Therefore, there is no need for me to
repeat those on this hot night except to
tell you that the candidate whose name
I am about to offer you presents those
talents, those attributes, in full abundance.
The disadvantage under which I labor is
the fact that while he has appeared before
you earlier today in presenting a candidate's
name in nomination for the presidency, his
biographical sketch, his life, his experience,
have not been enumerated. I will not dwell
long on these.
He is a native son of Prince George's,
graduate of University of Maryland, and
George Washington University Law School.
He long practiced at the bar where he en-
joyed a distinguished career serving as
Solicitor for the City of Green Belt, Counsel
for Maryland National Park and Planning
Commission. He served in the House of
Delegates from 1936 to '42. He interrupted
that public service with a distinguished war
record in Africa, in France, and in Ger-
many. He came back to resume the prac-
tice of the law. He served on many Gov-
ernor's commissions including Governor
Lane's Commission on Corporation Law and
Governor Tawes' famous Commission on
Reapportionment.
Finally recognition of his talents as a
lawyer, as a public servant, brought him to
elevation to the Circuit Court of Prince
George's County where he has served with
distinct impartiality and prestige for seven
years. He has watched and been part of
the growth of the metropolitan area. When
he was a young man in Prince George's, it
was a small, I suppose it is fair to say,
rurally oriented county but he has grown
with the county, he has enjoyed the confi-
dence of the older citizens and residents
who knew him as a young man and he has
captured also the confidence of the many,
many thousands who have come into Prince
George's since that day.
We in other counties surrounding Prince
George's know his talent and know his abili-
ties. While I would be the last to suggest
that this Convention should base its decision
on purely geographical considerations any
more than it should base its decision on
ideological considerations, I do suggest that
the experience that my candidate gained
over the many years with the problems of
the metropolitan area and his familiarity
with them give him a special talent to
serve effectively in this Convention as its
First Vice President.
Mr. Justice Holmes once said that an
ounce of charm is worth a pound of in-
tellect. I am fortunate in offering you a |
candidate that has both these attributes in
full abundance, a charming man, an easy
man to work with but with a keen cutting
edge to his mind. I offer in nomination as
First Vice President of this Convention
Ralph W. Powers of Prince George's
County.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Ralph W.
Powers has been placed in nomination for
the office of First Vice President of this
Convention. Is there a second. Delegate
Mudd.
DELEGATE MUDD: Mr. President, it
is indeed a privilege and honor for me to
second the nomination of Honorable Ralph
W. Powers. This nominee is a working
Southern Maryland gentleman. Delegate
Scanlan has detailed his experience and ac-
complishments. I would only like to add
that he has had the experience of living
and working in an area of Maryland during
a period of transition from rural to sub-
urban and he is still a leading citizen of
Prince George's County, the fastest grow-
ing county in the State.
He is a favorite son of Southern Mary-
land, an able lawyer and experienced Legis-
lator and distinguished jurist. It is an
honor and privilege for me to second the
nomination for First Vice President of this
Convention the Honorable Ralph W. Powers.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there a further
second? Delegate Sherbow.
DELEGATE SHERBOW: I am happy to
second the nomination of Ralph W. Powers
because here we have a delegate of out-
standing ability but with an attribute that
is so important in this office of First Vice
President, warmth and understanding. We
need one with administrative ability. This
he has. But also of vital importance the
need to work in harness with others. With
this combination of abilities, we start off
well and I am very happy and pleased to
be able to second the nomination of Honor-
able Ralph W. Powers.
THE PRESIDENT: That closes the
nomination. Delegates nominated for office
of First Vice President are Delegates
James, Clark, and Powers. Before asking
the Clerk to call the roll, I think I should
say that I do not believe the President of
this Convention should in any way in-
fluence the election of other officers by
voting or in any other manner. For that
reason I shall ask the Clerk in calling the
roll to pass my name. I will ask the As-
sistant Journal Clerk to call the roll and
have the Assistant Journal Clerk as Secre- |
