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STATEMENT ON OPEN HOUSING LEGISLATION

March 17, 1967

The open housing bill coming before the Maryland Senate for
further debate, and a possible decision, this afternoon has my fullest
support. It now substantially conforms to the position I took well in
advance of the 1966 election and which I have consistently held to
since then — namely, to outlaw discrimination in the sale or rental
of new housing, whether new homes or new apartments. I urge its
enactment by the Maryland Legislature and I intend to exert every
possible effort this Administration can make to achieve this objective.

The amended bill represents to me a reasonable and realistic ap-
proach to one of the most critical problems facing our society, and I
believe it will have general support from the public. It does not go
as far as some would like in attempting to eliminate discrimination
in housing, but it represents an important and significant start toward
eventually winning broad public acceptance of this goal. At the other
extreme are those who would do nothing for the minority groups now
forced by custom and social mores to live in ghettoes and substandard
homes.

I think the message from voters favoring a moderate approach to
this vexing issue came through loud and clear in the 1966 elections.
I strongly urge the members of the Maryland General Assembly to
join me in carrying out this mandate.

NEWS CONFERENCE
March 20, 1967

Q. Do you have a statement, Governor?

A. Yes, I have a very brief statement, Mike. I believe from the way
this legislative session is developing that the first Maryland reappor-
tioned Legislature has an unprecedented opportunity to run up a

record Of very solid achievement in Us very first session. I'm most

impressed by the way the important legislation is moving in both
houses and I want to publicly commend Speaker Mandel and Presi-
dent James for a great degree of know-how, a forthright approach,
certainly one of the finest and most dexterous bit of maneuvering I've
seen in my political experience: maneuvering that has been for the