910 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

(Nixon Positions)

Q. Governor, you said that you endorse a number of Richard
Nixon's positions and campaign statements. Do you also endorse
his latest one about mandatory jail sentences for criminals who com-
mit crimes with guns?

A. I haven't read the statement in detail, and I should read it before
I comment on it, but if you repeat that question at a future con-
ference I'll give you an opinion.

(Friendship Airport)

Q. Governor, if the Baltimore City Council rejects the sale of
Friendship Airport to the State, will you take further steps to secure
Friendship for the State?

A. Well, it's my opinion — I don't think the State ought to bludgeon
the City into giving up the airport if the City doesn't want to. The
whole subject came up because there was a great amount of fear in
the City that it could not support the kind of capital improvement
that the airport needed. And I find this sentiment is still in the City.
I talked to the Mayor as recently as yesterday about it. I think he's
still in favor of turning the airport over to the State. And I think
one thing we've got to keep in mind is that the airport is a real help
to the City if it's a good, competitive, modern airport; but it's no
asset if it's not improved to keep pace with the other major airports —
Washington National, Dulles, Philadelphia and the like. I don't
think the City can afford to put the capital money into the airport
because of their other money problems.

Q. Along that same line, Governor, Senator James testified before
the Council, and he said the money offer that is made now is ab-
solutely the last money offer that the State will make.

A. Well, I agree with that. I don't think the State's in this to bar-
gain for the airport. It's not something we particularly want; we've
got a lot of other places to spend money right now, but I think it's
needed for the benefit of the State that the broad base — the broad
financial base of the State — be used to keep the airport in a com-
petitive position. We don't want it because it's going to help us.
We want it because it's going to help the City.

Q. Governor, if the State does take over the airport, would you
favor using Friendship revenues to. support expansion of other air-
ports?