of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 673

If our people generally cooperate in driving at lower speeds, it will be be-
cause they have been persuaded, at home chiefly, that such cooperation is in-
finitely preferable to the fulfillment of their normal youthful urge to "go places
and do things" and to get there in a hurry.

In our youth we read in history books, of the heroic qualities of the Spartan
mother. Against this we have the patriotic attitude of our own women today,
as exemplified by the widow of Brigadier General George, who, when informed
of her husband's sudden death last week, declared "We have always known there
was nothing we would not do for our loved Country, so I guess we can do this
too. "

One final way in which parents can help immensely is by being most care-
ful not to repeat bits of information about troop movements that fight inad-
vertantly be passed on to them by their sons. Nothing could conceivably be
more tragic than to have a loving mother or father, who had given a son to the
Service of his Country, cause that son's death, and possibly the death of many
of his companions, by passing on information about his movements. Many
people like to pass out information, but anyone who read Life Magazine last
week, will remember how disturbed were some thousands of our American
troops when, as they approached Australia, they heard a broadcast to the effect
that a huge Armada of American forces was nearing that Continent. This
broadcast, which might have been suggested by a careless remark of some
parent here in America, was a direct invitation to Japanese submarines and
naval and air forces, to attack that troop convoy. 'Fortunately, they were not
attacked. It was not the fault, however, of the thoughtless person who made
the broadcast, or of the other thoughtless person who revealed the information.

The whole free world was disturbed yesterday by the news from India that
the people of that country did not intend to defend themselves against the
Japanese invaders, but would be content to offer a spirit of non-violent non-
cooperation. This seems unthinkable to us, blest as we are with so many price-
less political and economic privileges.

Here in America we have a system of Government that is as close to per-
fection, from the individual standpoint, as any system could be. Your sons and
daughters have the same opportunity to become leaders and to enjoy to the
fullest every advantage the world has to offer that any American has. There
is no one who can say them Nay. If they have the determination and the
ability, they can attain to any heights they desire. They go and come, they work
where they please and as they please. They worship as they will. No dictator
or ruler of any kind can order them here or there, or forbid them to do anything
that is reasonable. They can listen to radio reports from Tokyo, or Berlin, with-
out any question of penalities. They are free as no other people in the world
today, or in the world's history, ever have been free. They are free, they enjoy
to the fullest all the luxuries and privileges of life, because their free American
forebears thought so highly off the American system of Government that they
gladly offered their lives, willingly worked and endured that America's system
might be strengthened and preserved for us.