772 State Papers and Addresses

GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN—RADIO STATIONS WFBR, WTBO

WJBJ, WFMD, WBOC—October 16, 1942

Maryland Coverage from Baltimore

The extraordinary state of affairs in Maryland and in the Nation has
necessarily resulted in a marked change in the opportunities for campaigning,
even for such an important office as the Governorship. Certainly everyone will
agree that an official, during such a grave crisis, should devote first considera-
tion to the duties of his office rather than to neglect them to engage in political
campaigning.

For this reason, I decided not to conduct the usual campaign tour through-
out the State, and have been devoting my attention to the problems of this
emergency and for the greater cooperation, between our State and Federal
Government in the w#r effort. However, the all-important effects of the deci-
sion to be made by the voters on November 3rd justify a frank discussion be-
tween the candidate and the voters. This will be done through the facilities of
the radio and through other forms of communication, as well as during a limited
number of meetings between now and Election Day. i

First place in the handling of the multitude of official matters of the
Governorship has been given by me to the war effort. Whatever our State
could do to further the plans of our military and naval leaders has been done by
Maryland without stint or limit. The fact that a great number of Maryland
boys tonight are at the four corners of the earth, risking their lives for our
rights as citizens, should compel any official to spare no effort to accelerate the
program which is outlined for their welfare.

It seems perfectly obvious that in a consideration so vital to the existence
of our Nation, politics should not play a part. I am able to report that in this
connection appointments have been made, and the various activities have been
furthered, without the injection of politics or ulterior considerations. As an
illustration of this, let me point to three of the most important appointments
of officials who have the handling of problems connected with the war effort.
One of these is the Chairman of our State Defense Council; the second, is the
State Director of the Selective Service System; the third, is the Chairman of
our State Board of Education, which department has been geared into the war
effort.

In making selections for these three important posts, my choices were the
following: Mr. W. Frank Roberts, as the head of our Defense Council; Colonel
Henry C. Stanwood, as the Director of our Selective Service; and Mr. Tasker G.
Lowndes, of Cumberland, as Chairman of the Board of Education. All three
are Republicans. However, I did not let this fact deter me from selecting them,
because I knew that no political considerations would sway them. My confidence
in these men has been justified, and in their selection absolute proof is found
that the Maryland rule of no politics in the war effort is a sound one.