worthy their cause, I urge you not to be swayed by pleas that, if
granted, would create an unfair and at this time economically un-
sound allotment of taxpayer funds.

Finally, you as the legislative representatives of the people and I
as their Governor have as our first responsibility the welfare of all
of the people of our State.

STATE OF THE STATE MESSAGE
January 4, 1961

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the General

Assembly:

It is a pleasure to welcome you once more to Annapolis and to join
with you in the opening of this annual convocation of the representa-
tives of the people of Maryland. I am here at your invitation to per-
form a constitutional duty of the Chief Executive to report to you
on the condition of our State and to plan with you concerning its
future.

I hardly need remind you that the session we face is a most import-
ant one for the people we represent. We have reached the half-way
mark of the term to which we were elected, and, to a very great degree
the ultimate score the people of Maryland give us on our performance
will be determined by what we do here during the next 90 days. It
behooves us, therefore, to work with diligence, with clearsightedness
and with conscientious dedication to purpose, to the end that we may
not be found wanting when final accounts are settled.

It is my purpose here today to review and assess the activities of
the first half of this Administration and to outline what I consider
to be the proper course we must take to attain the degree of success
we both desire and expect during the next two years. But first, I
should like to discuss with you some developments which are occur-
ring in our State—developments which I believe will profoundly in-
fluence the thinking and behavior of our people and which therefore
must be kept constantly in mind in any decisions we make affecting
them.

I have in mind, for one thing, the population growth, which during

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