1 think we all may learn a most important lesson from the Hebert
Committee proceedings. This Committee, at its first session, was
antagonistic towards civil defense. However, they did what few of
our people really have done. They took time to hear the complete
story. After this, they became the greatest ambassadors in the nation
for shelters and home-front preparedness. This lesson can carry over
to you and me. If we really tell the story to our people, they will
also become ambassadors of goodwill for us. A word of caution: We
must learn our lessons well so that we can really be prepared to give
and take in any discussion concerning our work. Few things generate
as much heat as civil defense.

All of us here this morning have a tremendous task. We must
proceed with all the facilities and "knowhow" at our command to
expedite the stocking of the shelters. It is my earnest wish that this
phase of the program be completed within the next few months. I
believe that we can achieve this goal if we apply our energies to the
task. Further, we should expedite the program of shelter training
managers and staff. We have merely scratched the surface on this
portion of our training program. It is vital to public safety that such
trained personnel be available in the event of emergency. The State
Civil Defense Agency, and in particular its training staff, stands
ready to aid in this training. I urge that you avail yourselves of this
help. There are, of course, many other training programs in existence
and it seems to me that in other related fields of civil defense, we must
proceed with all possible speed.

New words are appearing in our civil defense language. Shelter
utilization is one that seems of great importance. With the many
shelters that we already have and the many more that we hope to
have, we must plan for their use. People must be told where to go
and what to do in the event of attack. Perhaps the most important
thing of all is to plan now as to how, when, and where we will make
the best use of federal financial assistance if the shelter bill passes
the Senate and is signed into law.

I know full well that I have reviewed in part here today matters
about which you already know. I do this because I desire to make
it crystal clear that I, as the Governor of Maryland, have complete
confidence in, and support fully, the civil defense program. We have
an excellent program in our State. We must not be deterred by
unfounded opposition and destructive criticism. The civil defense
eyes of the nation are on Maryland. To fail is to make easier the
aims of our enemies abroad.

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