1950] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 7

ballots to eligible Marylanders absent from the State in the armed
services.

Because of the time which necessarily will be consumed in the
setting up of the machinery for the distribution of ballots to
absentee service men and women, it has been deemed impossible to
attempt to put the law into effect for the September primaries.

During the period in World War II when this law was in effect in
Maryland, military authorities required that the ballots be in their
hands 55 days prior to the date of the election before they would
undertake their delivery and return.

Under the law, candidates have until 30 days before the election
to withdraw their candidacies, and ballots cannot be printed until
their deadline passes.

You will, no doubt, recall that in order to meet the time require-
ments of the Absentee Voting Law in 1946, it was necessary that
year to hold the primary elections in June, instead of at the usual
time in September.

I hope that the necessity for requiring your return to Annapolis
to deal with these matters has not too greatly inconvenienced you.

We shall, I fear, all be called upon for some measure of self-
sacrifice in the days that lie ahead, but at the same time, I am
confident that as Marylanders, and as Americans, we are prepared
to face the situation that confronts us, and to its successful solu-
tion, give the best that is in us.

Which was read.

NOMINATIONS FOR SPEAKER PRO-TEM

On motion of Mr. Harry L. Messick of Wicomico County, seconded
by Mrs. Bessie D. Moss of Anne Arundel County, the name of Mr.
Richard E. Lankford, of Anne Arundel County, was placed in nomi-
nation for Speaker pro-tem.

There being no further nominations for the office of Speaker
pro-tem, Mr. Richard E. Lankford was elected Speaker pro-tem by
yeas and nays as follows:

AFFIRMATIVE.
Messrs.—

Speaker, Guyther, Mattingly, Harris, Jester, Lankford, Lowman, McNulty,
Moss, Wigley, Tyler, Hall, Hance, Cooksey, Winkler, Beckwith, Boone,
Ensor, Rockenbaugh, Warren, Wenig, Chaires, Lowe, Nelson, Hoffman,
Todd, Ward, Brinsfield, Horner, Malkus, Webb, Benson, Jackson, Scar-
borough, Burch, McLeish, Pumphrey, Wilkinson, Baker,
Walls, Dennis, Richardson, Shockley, Alexander, Derr, Hauver, Payne,
Ramsburg, Virts, Baldwin, De Ran, James, McLean, Banning, McDaniel,
Bertorelli, Duffy, Kosakowski, Milanicz, Mrozinski, Silk, Behounek, McKewen,
Murphy, Schueler, Valis, Weintraub, Albers, Buffington, Dempsey, Dippel,
O'Malley, Tawney, Melnicove, Pollack, Robinson, Shapiro, Siegel,
Argabright, Bandiere, Geraghty, Kennedy, Luber, Preston, Baynes, Curry,