NEWS CONFERENCE
GOVERNOR FARRIS BRYANT
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDR
JULY 13. 1951

NEHSMEN PARTICIPATING: Lenoyne Cash, MIAMI NEWS-FORT MYERS NENS
PRESS; Robert N. Delaney, ORLANDO SENTINEL-STAR; James Gillesby,
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL; David Gretsoh, FREE LANCE RADIO;

Ovid Lewis, FREELANCE RADIO; Don Meiklejohn, JOHN H. PERRY NEWSPAPERS;
Jerry Mock, FLORIDA TIMES UNION; Allen Morris, CRACKER POLITICS;
Harold Parr, ASSOCIATED PRESS; Tom Raker, INSIDE POLITICS; George
Thurston, FLORIDA BROADCAST NEWS; Rick Tuttle, MIAMI HERALD-

ST. PETERSBURG TIMES SERVICE.

GOVERNOR: In opening today's news conference I should like to

note with sadness the passing from our scene of two whose contri-
butions to Florida have been great. They are Mr. Robert Kloeppel

of Jacksonville, who not only has been an outstanding businessman
of Florida, but has also been one of the civic leaders of Florida
for so many years, and Anthony Pullara of Tampa, 0? the engineering
firm of Pullers and Watson. who recently died right in the very
zenith of his career, also a very outstanding man in his field. I
feel not only a loss for the state but a personal loss at the demise
cf both of these men. Do you have any questions this morning?
RAKER: Tell us about the chickens, Governor. Let's get that settled.
GOVERNOR: I think you probably know as much about it as I do. Are
there any specifics that you have in mind?

RAKER: Yes, sir, I have a question. Why did we wait so long to do
what ought to have been done in the first place?

GOVERNOR: Well, since 1953 the collection of the fee of 1/8 cent
per pound and the affixing of a tag was done with the agreement of,
and after consultation with, the Georgia poultry producers. It was
done as much for their convenience and certainly with their agreement
as anything else. what is being done now is to collect the tax in
Florida which, of course, can be done, but it changes the agreement
that was entered into sometime ago.

THURSTON: How much actual money is involved per year in collecting
this tax?

GOVERNOR: In the neighborhood of one-quarter million dollars from

all collections everywhere -- Georgia, Florida and all other places.
Now, of course, it will all be collected in Florida.

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proposal of this kind which while it may develop most of its
benefits toward the vast eastern portion of the State, nevertheless
is of tremendous benefit to all the State.

TUTTLE: Is that some of your 1962 ammunition?

GOVERNOR: Yes. (To Evansz) Make me a copy of that, too. (laughter)
FARR: I saw where the Budget Commission was rather generous on
Tuesday in distributing salary increases, particularly in the high

brackets.

GOVERNOR: I disagree with you.

FARR: That's For sure! (LAUGHTER)

EELANEY: Would you care to make further comment, Mr. Parr?
(laughter)

FARR: Perhaps I had better re-phrase that. The Budget Commission

in its wisdom (laughter) made a number of moderate pay raises
(laughter). Is this an indication that you and the members of the
Budget Commission feel that the States economy is picking up to

the point where the money that was provided by the Legislature
Appropriations Act will be available?

GOVERNOR: So far as operations is concerned, there is no doubt

about it at all. Let me point out, first of all, that this Legis-
lature was a very economy-minded Legislature and of the raises in the
area you have indicated. some 235 out of roughly 400, were specifically
approved by the Legislature,or amounts in excess of that were
approved by the Legislature. We felt that when an agency requested
certain salaries, and the Legislature virtually approved those
salaries, there had to be a pretty good argument for cutting below
them, although we did that in a number of instances. Now, there

were some 1&8 raises that were approved that were in the category

of being in excess of the legislative budgets. or these 148, the
vast majority of them, I don't know the exact number, were in the
three or four thousand, six thousand dollar area and the discrep-
ancies amounted to ten, fifteen, twenty-five dollars a month. I think
when you reflect that against the background of the tremendous size

of state employment it becomes an insignificant number.

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FARR: Just for clarification that I didn't intend my question to
carry an implication that I was critical of the acts of the Budget
Commission, but I did recall there were a number of the legislators
that thought that the Appropriations Act which the economy-minded
Legislature passed, is still quite generous in view of the financial
outlook as put forth by the Comptroller. I was interested primarily
in any information you might have on the rise in state economy.
GOVERNOR: Every indication that I see, except one, is good. The
one national figure that continues to give me concern, and I but
reflect the opinions, of course, of men who are qualified to be
experts in the field, is that in the unemployment area, although
employment is increasing faster than before, unemployment is not
decreasing. But I think that in Florida where so much of our
employment is in the service area and where a pickup, in construction
particularly, will absorb so many of our unemployed, we are going to
have a better experience even than the rest of the nation. All
factors indicate a continuation of the already accelerating boom in
economic affairs in the nation.

TUTTLE: Are you going to discuss employment, or unemployment, with
these industrialists Saturday?

GOVERNOR: I would assume that would be a topic. Actually, my
purpose in Joining with them is to give them the feeling that in
Florida there is a climate of politics and government which is most
conducive to institutional expansion in their activities.
MEIKLEJOBN: Is this $200,000 for Boca University floated up on
beach since last week?

GOVERNOR: Yes, sir. I seem to have my finger on about $80,000

of it.

MEIKLEJOHN: Is that the $80,000 left over from that loan from the
II Fund?

GOVERNOR: Yes, sir.

MEIKLEJOHN: Now, we understand there is a possibility that this
private foundation you are president of, is exploring the possibilities
of dclng something in that area. Is this involved in this?

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GOVERNOR: No, but we do anticipate considerable assistance from the

people of the Palm Beach area, however.

MEIXLEJOHN: Private contributions from the Palm Beach area?
GOVERNOR: Yes. I am very anxious to see that the initial plans
for this University are instituted so that there need be no delay
if the economy continues to improve and construction funds become
available.

TUTTLE: Is Jack Kennedy going to give you a few hundred thousand?
GOVERNOR: This would be acceptable. (laughter)

TUTTLE: This is a sort of leftfield question, but since we have
been expounding in fields that are not necessarily hard news: Have
you received any communication or any contact at all with washington
in regard to possible calling up of the National Guard troops on
the Berlin situation?

GOVERNOR: No, I haven't.

Incidentally. talking about Washington, I thought you
might like a report on the surplus food problem which is of particular
interest, I believe, to Dade County. So far three counties have
evidenced their concrete interest in surplus foods possibilities --
Dede, Broward and Hillsborough. Application has been made by the
State Department of welfare to the Department of Agriculture for,
on the one hand, the approval of regulations set up to guarantee the
integrity of the distribution system, and on the other hand for
specific carloads of food. we are hopeful and expecting that by
August 1 this program will be, on the limited basis that I have
indicated, in operation. warehouse facilities have been located in
the Hillsborough area, and Dads County has located two warehouses in
their area. As of right now, so far as I know, no warehouse
facilities in the Broward County area have been decided upon. But
we anticipate surplus foods in the State of Florida by August 1. If
there is some hitch in the arrangements that make it impossible to
begin distribution under this program by August 1, of course we can
divert those foods to the school lunch program which derives foods
from the same source.

TUTTLE: Wasnt there a law ~- a section of the Appropriations Act --
appropriating money to set up warehousing facilities or special

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divisions, killed during the Legislature?
GOVERNOR: Well, the appropriation was cut down substantially below
the figure thatI'had requested, which was $175,000 for the biennium.
I believe the figure was cut down to the neighborhood of $100,000
dollars. I am therefore glad that at this early point the program
has been limited to the three counties that I have referred to,
because it will enable us to do two things: one, to gain the
valuable experience that we must have for the preper administration
of this program; and two, to conserve some of the limited funds
made available for the operation of the program.
TUTTLE: The areas of greatest need are Hillsborough, Dads and
Broward, I presume. Is this correct because they have done ......
GOVERNOR: The areas of greatest interest.
CASH: Can these foods be used to feed the Cuban refugees?
GOVERNOR: These foods can be used to feed any welfare clients,
those drawing unemployment compensation. I believe that is the group
that can be fed from it.
TUTTLE: Not the Cuban refugees?
GOVERNOR: Not unless they qualify under some welfare program.
TUTTLE: What if there was a Cuban welfare program adopted, they
could then qualify, but under the current law they can't?
GOVERNOR: I can't answer that question. (NOTE: Subsequent inquiry
revealed surplus foods are a part of the U. S. Refugee Aid program
now in operation in Miami.)
ThURSTON: What is the status of the Cuban problem down there now.
After it passed the crises several months ago, is it still a big
headache or have the Cubans been absorbed or relocated, or what is
the problem?
GOVERNOR: Of course some relocation is going on, although not with
the speed that we would hope. You realize that the Federal Govern-
ment allocated four million dollars for a period between the
allocation and June 30, for assistance to the state and local
governments in the handling of that particular problem. The schools,
in Dade County particularly, are still carrying the burden of the
load in educating the children of Cuban refugees and welfare
assistance is being granted through the offices of the Federal

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government in the Dade County area.
MEIKLEJOHN: I would like to go back to this Boca Raton thing Just
a minute. Do you know of any specific group in that area that
is attempting to raise money?
GOVERNOR: My conversations have been second hand. But although I
have not asked specific individuals to raise specific dollars, I
have talked with officers and employees of the State of Florida
who are particularly interested in that area to secure information
on how private activities might best be instituted and utilized. Mr.
Tom Fleming is one of the leaders, however, in the field of promoting
this particular activity.
MEIKLEJOHN: I Just wondered if you had personally asked anybody to
spearhead such an effort or if somebody had suggested that they
were going to do it in conversation with you?
GOVERNOR: No, sir. I am having some conferences tomorrow which
I hope will develop some of those answers.
MEIKLEJOHN: Those conferences tomorrow will be here or....
GOVERNOR: Yes.
MEIKLEJOHN: Who would be involved in such a conference?
GOVERNOR: The staff of the Board of Control.
MEIKLEJOHN: Would that be before the Board of Control meeting or
during it?
GOVERNOR: Yes.
MEIKLEJOHN: would that be relative to private money or the over
all picture?
GOVERNOR: Actually the conference is on the overall university
program, with which the staff is involved, of course. This could
be one of the areas that we may discuss.
MEIKLEJOHN: Has hr. Fleming or such an organization, say as the
Palm Beach Resources and Development Board, or anybody like that
made any presentation to you that they are busily trying to find
some money?
GOVERNOR: No .
MEIKLEJOHN: Has any private person down there?
GOVERNOR: No. During the Legislature I was advised by members
of the staff of the possibility of raising money for that purpose

in that way.

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TUTTLE: These private funds would be grants or Just loans?
GOVERNOR: Grants.

FARR: Has there been any further move towards instituting suits to
collect on the bonds of the Collins Road Board members?

GOVERNOR: I have an opinion on my desk from the Attorney General,
which I was Just trying to digest before I came in here, as a matter
of fact, to the effect that in his opinion while an effort to
collect from members of the Road Board both from the Michigan Avenue
situation and on the over-expenditure or funds would be technically
successful, it would not yield any damages or have any great
probability or substantial probability of yielding damages to the
State of Florida as a result of such action. He instituted, at my
request, quite an extensive research effort both into the law and
interrogation of witnesses, on seen observation, and so forth, such
as any attorney would have to make in preparation for filing suit
or recommending a client to file a suit, and came up with the con-
clusion that while the action would be technically successful,
substantially it would be unremunerative.

DELANEY: The operation was a success but the patient died.
GOVERNOR: Exactly.

MEIKLEJORN: In view of your past comments would that mean that

you would not institute such a suit?

GOVERNOR: If the opinion is what I think it is, I am very happy
that recently attention has been focused on Massachusetts and other
areas of the nation and their defalcations and variations from
propriety, and I hope that there will be nothing that will happen
that will draw attention to Florida again.

MEIKLEJORN: Would you mind bringing a book that spells some or
these words......(laughter)

PARR: Have you selected yet, or decided upon as yet, a successor
to Judge Smith as Chairman of the Milk Commission?

GOVERNOR: No, I have not. That is a hard one to fill. There

are not many Sherman Smiths around the state, I regret to say.
CASH: Are there any developments on the West Coast Tampa to

Fort Myers turnpike?

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GOVERNOR: No new developments. I can tell you that on the basis
of information that I have received, I am extremely hopeful and I
don't want to put it any stronger than that -- I am extremely
hopeful that that turnpike can be constructed.
LEWIS: The people up in northeast Florida are very much interested
in the turnpike being carried on to the Georgia line. Will there
be any effort on your part during your administration to try to
carry it on up.
GOVERNOR: There will be any effort that has any chance or success,
but I must tell you that so far as the turnpike is concerned, we
are having to strain every button to reach Interstate 75, the
north south Interstate from Georgia to Tampa. We are having all
we can do to reach that and therefore tie on with the Interstate
to go north.
FARR: I have no further questions.

GOVERNOR: Gentlemen, thank you.

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RAKBR: Governor, on the inspection tax aspect, the inspection fee:
does this 1/8 cents per pound which is in effect repealed by
Executive Order of the Commission where the money will come from
that is to be used to defray this inspection process?

GOVERNOR: I was not aware that it had been repealed.

RAKER: I thought he said that he had cancelled that.

GOVERNOR: I believe that is not true.

TUTTLE: As I understand it, he really did nothing except change the
point or collection from Georgia or Alabama to the Florida wholesale
level so that the Georgia poultry processor is still going to be
paying the tax.

GOVERNOR: No, it is going to be paid by Florida distributors. It
is not going to be paid by Georgia people at all.

TUTTLE: It will ultimately be paid by the consumer.

GOVERNOR: Ultimately, it will be paid by the consumer as it has
been all along but the same chickens will bear the same amount or
tax and be carried as before; however, there will be no impost in
Georgia or any nature.

RAKER: Do you have any communication with Governor Vandiver to
indicate that the actions of the Commissioner yesterday would
terminate the fuss?

GOVERNOR: Yes, GOVerncr Vandiver first indicated to me that he
intended to consider the immediate removal of the citrus impost;
however, his consideration has not led him to do it so far.
GILLESPY: As I understand it from our stories, he in still concerned
about the marking of them with the metal w;rg tag.

GOVERNOR: I think the real core of the problem is the feeling or
the Georgia producers that there is no necessity in View of Federal
inspection for the affixing of a wing tag, and our Commissioner of
Agriculture feels that is not correct, that there is no other way
than by individual marking that the quality of the produce can be
guaranteed to the housewife.

HSIKLEJORN: Are they surrendering to the Federal authorities in
Georgia? I thought they were for states' rights up there.

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GOVERNOR: Well, you've got a mighty good point, partner. (laughter)
GILLESPY: Have you heard tram Rex Whitton on the extension of the
Turnpike?

GOVERNOR: Not since he was here. We have supplied him, although he
probably has not yet received it, but I believe we supplied him as
of yesterday, additional information that he required.

TUTTLE: What is this Naples trip this weekend? What are you going
to accomplish?

GOVERNOR: To try to promote the further desirable industrialization
of Florida.

FARR: Governor. to return to the dispute with Georgia that we were
Just on: would the continuation of the citrus impost by the State
of Georgia be serious enough to warrant possibly Florida legislative
action to solve this problem? I understand from Commissioner Conner
that he has no discretion in the requiring the individual marking of
poultry, that that is a matter of law that can only be settled by
legislative act.

GOVERNOR: That's true. I would not call a special session. The

'63 session might well take it up.

BAKER: Isn't it a fact that the method of marking is at issue right
nOW? I read an Associated Press story from Atlanta today indicating
that the Governor of Georgia would be satisfied with a rubber stamp.
GOVERNOR: If that is true, I am positive the problem can be worked
out immediately because there is no reason why a rubber stamp

cannot be used if that is the desire of those producing the chickens.
So I am advised. I'm not much of a chicken handler myself. (laughter)
THURSTON: I think we're Just scratching around for a new lead.
(laughter)

TUTTLE: Who is going to attend this Naples meeting aside from your-
self? Any other state Cabinet officials or only you?

GOVERNOR: No, there will be a representative of the Development
Commission and the Industrial Commission.

GILLESPY: Is there any chance you will discuss the Turnpike?
GOVERNOR: In Naples? I assume it would come up but Just as a

matter of general conversation. There is no such item on the agenda.

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TUTTLE: How did this meeting come about? It's not the Council of
100? Did Mr. Jarrard arrange it?
GOVERNOR: I'm sure he has participated in the arrangements. Rather
than for me to go and see one industrialist and to try to persuade
him to do a particular thing, I am going to be able to see and visit
with about 30 or 35 in a short period of time. It differs from a
visit to one industrialist only in a multiplication of prospects
assembled.
FARR: Are these industrialists from within the state or without?
GOVERNOR: Some of each.
CASH: Could you tell us who they are?
GOVERNOR: I could. I think I have a list but can't recite them for
you now .
TUTTLE: Did that picture in Newsweek inspire you to new gridiron
efforts?
GOVERNOR: I wish they had used the one that showed me in better
athletic condition. (laughter) The one with me trying to guide
the ball with my tongue I think was better. (laughter)
LEWIS: Governor, is the Development Commission working with the
officials over in Green Cove Springs to utilize the old naval base
whenever it is de-activated there in a couple of years?
GOVERNOR: So far as I know, at the present time, no. I met in
Honolulu with Mr. Steadman who is the President's representative for
that particular purpose and have agreed to meet at Green Cove Springs
with Mr. Steadman for the purpose of determining the most advantageous
utilization of that base at as early a date as he can arrange and I
find mutually convenient.
LEWIS: Do you have any idea what it might be used for at this time?
GOVERNOR: No, sir.
RAKER: Whatever happened to that -- Green Cove reminded me of it --
whatever happened to our proposition of a free port and would that
serve as a location for it?
GOVERNOR: It might. Nothing has happened to the free port idea
except that the respective communities involved had not pushed forward
as fast as I hoped that they would. I expect to put some renewed

emphasis and attention to it now that I have a little bit more time,

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because I am more than ever convinced of the merit and value of the
plan.

RAKER: Would there be any advantage to the area of Green Cove, we
will say -- or anyplace in that section -- as a site for such a port
in view of the probability of the Cross-state Barge Canal coming
into being?

GOVERNOR: Hell, or course, it would be well situated so far as the
Cross-State Canal is concerned. However, the problem we have got to
face is the acquisition of the property from the federal government
at a price that can be paid. That price might be considerably less
for educational or welfare purposes than for a profit-making purpose
of that kind.

FARR: Governor, there has been quite a bit of talk lately in the
newspapers, I have noticed, about the necessity for revitalizing the
State Democratic Party, particularly organizational-wise, apparently
as a result of the new congressional districts and the fear that
Republicans may run very strong in several of them. Have you any
thoughts along that line particularly to take any active part in
rebuilding the party organization?

GOVERNOR: I expect to be active in 1962 in assisting in the battle
for good government all over the state and it is my feeling that

the Republicans have had a little strength long enough now so that
we can require them to run on their record. My observation is that
the record, in many instances, wont stand close scrutiny. Hereto-
fore, of course, the Democrats, while we have been leading the
fastest growing state in the nation to a zenith of prosperity and
good government, have had to take, necessarily, the blame for any
defects or shortcomings that occurred. That is no longer
exclusively so and I am looking forward with some little pleasure to
exploring the record of the opposition party, wherever it has had a
chanCe to make a record.

MEIKLEJOHN: That sounds like it might be part of that campaign
speech. Have you already written it?

GOVERNOR: No, sir, but I hope you've got it down. (laughter)

FARR: Are you personally satisfied as the titular leader of the
Democratic Party in the state,with the chairman of the State
Executive Committee, Mr. Milligan?

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GOVERNOR: Am I satisfied with him?
FARR: Yes.
GOVERNOR: well, he was duly elected. (laughter)
MORRIS: How could the party's own machinery be improved?
GOVERNOR: Well, I think first of all the obvious thing is to fill in
the physical gaps. There are many positions, especially at the lower
level in the party, that are either not filled at all, or are filled
by warm bodies that are not active in promoting democratic principles
and I think that one of the first things to do is to encourage the
filling of those positions by active, aggressive and, for the most
part, youthful Democrats. I am particularly anxious to get young
women involved in Democratic party councils because it has been my
observation that they are the most potent force in politics,in
Florida anyway.
MORRIS: Well, specifically, how could you go about interesting
people before the election in these party offices which become so
important after the election?
GOVERNOR: It's going to have to be done on a personal basis. I
would go about it the same way I would go about building my own
campaign organization. You'd divide the state up by counties and
districts and precincts and then select someone, or have someone
selected and ask them to seek position in that particular precinct.
It would be a hard, detailed, time-consuming Job to do, but I don't
know any other way to build up an effective organization of any kind,
political or otherwise.
MEIKLEJORN: And into this vacuum would you step yourself to try to
stimulate the interest?
GOVERNOR: To try to stimulate interest? Yes. I would be delighted
to use my friends around the state. I want to make it abundantly
clear, because it seems to me it is a natural question that would
follow, that I have no political ambitions, no intention to run for
anything, but I would have a lot of pleasure in building up a strong
political organization.
CASH: You would not run in '6h?
GOVERNOR: No, sir, no, air. I am a great admirer of Senator Holland.

his and my views On many matters coincide very closely and I have no

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thought of standing for election against him. Besides the fact I
don't have any thought of standing for election, period.

MORRIS: Then you would encourage him to be a candidate in 'GM?
GOVERNOR: I think he has been one of the outstanding public servants
that Florida has ever had the privilege to elect.

DELANEY: Have you had any indication from him that he intends to run?
GOVERNOR: No indications of any kind, but when you don't have
indications from an office holder that he's not going to run, that

is a pretty good indication that he is going to.

DELANEY: Should he not run, would that have any influence on your
personal plans?

GOVERNOR: My present intention is never to run for anything again.

MORRIS: Well, do you know of any reason why he should not run?
GOVERNOR: Why who should not run?

MORRIS: Why Senator Holland should not run.

GOVERNOR: No. He has done a good Job. I am proud of him.
DELAHEY: What do you intend to do, Governor? You say your
personal intention is never to run again.

GOVERNOR: I am going to practice a little law and try to make a
little money for my family and me.

LEWIS: Can I tell the people in Ocala that you are going to return

to Ocala?

GOVERNOR: You can tell them that is my present intention. Yes, sir.
and I have a home there waiting on me.

MORRIS: Now when you said last week you had thought often of

becoming a professor, in what field did you intend to profess?
GOVERNOR: Well, one time, many years ago, I was offered a very

modest position in the Law School of the University of Florida. At

the time I was making $75.06 a month and it was a very attractive

offer (laughter), but I resisted because it was a little too cloistered

for me at that age.

DELANEY: There is a Joke making the rounds in Washington that
Kennedy is considering asking for a re-count. You're not in that
same position at the state level are you?

GOVERNOR: No, sir! I am having the most wonderful time being

G0vernor of Florida that I have ever hoped or dreamed to have. It's

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a marvelous experience, and every ounce of energy and every moment
of time and every dollar I put into it, I am being repaid day by day.
MORRIS: As the co-author of a textbook on the government of Florida,
have you any particular feeling toward lecturing in that field?
GOVERNOR: I have no present intention to go into the instructional
field at all. Frankly, I can't afford it.
TUTTLE: Just go home, practice law and make money? You indicated
last week in reply to that question, I inferred from what you said
that professor's salary scale isn't sufficient at this time.
GOVERNOR: It is not sufficient for me, no, sir. I think you have to
have a yearning for many things besides the money to be a top
quality professor. I think security, perhaps, has to appeal to you
a little bit more. I think then you have to have a willingness to
sit aside and watch the active outside life go by you because if you
are doing your Job instructing young people, you don't have time or
the opportunity to participate in the more active affairs of government.
MORRIS: Well, before you leave here what re-organization, if any,
do you hope to see in the structures of the government of Florida?
GOVERNOR: That is a little bit too broad and too quick a question
for me to answer Just off the cuff. Actually, my greatest zeal has
shifted in the years that I have been in government. When I first
came to the Legislature in l9h7, my zeal was for administrative
reform. I felt that by passing new laws, or better laws, or tighter
laws. I could automatically make government better. After a number
of years I learned that, by and large, government is as good as the
people involved in it. While, of course, improvement in laws assist
in the improving of government, and efforts in that direction should
always continue to be accelerated, basically its quality and the
integrity of the administration that makes for good government as
opposed to bad. I think so often of the illustration that so many
of the countries of the world have beautiful constitutions that
really are, in language, perhaps superior to ours and in many cases
based upon ours. But unless there is the spirit in the people to
live by the law and a willingness to undertake the personal res-

ponsibilities of government the constitution doesn't do any good.

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DELANEY: Governor, I believe earlier we touched on your discussion
with Mr. Mhitton of last Friday. Can you give us any specifics on
what additional data he needed before he could decide on the re-
location?
GOVERNOR: Data relative to the cost-benefit ratios.
DELANEY: Could you put that in little simpler language?
GOVERNOR: Yes, air. He needs to be satisfied as between the proposed
east and west routes, that the eastern route will be sufficieitly
superior to the western route in benefit-cost ratio to warrant a
change. I think you recognize that there is a natural inertia in
these plans and that when a decision has been made at all levels or
authority to locate a highway at one particular place it takes a
little bit more than an even balance to push it to another place.
That's the basic problem involved here.
DELANEY: Do we have studies that will support the proposed relocation?
GOVERNOR: We have very extensive traffic studies of the entire area.
Necessarily so in connection with exploring the possible extension
of the turnpike beyond Orlando and it is from these studies that the
information is drawn.
DELANEY: Does it support the proposed relocation to the east?

GOVERNOR: I have not seen a copy of yesterday's report, but it is
my understanding it does, and substantially.

DELANEY: Were you well pleased and encouraged with your conference
with Mr. whitton?

GOVERNOR: Hell. I had heped to get a "yes" answer in Lakeland last
week and, of course, I wasn't pleased that we didn3t.

DELANEY: Are you encouraged that you will ultimately get a "yes"
answer?

GOVERNOR: we've got a tough fight. I think there is still an
excellent prospect of doing so.

DELANEY: Have you devised any way of diluting the opposition Mr.
Cramer has raised?

GOVERNOR: No, I am kind of enjoying it. (laughter) I am Just amazed
to tell you the honest truth, that any servant of Florida. who has,
of course, the responsibility to all the people of Florida as
Congressman from this State, to try to stand in the way of a