The loud hum which you hear is caused
most often by the voice directly hitting the
sensitive microphone. I think if you will
get in the habit of holding the microphone
about six to eight inches from your mouth
and below it, talking over it, rather than
into it, the operator of the equipment here
at the desk can control the volume; and if
your voice is too low, he can easily in-
crease the volume, but at least that will
prevent the annoying hum.
I believe there were a few delegates who
came in after the roll call. If there are any
such who are now present, will they please
stand so they can indicate their presence?
Delegate Mitchell?
DELEGATE MITCHELL: I would like
to indicate my presence, and I would like to
ask the Chairman if it is possible for a
delegate to make a comment at this point,
after the other delegates have indicated
their presence?
THE PRESIDENT: This is the period
for announcements. If it is pertinent to the
business and is in the nature of an an-
nouncement, I would say so.
DELEGATE MITCHELL: I simply, Mr.
Chairman, would like to be corrected, but I
would like to state for the purpose of the
record of this historic Convention that I
must disagree with the description of the
federal government, which our distinguished
Chairman and President of the Convention
gave in his opening address yesterday af-
ternoon. It is my hope that this Conven-
tion will not be a sounding board for anti-
federalism. I believe that we are one nation.
I believe that the demands of the times are
so great that teamwork among the officials
of the federal and state governments is
essential to our survival; and I hope I am
wrong, but it seemed to me that our Presi-
dent was declaring war on the federal
government, which in reality would be de-
claring war on ourselves.
I believe that we must face the fact that
there are some problems of this State,
and the rest of the states of this Union,
such as the protection of human rights, the
building of highways, the conservation of
our natural resources, which are so inter-
twined that no one state can resolve them
alone, and if there is error in the federal
government, it is not the error of a foreign
power. It is our error. In a democratic
government we are the instruments for
correcting mistakes, without portraying
our fellow Americans as villians at the
worst, stumblebums at the best; and I be-
lieve that in these days of rapid transpor- |
tation and electronic communication, Wash-
ington, and certainly Maryland, is as near
as the telephone and is as accessible as the
airport ticket counter. I think that in this
Convention we must continue to emphasize
to our citizens and the State of Maryland
that Washington is our property, and the
officials are our officials; that we are the
government, federal and state; and I
would hope that in this Convention we de-
velop a stronger partnership because as
no man is an island, no state is an island,
and we need each other.
THE PRESIDENT: I assure Delegate
Mitchell that the President was not declar-
ing war on the national government or
anyone else.
Delegate Miller?
DELEGATE MILLER: I wish to re-
cord my presence, Mr. Chairman. (Ap-
plause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Miller, in-
asmuch as we are preserving this record
on tape, we have to ask you to repeat that
in the microphone. If you will use the
microphone.
DELEGATE MILLER: In compliance
with the statement of the Chair that those
that came in a little after the roll call
should rise, I have risen.
THE PRESIDENT: Are there any other
delegates? Delegate Bamberger?
DELEGATE BAMBERGER: Mr. Presi-
dent, I wish to report my presence.
THE PRESIDENT: Are any other dele-
gates present who were not present at the
roll call who desire to report their pres-
ence? Delegate Della?
DELEGATE DELLA: Mr. President,
because of the court assignment of Dele-
gate Bushong, I move that he be excused
from attendance today, only because of his
court assignment. He had to be in court.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Della, I
will ask you if you will consider it to with-
draw your motion and hold it for awhile,
with this explanation. The Enabling Act,
which deals with the matter of pay and
allowances of delegates has some very ex-
plicit but unclear language. I think we will
have to have an opinion of the Attorney
General in order to know just how far the
Convention can go, and if you would not
mind withholding your motion, I would give
you an opportunity to make it at another
day. |
