Maryland. He is Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the
State. He is a member of boards and commissions with varying degrees
of importance. He appoints numerous county and local officials. He
has the power to grant executive clemency, reprieves and pardons.

I think I have said enough, however, to convince you that if he does
his job with thoroughness and diligence he has little time on his hands
for loafing and day-dreaming.

ADDRESS, SCIMETER CLUB OF BOUMI TEMPLE
BALTIMORE

May 1, 1961

In an age of nuclear warheads and manned space-exploration vehicles,
it is difficult to attract public attention to any program, policy or action
without the use of superlatives. Things go unnoticed unless they are
described as "dynamic, " "potent, " "massive. " One hears of "dynamic
conservatism. " One almost expects to hear of "progressive reactionism. "
This is understandable, as I think I have suggested, in an era of the
spectacular, the dramatic, the sensational. But in such a time, I think
it can be consoling, too, to feel that there are those around us who are
carrying on everyday affairs in an orderly, dispassionate and unspectac-
ular manner.

You very graciously have left to me the choice of a topic for this
evening. I have elected to speak on a subject about which I feel I know
something and in which I know you have a keen interest—your State
government. My Administration has not seen fit to employ slogans and
catch-phrases to describe its activities. We have sought to do only one
thing: to give the people of Maryland the kind of governmental
institutions and governmental services they desire and need. I would
not contend that we have had 100 per cent success in that effort. I
will say that we have done our best, and will continue to do so. And
in the end, we will be content to let the people, in their own good
judgment, apply the appropriate descriptions to our work. I can report
to you, without any fear whatsoever of successful contradiction, that
your State government is being operated with commendable efficiency.

Some of the operating procedures of our State agencies have been
copied by dozens of other states and many foreign countries. To cite
just one example, Maryland was the first state to use electronic equip-

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