1938: Maryland

Area and Population.

First settled in 1634, Maryland was in 1776 the thirteenth original state. With an area of 12,327 sq. mi. (including 2,386 sq. mi. of water), it ranks 41st in size among the states. In population it ranks 28th, numbering 1,631,526 according to the census of 1930; 1,679,000 on July 1, 1937, according to the latest Federal estimate. Of the 1930 population, whites numbered 1,354,170; Negroes, 276,379; other races, 977. The native-born were 1,535,196; foreign-born, 96,330.

The largest cities are Baltimore, 804,874 (1930 census); Cumberland, 37,747; Hagerstown, 30,861. The capital is Annapolis, 12,531.

Agriculture.

Maryland packs more tomatoes than any other state in the Union, and is one of the leading states for strawberries, spinach and sweet potatoes.

In addition to farming, the oyster, crab and fishing industry amounts to over $3,500,000 annually.

Mineral Products.

Coal and clay are the leading items among Maryland's native minerals. Production of coal, 1,570,000 tons in 1937, was somewhat less than in 1936, when 1,703,589 tons were produced with a value of $3,351,000. Clay products had a value of $3,577,593 in 1936. There was a 25 per cent rise in the state's production of coke in 1937, from 1,217,039 tons in 1936 to 1,513,752 tons. Pig iron production also rose, from 1,216,065 tons to 1,554,296.

Education.

Total enrollment for 1937-38 in the state's 1,526 schools was 294,691. Current expenditures for public education amounted to $19,427,990. The high schools continued to attract an increasing number of pupils, the total white county enrollment reaching a peak of 34,614 in 1937-38. The extension and improvement of transportation facilities made it possible for 14,568 white pupils living far from high schools to take advantage of the opportunity for further education. There were 35,974 county white elementary pupils transported to school in 1937-38, an increase of nearly 1,900 over the preceding year. This increase has accompanied a reduction in the number of one-teacher schools, through their consolidation with larger schools in which children may benefit from better instructional opportunities. A program of educational and vocational guidance has been inaugurated throughout the state, with a member of the staff of the State Department of Education as supervisor. Every teacher in the state who had a salary cut in 1933 benefited by complete restoration in 1937-38. The average salary paid the 8,602 teachers during 1937-38 was $1,595, which was an increase of $115.00 over the average for 1936-37.

Legislation.

The Legislature sits biennially in odd years, the next regular session opening on Jan. 4, 1939.

Political Events.

The overwhelming expression of popular choice (more than 200,000 majority) given to Senator Millard E. Tydings over his Republican opponent, Judge Oscar Leser, in the general election of November 1938, brought to a close a Senatorial contest marked in its primary stages by bitterness and factional strife. A situation without precedent in the political history of the state was created by the entrance of the President of the United States into the primary campaign, in his attempt to 'purge' the Senate. President Roosevelt spoke at Denton, Salisbury, and Morgantown, urging the voters to send former Representative David J. Lewis to the Senate to replace Senator Tydings, whom he had termed an enemy of the New Deal. The Maryland campaign thus became a contest of national interest and importance. Despite the New Deal efforts, however, Senator Tydings was nominated in the primaries by a huge majority, winning in all but four counties.

After a bitter primary contest also for the Democratic nomination for Governor, the final results, which were not known until nearly three weeks after the primary, showed that the former Attorney General, Herbert R. O'Conor, had been nominated. The campaign was fought chiefly on the issues of former Governor Nice's four-year record. The Democrats charged him with mismanagement, bad appointments, and increasing the state debt by over $13,000,000.00. Mr. O'Conor won the election by the greatest majority ever given a Maryland candidate for that office.

At the polls on Nov. 8, the people approved the law which requires a two-day wait after a marriage license has been issued before a ceremony can take place; at the same time they defeated a proposed amendment to the Constitution which would have permitted the state to impose a graduated state income tax.

Finances.

The state's cash balance stood at $15,980,474.99, when the fiscal year ended September 30, 1938. This represented an increase of $2,024,926.32 over 1937. State-owned property increased in value from $152,692,243.92 in 1937 to $160,219,111.66, a gain of $7,526,868.64 during the year. Bonded indebtedness increased to $1,835,000 during the year, bringing the total state indebtedness to $48,247,000 at the close of business on Sept. 30, 1938. The state's income from all sources during the year amounted to $61,380,911.32. Disbursements for the same period were $59,355,985. The amount spent for relief amounted to $6,719,221.57. In addition to this amount the Federal Government spent $2,874,904.91 for relief in the state during the year.

Banking.

On June 30, 1938, Maryland had 63 National Banks with deposits of $242,200,000, loans of $63,336,000 and investments of $172,811,000. The 121 State Banks had deposits of $275,286,000, loans of $103,154,000 and investments of $122,321,000. The 12 Mutual Savings Institutions had deposits of $223,285,000, loans of $42,154,000 and investments of $176,047,000.

State Officers.

As a result of the elections of November, 1938, the chief officers of the state are as follows: Governor, Herbert R. O'Conor: Secretary of State, John B. Gontrum: Attorney General, William C. Walsh; State Treasurer, Hooper S. Miles; State Comptroller, J. Millard Taws; State Superintendent of Schools, Albert S. Cook; Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Milton A. Record.

Judiciary:

Chief Judge, Court of Appeals, Carroll T. Bond; Associate Judges, Edward S. Deleplaine (succeeding Hammond Urner, retired), T. Scott Offutt, D. Lindley Sloan, F. Neal Parke, Walter J. Mitchell, Benjamin A. Johnson, W. Mason Shehan.

United States Senators:

Millard E. Tydings, George L. Radcliffe.