of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 499

Amidst all of the talk of subversive activities and of those who advocate
"peace at any price, " who apparently would-be willing to risk some of our
God-given liberties, it should be—and undoubtedly is—a source of deep grati-
fication to you that there has never been the slightest suggestion to the effect
that there was disloyalty on the part of any of the members of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. Bunds and group? of various unworthy types have been
exposed time and time again, but nowhere has there been a suggestion that any
of the leaders of your Order have been identified in the slightest degree with
attempts to overthrow the fundamentals of American Government.

On the contrary, there is proof on all sides of the inseparable connection
between your Order and the basic doctrine of American civilization. Truly, if
all of our citizens were imbued with the principles laid down in your ritual,
there would never be any talk of dissension, disunity or lack of morale. The
leaders of our Nation could then go forward in full confidence of the supreme
and unyielding backing of every one of our American citizens.

There is no more effective precept than good example, and be it recorded to
the everlasting credit of your Order, and to the continuing good of your Country
and its citizens, that your members have given an example of true fraternity
among men. You have shown the way towards this fraternity by practicing it
yourselves. In so doing, and in thus emphasizing the brotherhood of man, you
have given a shining example and have put to shame those who would divide
man against man, nation against nation, and creed against creed. In the suc-
cess that has crowned your efforts there is evidence that can not be disputed,
showing that the basic traits of decency and honor exist in all men and can be
found in men everywhere if only one takes the trouble to seek them.

With influences at work seeking to divide our citizens and to prevent the
solid backing of the policies of our duly elected officials, it is a fortunate thing
for America to have well-organized fraternal bodies like yours continually
preaching and practicing the ideal of unity. For unity is the one thing above
all else that is absolutely necessary in America today. We must have that
unity of mind and will and purpose that will enable us to stand shoulder to
shoulder against any foe; that will inspire the men and women in our factories
and on the farms to give the utmost of their skill and labor, that America may
be supplied with those implements of war and with, all the other supplies that
will be necessary to place us on a secure defense footing.

One of the greatest obstacles America must overcome in its search for
unity is the refusal or the inability of many of our people to face the facts as
they exist, and to admit that there is reason for anxiety about the future safety
of this land. Nothing ever can be gained, and it is only the self-deluded person
who would try to comfort himself, by refusing to face facts as they are. What
these facts are arty one can gather for himself unless he resolutely closes his
mind to their meaning.

Only yesterday, the headlines proclaimed a growing tension in the Pacific.
The press of recent weeks has told of the increasing pressure being put forth
by our Navy to keep the seas open for American-borne commerce. All of this
adds up to the inescapable fact that America is close to war, far too close for