of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 505

brutal disregard of the rights, the safety, the very lives, of non-combatant
populations.

Today, as Nazi Germany has established the pattern of total war, the aged,
the tiny babe in its cradle, are not spared. Total destruction is the aim and
purpose of behind-the-lines bombings, and civilians, therefore, become a major
factor in the defense personnel set-up.

If and when such total war should come to America and to Maryland, death
and destruction will rain from the skies, on our cities and towns, our roads and
our bridges, our factories and our homes. You and I and every able-bodied
member of every community, young and old, must be prepared to step into a
task that will be assigned, and to perform that task, no matter what comes.

A terrible possibility, yes! But it can be an inspiring one, too. For under
such conditions, a populace, a nation can rediscover qualities that possible have
been completely forgotten—can rise to heights of national and spiritual ex-
altation. England has done just that. Its people have rediscovered their
national soul, so to speak. And out of the fire and tempest that now rage
around them, the people of Great Britain will emerge revitalized to an apprecia-
tion of the truly important things of life.

Honor, courage, fidelity to trust, appreciation of one's fellow man—these
are some of the virtues that stem from great tribulations and from hardships
shared together in a righteous cause. May it never be required of us that we
rediscover them in travail and terror, as England has done. But if, in the
wisdom of a Divine Providence, such is required of us as a Nation, we will live
up to the example set us by our forefathers, we will come through our trial by
fire a better Nation, a newly inspired people.

Another topic of more practical nature which demands our attention is our
financial situation here in Maryland. We might ask ourselves what can we do
to prepare ourselves for any eventualities that may ensue, either during a
prolonged period of emergency or in the post-emergency period?

It always has seemed to me that one of the really essential things to do
was to see that our financial house was kept in order, so that no matter what
might come we would be in as favorable a position as possible to meet it. It
was with this idea in mind that we have been restricting State General Fund
expenditures, as well as capital investment to the lowest possible figure con-
sistent with prudent management of the State's affairs. Even after the budget
allotments were recorded, it has been the policy to check constantly on dis-
bursements to see that nothing was spent unless entire justification could be ad-
vanced for the spending.

Following up this policy we have been able to revert to the State Treasury
out of appropriations some $2, 100, 000 for the fiscal years ending September 30,
1941, 1940 and 1939. In large measure, because of these precautions, as well
as due to other factors, the State today is blessed with the largest surplus in
its history.

Realizing that the huge increases of Federal taxes that went into effect on
October 1st are but a taste of the taxes that will be necessary to finance the
war, and in the expectation that the Federal taxes will be increased in 1942.
we have felt that Maryland taxpayers should have every possible relief.