784 State Papers and Addresses

Maryland's record in the war, and in the pre-war days, clearly demonstrated
how we have given complete assistance and yet retained in substance our
sovereignty and individual identity. If any single state in the Country can
be said to have given the most complete and full support to the Federal Govern-
ment in the war-effort, it is Maryland.

A full year and a half before the war was forced upon us by the treachery
of the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, Maryland was girding its loins for the con-
flict. No one hoped more strongly for Peace, yet viewing the developments in
Continental Europe, and watching the rising cloud of Japanese aggression in
the Far East, sound reasoning dictated caution and preparation. Fortunately,
Maryland took heed.

As far back as the summer of 1940, the Maryland Council of Defense,
parent body of all Civilian. Defense activities in Maryland, was organized with
Mr. W. Frank Roberts as its head.

One of the first acts of the Council was to conduct a full and complete
survey of the industrial resources of the State, including idle plant capacity,
labor supply, and unused storage facilities. This complete, accurate and
authoritative report was forwarded to Washington and unquestionably was the
forerunner of the award of the many defense contracts that were placed in this
State. The foresight and vision obviously manifested in this report was re-
flected in our State's becoming one of the largest war production centers in the
Country.

The mobilization of Maryland's tremendous war effort had begun. The
conversion from a peace-time to a war-time economy was taking1 place. Due
to the efficient and skillful handling of the myriad of problems that materialized,
and the invaluable assistance contributed both by civic and business leaders
who gave unstintingly of their time and talent, Maryland's assimilation of its
war objectives was accomplished with dispatch and phenomenal orderliness.

When war was declared, Maryland was ready for the shock. Within a
matter of hours after the President's memorable address to the Congress, the
Maryland State Guard which was organized in the Fall of 1940, was called into
active duty, and from that moment until now, stratgic bridges, public utilities,
and other points designated by the Third Service Command have been under
24 hour guard.

Today, to the credit of Maryland's patriotic men and women, let it be said
that there are close to 200, 000 volunteers listed in the various services, in the
Air Craft Warning Service, as Air Raid Wardens, Auxiliary Firemen and
Policemen, members of Rescue Squads, Nurses' Aides, Red Cross Workers, and
in all the various categories.

The Council of Defense, one of the first to 'be set up in the Country, has
served as a pattern for Defense Councils in numerous other States. Likewise
the Selective Service System in Maryland, whose members I named at the -re-
quest of President Roosevelt, have performed their duties so capably that they
have been referred to more than once by Washington officials as an example of