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CONFERENCE WITH ROY WILKINS 351
GOVERNOR:
The only thing that we have decided to do is to keep doing what
we are doing and to move forward as quickly as we can in all areas
to remove discrimination in our State. We have also decided that it
is important for the leadership in government to reflect its apprecia-
tion of the proper leadership in the civil rights movement, the respon-
sible leadership. And I don't say that Mr. Wilkins is the only respon-
sible leader. There are others doing a wonderful job in this area, not
only in the NAACP but other organizations. But I think it's time for
the white community and it's time for the Negro community to assess
the civil rights leadership on an individual basis and not simply say
the Negro leadership. There is no such all inclusive term as the Negro
leadership or the white leadership. We have got to do it on individual
assessment.
QUESTION: Governor, would you include Mrs. Mitchell among those
responsible leaders in Maryland?
GOVERNOR:
I think Mrs. Mitchell has done an excellent job, and most of her
good work and the toughest part of her job was done at a time when
she bore the brunt of what she had to do singlehandedly. Sometimes
Mrs. Mitchell becomes impatient with the speed at which government
is moving, and we had some long conversations on that. But I think
in the majority of instances she approves of what is taking place,
and I can't blame her for wanting to see the achievement immediately.
We are moving as quickly as we can and will continue to move.
QUESTION: Governor, she said this morning that she agreed with the
Ministerial Alliance that there was a lack of communication flowing
out of the Governor's office to the Negro community. Do you plan to
take any specific steps so that you will get an ear-to-the-ground so to
speak?
GOVERNOR:
Let me say, in response to that, it is not only in the area of civil
rights and civil opportunities that the Governor's office is not able
to communicate as well with the total sector of the State as it would
like to. There is always criticism. We are a State of almost 4 million
people — we are approaching that figure — and the Governor can't
talk to everybody as frequently as he would like. So we have this
criticism — not just in the field of civil rights but in every field where
citizens are interested in some cause or objective. We are going to try
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