600 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

stitution is adopted. So I don't see how we can lay at the feet of the
new Constitution the increased costs of all the reforms in govern-
ment that may be achieved either through constitutional adoption
or through legislative enactment or individual constitutional reform
as previously done by the Legislature under the two-thirds law at
referendum.

(New Abortion Law Proposal)

Q. Governor, Delegate Spector says that he is going to move at the
next session of the Legislature to abolish the existing abortion statute
and substitute in its place provisions by which Med Chi (Medical
and Chirurgical Faculty) would have complete say over who can and
cannot get an abortion and under what conditions. Do you approve
that approach?

A. I have always felt that the question of abortions is properly a
medical question, not a legal question. I understand the concern of
certain religious groups over abuses of the situation and I understand
the contentions as to the rights of the unborn. I agree that certainly
unborn citizens do have rights, but I think we have to understand one
thing — that the physician, when he is faced with a medical decision
for which he is qualified and for which he is trained, should be able
to make the judgment. Certainly none of us likes to see the life of
a mother jeopardized or the future life of the child jeopardized where
it becomes apparent on sound medical reasoning to the physician that
this child cannot lead a normal happy life and, in effect, may be
jeopardizing not only his own future but the future of his own par-
ents — of the mother — by going through the birth. This is not an
easy question, but my inclination is as medical science progresses we
have to go along with the doctors and let them make the decision. I
go along with the Med Chi's reasoning.

(Senator Bishop as a Possible Candidate)

Q. Governor, some time ago you said that you thought that Senator
Bishop would be an excellent man to run against Congressman Long.

A. Yes, I think he would.

Q. Have you discussed the situation with him since that time?

A. I don't know whether it has been since that time. I have only had
one or two rather brief discussions with Senator Bishop about his
candidacy for the Congress and he did indicate some interest in it.
I suppose he is doing what every other candidate does at this time,
trying to find out if he can mount a proper base of support to run