Evening star., 1951-01-10
Mcke|din Takes
Oath, Stresses
Civil Defense
Inauguration Crowd
Hears Grim Speech BY
Maryland Governor
By the Associafed Press

ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 10. - Ihe0-
dore Roosevelt McKeldin was
sworn in as Maryland's 58th Gov
ernor at 1905 pm. today.
Chief Judge Ogle Marbury ad-
ministered the century-old oath
in the Senate chamber of the
oldest State house still used daily
In this country.
Top-hatted United States SEN
ators and State legislators saw
the Baltimore attorney and Sun
day school teacher become Mary
lands fourth Republican Cover
nor.
Shortly afterward, he made one
OF the grimmest speeches in long
career of speech-making. He
warned in his inaugural address,
delivered from the east portico of
the State House, that:
With fervent hearts we pray
that we may yet be spared the
holocaust of another world war,
but we cannot evade the harsh
realization that at this moment
the very life of the Nation hangs
in the balance.
Stresses Civil Defense.
"The swift and ominous march
OF history was relegated to secon-
Diary Importance problems which
only a few months ago seemed
primary and urgent"
Gov. McKeldin told the inaugu-
raj crowd that "overshadowing in
its urgency all other concerns is
that of civilian defense"
Maryland's closeness to the Ma
tional Capital, its major harbor
and its concentration of vital in
dustrles put the State in an ex-
posed position. he said.
Plans Reorganization Study.
He said he would soon present
State civilian defense program
comprehensive yet feasible, to
meet the needs of the hour"
The war crisis and its promise
OF added Federal taxes. inf1ation-
airy prices and the possibility that
the Federal Government may
even invade areas of taxation from
which the States heretofore have
derived their principal revenues"
make it imperative for the State
to adopt a policy of rigid economy,
he said.
The Governor disclosed he will
appoint a special commission
which will start at once to study
ways of reorganizing the State
government and it's departments.
For Better Schools.
On schools, he said:
Our schools must not only be
kept at their present standard,
but must be continuously i'm
proved in accordance with tested
advances in education. Within
the ability of our people to pay we
will encourage the school con-
struction program in the city
(Baltlmore) and counties to ac-
commodate the growing popula-
ton of school age children and
to eliminate overcrowding."
MI. McKeldin said it would be
his fixed policy "to disregard par
tisanship in appointing school
boalds"
Once again he criticized the
highway building program inaug-
urated during the administration
of outgoing Gov. Lane.
Already it is obvious that this
program calls for more than the
State can afford on the basis of
present income, for road purposes,
and a revision is Indicated" he
declared.
He said he will appoint an ad-
visory council on highway con-
struction.
Gov. McKeldin called for full
and vigorous enforcement" of the
Ober anti-subveryive law, but
added:
II recognize. however, that in
insuring the preservation of the
State we shall have the obliga-
ton of safeguarding the rights of
the individual"
He concluded with a call for
State solidarity in the days ahead.