of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 437

The law represents principles wrought by sound reasoning and by patient
experience in the service of human interest. Our jurisprudence, made up of
the judicial principles of the English and the American people, has its founda-
tion, in principles, which stand for personal freedom, equal justice and inflexible
right. These principles are the source and the protection of the only endurable
form of human liberty. That is the liberty which is restrained by law, which
is itself the offspring of liberty.

And this entire structure is threatened with annihilation by the barbaric
rulers in Europe today. The forces, unloosed with such velocity, and the devas-
tations already wrought and further threatened by these despotic Dictators,
have as their ultimate goal the overthrow of everything upon which rests
ordered society under a Constitutional form of Government.

But this Nation, of free men, which has enjoyed the privileges of liberty
so long as to appreciate them fully has no intention of surrendering any such
rights. Since the outbreak of hostilities two years ago, the National Government
and State Governments have initiated plans for necessary preparedness to with-
stand any aggression. But as the danger has increased in intensity, defense
preparations have been stepped up immeasurably.

Today it is an acknowledged fact that America is not lacking in principles
and policies. At the same time, it is imperative that the Country have the ac-
tive support of every loyal citizen. It is because the threat is directed to all
that the lawyer fields dear, that his abilities and resourcefulness are needed in
this hour of emergency.

Happily, the program has been carefully charted to present a solid front-
ing of National and State Governments. At the same time, respective duties
undertaken by each have indicated the continuation of Federal and State
sovereignties.

The Federal Government is fulfilling its appointed duty of making its
preparation on a national scale. But, at the urgent request of Washington,
the States have formed Councils of Defense with far-reaching aims for the
utilization of industrial, agricultural and human resources.

In this "all-out" national undertaking, no group can be more helpful than
the legal profession. The disturbed and upset state of affairs will demand the
leadership of clear thinking men in order that dissension shall not disrupt our
forces. Assistance has been needed, and will be needed, for those who are called
into the armed service, assistance both to the men themselves and to their
families left behind.

In this connection, I am happy to acknowledge the assistance of the Mary-
land Bar in connection with the operation of the Selective Service System.
Approximately eleven hundred and fifty lawyers in our State are actively par-
ticipating in the administration of Selective Service. All this, of course, is on
a purely voluntary basis. Under the terms of the Federal Act, the Governors
of the respective States of the Union were assigned 'the task of providing the
machinery for the operation of the law. It was a fortunate thing for me to
have the judges and lawyers of the State to whom to turn.

The Judges selected attorneys to act on Advisory Boards for registrants.