366 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

any emergency anywhere in the State of Maryland. This is our ob-
jective and our responsibility and we're going to do it.

Q. Governor, General Celston said this morning that the Indepen-
dent Fire Company will refuse to go into a conflict, and it is a pretty
independent company. Are there any plans to do something about
independent fire companies?

A. I'm awfully glad you raised the question of that fire company,
because I think they're in an effort to avoid what possibly one fireman
thought would be criticism by admitting that he was afraid to go into
this riot area. He looked for another excuse and indicated that he
didn't want to go in, he wanted to watch the place burn down. I
think there was a very basic reluctance and fear to go into this area

right after shotguns had been fired, right after rending of what had

happened to firemen in the Newark area, and I don't think that we
can forget that in Cambridge itself during the past uprising, firemen
were pelted with bricks. These people were genuinely afraid to go in.
I don't think there was any thought-out idea of letting the Negro
properties burn down. I understand that there is some feeling about
this. My talk with the firemen would indicate it isn't justified. On the
other hand, I want to say very straight-forwardly and unequivocally
that I think that the fire protection in Cambridge, where there are
so many Negro citizens, should be on an integrated basis. This is a
volunteer fire company. There are many fine Negroes, I'm sure, in
Cambridge who would like to serve in a volunteer fire company. And
since they have part of the property ownership and the protection is
for their benefit as well as for the white citizens, I think they are
entitled to be in the fire company and should be in the fire company.

Q. Governor, on the question of Rap Brown again, I have heard it
suggested by the people who have been in Cambridge in the last few
days that those members of the Negro community there, the militants
who invited him, said they did so partly as a retaliation on their part
for your having invited Mr. Wilkins and your having criticized the
militant stand.

A. I find that hard to believe. If this is their thinking, they are not
thinking very straight. I think Mr. Wilkins performed a very fine serv-
ice to the State by coming here and making known views which are,
while possibly less militant than some Negro leaders, nonetheless con-
structive and wholesomely dedicated to the advancement of condi-
tions in their behalf. I'm not saying Mr. Wilkins or any other moder-
ates such as Mr. Young are the only leaders in the community. I think