Evening star., 1951-01-10
Mcke|din Takes
0ath, Stresses
Civil Defense
Inauguration Crowd
Hears Grim Speech by
Maryland Governor
BY the Associoted Press

ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 1O. - Iheo-
dore Roosevelt McKeldin was
sworn in as Maryland's 5Sth Gov
ernor at noon today.
Shortly afterward, he made one
of the grimmest speeches in a long
career Of speech-making. He
warned in his inaugural address,
delivered from the east portico of
the old 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.
"The swift and orninous march
OF history was relegated to secon-
dairy Importance problems which
only a few months ago seemed
primary and urgent
Stresses Civil Defense.
Gov McKeldin told the inaugu-
raj crowd that "overshadowing in
its urgency all other concerns is
that of civilian defense"
II would be remiss,' he said,
IF I failed to alert the people
Of Maryland to it's magnitude and
pressing Importance.
"in civilian defense it shall be
our purpose to cooperate fully
with the Federal Government to
which, in the nature Of the mat
ter. we should look for advice and
aid"
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
q State civilian defense program
comprehensive yet feasible. to
meet the needs of the hour
The war crisis and it's promise
of added Federal taxes, infiation-
ary 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 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 its departments.
OF the States mental and tu-
berculosis hospital programs, Gov.
McKeldin said:
''WEile materials and manpower
are available, we will proceed with
the necessary physical improve
ments to meet the needs of State
hospitals, and every reasonable
effort will be made to staff these
institutions with capable and sat-
isfactory personnel"
For Better Schools.
On schools:
"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
(Baltinlore) and counties to ac-
commodate the growing popula-
ton of school age children and
to eliminate overcroWding."
Mr.. MIcKeldin said it would be
his fixed policy Ito disregard par
tisanship in appointing school
boards"
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-subversive 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 call for
State solidarity in the days ahead.
Wheaton Plans 10 Adopt