carried with it heavy responsibilities and many potential dangers...
along with its bright promises and great opportunities.

In looking over the record of the State administration, I believe
that we have much in which we can take pride; both in terms of
promises fulfilled and pitfalls avoided.... In our legislative record we
can point to a successful effort to hold the line on tax increases at a
time when the State was in imminent danger of having to raise taxes
for a second time in as many years.... We can point to solid steps
forward in our traffic safety laws, in the re-organization of our State
Highway Commission, and in Municipal Court Reform.... We can
point to important steps already taken in the direction of a better
State program for the aged, conservation of the natural resources of
the Chesapeake Bay, re-apportionment of the State Legislature, and
the bringing of new industry and business into the State. Men and
women of outstanding ability, many of them at great personal sacri-
fice, have made themselves available for service to our State. Highly
qualified men and women have been appointed as heads and members
of important State agencies, directors and members of commissions
and members of study groups.

As to the pitfalls avoided... I believe that we Democrats have shown
ourselves to be a mature and responsible political party.... At no time
have we been tempted to make rash use of the unprecedented major-
ities at our command. At no time have we failed to give careful and
deliberate consideration to the matters that have come before us, and
to provide ample opportunity for the expression of all points of
view.... By so doing our Party is daily proving itself worthy of the
tremendous vote of confidence which our fellow citizens of Maryland
gave to us last November... Moreover, with the Presidential elections
only a little more than a year away, it is becoming more important
than ever that we Maryland Democrats take steps to see to it that
our Party organization continues to maintain its fighting edge, and
in addition, begins to take definite steps to prepare itself for the
decisive events of 1960.

It is my desire that you members of the local State Central Com-
mittees be called upon to play a more active part in the affairs of our
Party. You should be invited to participate more fully in the form-
ulation of Party policy. You should be the active agents for the
Party in our State, not only at election time, but every day of the
year. A properly staffed State Democratic Party headquarters should
provide the means to accomplish this objective.

With this in mind, I have asked the new State Chairman to act as

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