quickly as possible to set up a permanent State Democratic Head-
quarters. This headquarters will be staffed with full-time personnel,
who will be available to help Democratic workers from all over the
State.... This headquarters will serve as an information center, a
clearing house for ideas, and a permanent place for Democrats from all
over Maryland to meet and to work.... I hope before too long that
the headquarters will be able to send out useful material on a regular
basis—material that will be helpful in organizational work, in dis-
pensing information among party members, and in previewing the
issues of the 1960 campaign.

With the establishment of a staffed headquarters, we can begin well
in advance to lay the ground-work for an impressive victory in 1960.
And let me emphasize to you that Maryland Democrats have a tre-
mendous responsibility in the 1960 campaign.

We have now had eight years of Republican control of the national
administration.... Eight years of typical Republican policies—policies
characterized by foot-dragging on things that help the little fellow and
crashing ahead with things that are favorable to the big boys.... While
the administration vetoes Democratic efforts to provide adequate
housing and urban renewal programs, they callously ask for higher
and higher interest rates which pile debts on the back of the average
citizens while fattening the coffers of the already well-to-do.

Remember, too, my fellow Democrats, that the Republicans in re-
cent times have always come to power by putting a quasi-Republican
at the head of their ticket.... Then, in the shelter of this front man,
the old Neanderthal wing of their party continues its hatchet work
in the Congress and in the federal agencies.... Yes, there is no doubt
about it, we Democrats are facing a most important and a very tough
I960 campaign.... We did well in the off-year elections; but the real
test of our ability can only occur in a Presidential election year... If
we Democrats in Maryland want to feel secure in our 1958 election
victory; if we want to be sure that our Party's position in this State
rests on a truly solid foundation—then we have got to go out and bring
back a triumph in November, 1960.

This election year, in particular, the American people are going to
be glued to their television sets in fascination as the Democratic Con-
vention at Los Angeles goes about the business of picking our Presi-
dential candidate.... This year the Democratic presidential nomina-
tion is more wide open than it has been at any time in the recent
past.... A number of very able men, who have risen high in our Party
are already either openly or unofficially seeking the nomination....

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