of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 161

hundred years ago by the one-time warrior, Ignatius of Loyola. For four
hundred years, these spiritual exercises have vitalized a vast army, but an
army whose objectives are not conquest or the seizure of material possessions
of others. Rather an army to provide support and strength and durability to
everything worthwhile in life, all for its utilization as means to the all-
important end.

With such a challenge, with an example so noble, with the need so press-
ing and immediate; with the work of the clergy so splendidly performed, it
remains for the laity composing such a league as yours to carry on toward
greater success. That the day hereafter will thereby be the happier is, of
course, clearly apparent. That the day of the present will thus be the better
and more livable, with concurrent benefits to the State and Society, is absolutely
provable and beyond dispute. That, meanwhile, each individual who partakes
of this choice experience is the better man for having done so, is a fact which
everyone who has visited Manresa has long since realized. That the same
experience, with its widening influence may be enjoyed and shared by others
is the remaining challenge to the sons of Manresa. May their numbers increase.

GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COUNCIL RE-ORGANIZATION

February 6, 1940
Annapolis

IN inviting to meet together the elective and appointive officers of the State
who, by law constitute the Governor's Advisory Council, I am trying to
have the State benefit from that which the law has suggested as possible of
considerable value in the functioning of our government.

In the Re-organization Act of 1922 which was Chapter 29 of the Acts of
that year, the Legislature prescribed that the important officials represented
here today should in their official capacity constitute an Advisory Council for
the Governor for the purpose of promoting coordination and effective super-
vision over the conduct of the State Government. The Act further provided
that the Council "shall meet with the Governor from time to time for the con-
sideration of general State policies, finances, departmental and institutional
work and conditions. "

You will all agree that the value of such an agency is only as great as the
use which is made of it. In other words, no matter how well conceived such
a plan is, it is productive of but little good if it is not used. It is my
firm belief that much good can come from the active functioning of such a
group, because I have never failed to receive assistance and benefit from an
exchange of ideas and suggestions with persons who addressed themselves
thoughtfully and conscientiously to the determination of a given problem.
Some persons may work differently from others.

In our experiences we may have heard of executives who prefer not to
have outside opinions and we have heard of lawyers who contend that they can
handle cases better without the assistance of co-counsel. More desirable, in
my opinion, is the combined judgment of many minds brought to bear upon a
given proposition, the experiences of all of whom is illuminating and helpful.