REMARKS ON PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION
BALTIMORE

May 17, 1964

I want to speak to you this evening about a matter of grave con-
sequence to our State and its good reputation. It is no exaggeration
to say that the eyes of the entire nation will be centered upon what
we in Maryland do in the primary election next Tuesday.

As believers in democracy and in the people's right at all times
to choose their officers of government, I think that most of us would
agree on the soundness of the principle of presidential primaries. Its
purpose is to give the people a greater voice in the selection of party
nominees for President of the United States. I believe, however, that
our presidential primary in Maryland this year is being misused.

As we all know, some weeks ago, the governor of Alabama came
to Maryland and filed as a candidate for the Democratic nomination
as President of the United States. I do not question the right of
Governor Wallace to do this but I do question his motives. When
the Governor of Alabama came here, he announced openly that he
was not a serious candidate for the presidency and did not expect to
be nominated. In truth, he is asking that we in Maryland throw
away our right to participate in the selection of the next President
of the United States merely to accommodate his prejudices.

During this campaign, Governor Wallace has ignored the main
issue— the selection of a presidential nominee—and has concentrated
his efforts upon arousing passions and inflaming antagonisms that
would have been better left unstirred. The aftermath of his appear-
ance in Cambridge is a clear example of this. Let me remind you
it is now costing the taxpayers of Maryland more than $5, 000 a day
to maintain law and order in Cambridge as a result of the Gover-
nor's visits. There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that an over-
whelming majority of Maryland Democrats favor the nomination of
President Johnson. After the great tragedy of last November, our only
consolation was the fact that die man who succeeded President Ken-
nedy was the eminently qualified Lyndon B. Johnson.

To show our appreciation, to demonstrate our awareness of the
magnificent job that President Johnson has done for this country since
that tragic November 22nd, we can at least give him a resounding
victory at the polls on Tuesday. I believe that Maryland Democrats

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