The Republican., 1938-07-07
GOVERNOR NICE DECLARES
DESIRE FOR SECOND TERM
Continued from Page One)

IA oJdIe. 1HIo VIII oe IeSCllleu 10 Dy the
thousands and thousands who have
come to inspect it. Some perhaps came
to scotf, but all remained to pray. I
wish it were possible for every man
and woman in Maryland to see the
improvements which have been made,
and to inspect the house as it now
stands. AS matter Of fact, l prob
ably have done too good a job. At
least that seems to be the reaction of
horde of Democratic gentlemen who
are now seeking my job because of
what they believe will be the ease and
comfort Of a four-year sojourn in the
remodeled mansion.
FIoundered Hopelessly
was elected because of your dis
satisfaction with demoralized con-
dtion into which the state government
had fallen over ffteen-year period
of domination by political faction.
Long continued power had caused the
administration to become callous to its
responsibilities and blind to its glar-
ing failures. The penal institutions
had been i'll managed. Riots and prison
escapes were of frequent occurrence.
Scandals in public office were ram
pant. The natural power resources of
the state at ConoWingo had been bar
tered away. When a nationwide eco
nomic depression came, the state ad-
ministration foundered hopelessly.
The pressing demands of public well
fare became the football of political
factionalism The humanitarian issue
of relief became but an instrument of
rival political patronage. With these
conditions facing you, you registered
your protest, and | became your gov
enor. Thus was | charged with the
responsibility, not only of admins
tering to the limit of my ability the
executive duties of the government,
but to correct, insofar as was in my
power the deplorable condition which
brought your dissatisfaction to i
climax.
Al The Auto Tax Pledge
Let me turn for a moment to a con-
sideration of my advocacy of the 50
auto tag license fee. have no apology
r to offer for having advocated this
proposition. l espoused this program
on the basis of the picture of the
states finances which had been pub
lshed during the 1884 campaign by
the administration then in office. Var
ious automobile club officials and fl
nanciers supposedly familiar with the
state setup, endorsed the soundness
of my convictions regarding the feas
ibility of a 81 tag.
Then, to the chagrin of all of US,
shortly after my election came the
disclosure that figures concerning the
states finances had been, apparently
deliberately, concealed, and that in
stead of substantial surplus, we had
a deficit of over $3,000,000. Despite
my earnest desires for a lower auto
mobile license fee, l had to meet the
financial emergency which my prede-
cessor had left on my doorstep. But
even though | realized that this finan-
cial muddle prevented the complete
fulfillment of my pledge, tried to go
substantially in that direction. | con-
structed a budgetary proposal which
would have made the tag cost the mo-
torist only twenty cents per horse
power instead of thirty-two cents, or
in other words, a reduction from an
average of $3.50 per tag to $500. An
administration bill to this effect was
introduced in the State Senate on Feb
ruary 6, 1885. The legislature, Demo-
cratic five to one, killed the bill.
Democrats Must Answer.
Mr.. and Mrs. Motorist, the Repub-
lican party has tried to keep its pledge
to you. A Democratic administration
frustrated our first hopes by financial
maladministration. A Democratic leg
islature blasted our subsequent eff
forts along this line. We have made
the honest effort. The Democratic
party of Maryland must answer TO"
the failure of that effort.
During the last few months | have
presented in series of articles in the
public press some of the major prob
lens which confronted me. Manifestly,
it would be impossible in the short
time allotted me tonight to give a
complete history of my every endeav-
or to administer properly and inteIii-
gently the duties Of my office. There
fore, shall ask you to follow me for
a few moments in a brief sketch of
some of the outstanding accomplish
ments of this administration.
Deficit Concealed
At the very outset Of my admins
tration there came to light the fright
ful financial situation already men,
tioned which had been foisted upon
the people of Maryland Figures had