The courts assuredly will not allow the next General Assembly to
be elected on an unconstitutional basis. Nor do I believe they will
permit "at-large" ejections, involving thousands of candidates and
necessitating the use of paper ballots of enormous size. Such an elec-
tion would make a mockery of the elective process. The transfer of
this legislative responsibility to the courts would be an injustice to
the people of Maryland. The people of the State have chosen you as
their lawmakers, imposing upon you the responsibility of making
legislative decisions and reposing in you their confidence and trust
that you are equal to any legislative task no matter how great. You
have not broken faith with them in the past; I know that you will
not break faith with them now. Let there be no mistake about the
need for reapportionment legislation now. The primary elections of
1966 are just eleven months away. It is true, of course, that the
General Assembly will convene in regular session next January. But
we all are aware of the many complicated problems that will face us
at this time. To attempt to deal with reapportionment then not
only would lessen the chances of successful reapportionment but
would also seriously hamper your efforts to deal with the regular
business of state government.

It is for this reason that I have convened you in Extraordinary
Session at this time. If we are ever to agree on a plan of reapportion-
ment, now is the time to do it. Let me say emphatically that I am
aware that it is your prerogative — and yours alone — to decide on
the plan of reapportionment, subject only to constitutional require-
ments. As the Chief Executive of this state, I would not presume to
infringe upon your authority by urging upon you any particular
reapportionment plan. Your Legislative Council has endorsed a plan
which the Attorney General believes will meet the court tests. The
Attorney General further advises me that other plans he has reviewed
likewise meet the constitutional requirements. I would hope that at
this Extraordinary Session you will not only resolve the reapportion-
ment problems for the 1966 elections but also adopt a Constitutional
Amendment to provide a formula for automatic reapportionment in
future years as the population of our State both increases and shifts.

I am fully aware of the magnitude of the problems you face here.
I know that a great sacrifice will be required of you. But I do not
doubt for a moment that you will exercise the statesmanship that is
expected of you, regardless of the personal sacrifice you may be called
upon to make. It is my hope that the important business of reap-
portionment may be dealt with promptly and expeditiously. All of us,

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