890 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

A. Well, I really can't tell. I think most of them feel very flexible —
just as I do; and they want to make a judgment based on the con-
ditions as they exist at the time that their decision is made. As of
now, I think they could go either way.

Q. Governor, do you think there's any possibility of defeating Mr.
Nixon in the Convention?

A. Well, I don't know. I think there's always that possibility that
someone can come on strong the way Willkie did in, what was it,
1940. I wouldn't want to make a judgment that it couldn't happen.
It seems, if what you read in the papers is accurate, he has amassed
quite an outstanding strength around the country, but I wouldn't
say he's unbeatable.

Q. Well, if you had to pick somebody to beat him, whom would you
pick?

A. I don't — I'm not looking for anyone to beat anybody.

(State Revenues)

Q. Governor, turning to domestic issues, do you have any further
indications from your committee on the revenue issue?

A. I am waiting for the Comptroller to report to me any significant
findings that the group may come up with and I haven't had a report
from them as yet on that.

Q. If the projection turns out to be accurate — the $66 million pro-
jection — do you see any alternative to some sort of tax increase next
year?

A. Oh yes, yes indeed I do. As a matter of fact I don't see any reason
to consider that we are going to have to have a tax increase at this
time. I don't rule out the possibility that it may happen in the com-
ing calendar year, nor do I find it a necessity. I think we have to
wait until sometime around the latter part of September to see where
we are from a revenue standpoint, and I think we also have to give
this new efficiency industrial and business group a chance to get in
and see what kind of efficiencies they can project for the remainder
of the year. I am going to do everything I can to see that it's un-
necessary to have a tax increase and I can assure you of this — if I'm
not able to achieve that objective in 1969, I am going to make certain
that the tax increase is the minimal increase necessary to put us on
a sound fiscal basis. There's not going to be a development of a heavy
new spending program to be supported by a tax that's enacted as an
excuse to a fiscal crisis.