NEWS CONFERENCE 489

Q. Governor, yesterday it was disclosed that a realty agency owned
by Comptroller Goldstein's wife would refuse the right-of-way acquisi-
tion for the gas and electric company. Do you think there is a causal
relationship or any indication of influence peddling between his sup-
porting the bill to give the company a tax break for purchase of the
land and his latest business arrangement with the family.

A. I honestly don't think there's any relationship between the two
matters. In the first place, I don't see any news value in the fact that
someone in the real estate business, namely Mrs. Goldstein, sought to
engage in that business. I don't think there's anything wrong in what
was done in accepting the assignment from the gas and electric
company which has no public involvement other than being a public
utility regulated by the Public Service Commission. I just can't see
any impropriety whatsoever in this thing.

Q. Governor, are you concerned about the recent IRS bookmaking
raids in the City of Baltimore?

A. No, if you look back over the years, you will see that the IRS
periodically makes a few startling raids in every major city. I dis-
cussed this with Colonel Lally and with other persons who have had
some experience at the Federal level, and I see nothing unusual about
it. And I see nothing unusual about the procedure of not informing
the city police that the raids were going to take place. This has hap-
pened previously, also.

Q. Governor, getting back to national politics, has any other gov-
ernor besides Governor Romney and Governor Rockefeller made an
especially good impression as a potential candidate for President?

A. Well, I think we've got one very outstanding young man that's
coming along in the Republican Party, and he was selected to be the
keynote speaker, as far as the governors' preference is concerned, at
the coming national convention. That's Governor Dan Evans of the
State of Washington. Governor Evans is quite a young man. I think
he's 42 or 43. He's in the latter stages of his term. I'm not certain
whether they have a two or four year term there, but I do know he's
up for election this time. And he's an extremely capable and attractive
candidate with a national future in my opinion.

Q. Governor, you expressed an interest in becoming a member of
the GOP platform committee next year. If the party's candidate hap-
pens to be a dove, do you still plan to maintain your position on the
Vietnam War?