NEWS CONFERENCE 169

Q. Governor, last Sunday on Meet the Press, ex-Governor Wallace
said that he would make a tour of northern states, and yesterday it was
discovered that he would come to Maryland to test out his strength.
Do you think that he will do, even though we don't have a presidential
primary, that he would do as well in this State with support as he did
in the spring of 1964?

A. Well, I hardly think he would do as well, but there is no way we
will ever know the answer to that since we don't have a presidential
primary. He is certainly welcome to come to the State of Maryland. I
think any public official or former public official or candidate has a
right to go anywhere in this country and to make any remarks he de-
sires to make. As a matter of fact, I may decide to go to Alabama to
support the Republican candidate down there, and I don't know how
they will treat me, but I hope they will treat me as well as some of the
people of Maryland treated Governor Wallace.

Q. Governor, getting back to Mr. Polovoy for a moment, he said to-
day that he could not possibly stay in office because he had not been
asked by you, and he was very embarrassed by the whole situation. Do
you intend to ask him to remain in case you cannot find a successor
for him?

A. No, I don't think that it's anything but customary that a public
official who is carrying over slightly past his term, remains in office.
But if Mr. Polovoy decided not to remain in office, which would be
certainly not at my request, I would like to see him stay until his
successor is appointed and qualified, but if he decided not to remain
in office the next in command in the Insurance Department would
simply have to take over the duties until we had a new commissioner.

Q. Governor, have you heard anything from Pennsylvania with re-
gard to the Susquehanna River?

A. Not yet.

Q. Governor one more question on the Polovoy matter. Last week
you made known that you had great respect for Judge Oppenheimer,
who said he didn't want to take the job. Do you have an equal amount
of respect for Mr. Hughes?

A. Indeed I do. I wouldn't have suggested he take this assignment
if I didn't have tremendous respect for the ability of Senator Hughes.
I think he is one of the most talented young people in the Maryland
Legislature, and, frankly, I wouldn't have thought of him as a potential