NEWS CONFERENCE 237

conference, he indicated about two months. That's been maybe five
weeks ago, I would judge. So I think you will have to check with him
to see how the investigation is progressing. I don't have any up-to-date
information on it.

Q. Governor, on the question of the tunnel priorities, does this mean
that the new tunnel may not have top priority if the expressway finally
gets going?

A. Oh no, I think the tunnel will be top priority no matter what
happens. But it's a question of how large a facility it should be,
whether it should be a four lane or a two lane facility. Regarding the
impact of the expressway — which incidentally, as you mentioned,
seems to be getting further toward solution since the problems of the
design concept team that have locked this thing up for about eight
years have apparently been resolved — we've got to take into consid-
eration the impact of the projected East-West Expressway on the
tunnel because the tunnel has to be liquidated and the amortization
costs of the bond issue met.

Q. Governor, could you now continue your comments on the Young
Republicans and your characterization of Howard Denis?

A. Yes, there has been some talk about a right wing takeover of the
Young Republicans because of the recent meeting and election that
took place. I want to say first of all that I don't consider Mr. Howard
Denis to be right wing in any sense. I think he's a very moderate
young man. His judgments have generally proved good in the past. I
do think, in complete candor, that some of the forces that supported
Mr. Denis's election may have been to the right side of the Young
Republicans. I can only regard his election as a hopeful sign that the
philosophy of the people who may be termed far to the right of center
is drifting toward the middle, as evidenced by their support of Howie
Denis. I hope this is true.

Q. There is some talk that these forces — or some forces, as you
put it, that may have supported Mr. Denis — hope that next year
the Maryland Young Republicans can be used to help win the nomina-
tion for a conservative candidate. Would you address yourself to that
suggestion?

A. Well, I guess the Maryland Young Republicans are going to be
a factor. They're not going to be a factor to the extent that they could
swing the posture of Maryland. I believe that the elective officials and
the central committee members will be the most dominant forces in