communication cooperate in informing their listeners and their readers
of present day problems and they encourage thorough discussions so
that guidelines may be established that will hopefully result in solu-
tions. Today's discussion will center on the problem of what Michael
Harrington refers to as "The Other America, " the paradox of poverty
midst plenty. Some of us, I fear, have grown indifferent to the prob-
lems of the other America and it is my hope that today's program will
serve to penetrate this wall of indifference wherever it may exist. As
chief executive of this State, it is, of course, one of my responsibilities
to determine the appropriations for each department and agency of
government before submitting them to the General Assembly for
approval. And perhaps one of the most disheartening and discouraging
aspects of this particular task is the continual approval I must give
to the various public assistance programs. It is not, of course, because
I oppose aiding the needy. As a matter of fact, I regret that the State
is not in a position to do more. This task of appropriating funds for
such programs is disheartening because much of the money serves only
to combat the temporary effects of poverty and ignorance and does not
attack the root causes. They provide subsistence but not a substantial
change in environment; they provide something for the body, but little
for the spirit. Those who are gripped in the cycle of poverty and
despair need not only help for the present but hope for the future.

I am quite confident that, given a helping hand, future generations
of Marylanders and Americans will be able to break free from this
cycle of poverty, ignorance and despair. Our task is to provide for
them the benefits of education so that each disadvantaged child may
develop to his or her full potential and our task, also, is to mobilize
the vast human and economic resources of this State and nation so
that each individual seeking employment can secure a job that pays
a living wage.

Positive approaches to the problems of poverty are being taken by
various agencies of government at the federal, State and local levels.
The passage of the Economic Opportunity Act by the Congress in 1964,
creating the Job Corps and providing assistance to small businesses
is but one example of what is being done to combat poverty. Here in
Maryland, a State Office of Economic Opportunity has been set up and
similar programs are underway in Baltimore City and other areas of
Maryland. Let us not delude ourselves into thinking that these pro-
grams will rectify all the economic wills that afflict our affluent society.
The importance of these programs lies in the fact that they attack the
causes of poverty, ignorance and unemployment and not just the effects.

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