But all of this is somewhat digressive. The point I am coming to is
that I hope that those of you who have traveled from some dis-
tance to come to this meeting will find the opportunity to spend a little
of your time, at least, in Maryland....

Before coming here today, I was privileged to examine the program
for the County Information Congress, and I was profoundly impressed
by the vast amount of talent and experience which you have brought
together here to discuss your main subject—the responsibility of public
officials to keep the public fully informed. In my correspondence
with him, your Executive Director, Mr. Bernard Hillenbrand, suggested
that in addition to my welcoming remarks I might have something to
say about that important subject. I am grateful to him for the sugges-
tion, for I do have some pronounced ideas on the subject—some ideas
which have guided me through my 34 years in public service.

In the address which I delivered at my first inauguration as Gov-
ernor of Maryland—in 1959—I propounded certain principles which
1 said were to be the foundation stones of my Administration. Among
them was the doctrine: "Keep the public informed, " and in discussing
it, I said:

"In a democratic state, no program can be successful unless it is
supported by the people, and a people cannot participate effectively
in a program unless they understand it. "

I pointed out that our State, like all others, is confronted at every
turn with demands for services—services which almost invariably cost
the public more money. In such circumstances, any stealth or any
secrecy of operations on the part of those governing is intolerable. And
so I said, in this my first speech as Governor, that I considered it to
be my duty, and the duty of every public official, to do everything
possible to remove any area of doubt or misunderstanding that might
exist in the public mind as to the effect of a policy or a program.

467