L. Martin Airplane Plant at Middle River one
week ago today. Not only are we producing planes in quantity now, but ex-
pansion plans here and at other points throughout the Country, will increase
production tremendously. And, most important of all, the planes this Country
is producing are at least the equal, and in many instances the superior, of any
planes that our prospective enemies have presented so far.

Safety, and preservation of our liberties and our mode of living, is one
thing, and a most important thing. Of almost equal importance, however, is
the matter of guaranteeing to the inhabitants of our Country an opportunity
to make a living or, in lieu of that, assurance of maintenance of decent living
standards until the economic readjustment once more can provide employment
for all who desire it.

As a corollary of such an objective, the awakened sense of social respon-
sibility manifest throughout our Nation these past years, makes it incumbent
upon government not only to see that people are employed, but that they shall
work under conditions in accord with day standards of life, and that they
shall be guaranteed a wage that will provide at least a fair standard of living
for the worker.

I believe that government is definitely cognizant of both of its respon-
sibilities on this score, and I believe, too, that such progress has been made
along these lines of late years, that the whole group of men who labor in
industry, and women as well, are immensely better off than at any time in
the world's history. Hours are shorter, wages uniformly are higher, women
and children no longer can be exploited by ruthless employers. Those who are
injured in line of duty are protected against loss of health and working time
from occupational diseases.

The third function of government, as I see it, is provision for Social
Security—including of course provision for the old age of that great portion
of our populace who, though steadfast in their work, and concerned for their
declinging years, find it impossible to set aside, enough from their earning to
guarantee against want in their old age. Extraordinary progress has been
made in this direction, as I think all will agree, and under conditions and