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NEWS CONFERENCE
GOVERNOR FARRIS BRYANT
TALLAHASSEE
FEBRUARY 26, 195
NEWSMEN PARTICIPATING: Bill Bowen, WCTV; Vernon Bradford, TAMPA
TRIBUNE; Robert W. Delaney, ORLANDO SENTINEL-STAR; Barbara Frye.
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL; John Reyes, WFGA, WTVJ; Budd Mellichamr,
ABC RADIO; Don North, ASSOCIATED PRESS; Dob Sherrill, MIAMI RERALDE
Ray Starr, ADC RADIO; George Thurston, HJXT,WFLA; Everett williard,
FLORIDA TIMES UNION.
GOVERNOR: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
FRYE: Governor, we thought maybe we could get Mr. Dunn to say a few
words on Alligator Alley, but no comment. (laughter)
GOVERNOR: He has Just signed a contract to wrestle alligators when
we open up the Turnpike. (laughter)
THURSTON: Is it cleared with Charlie Usina on that? (laughter)
FRYE: have you given any more thought since talking with Mr. Kynes
about his decision that the Florida Congressional redistricting needs
modification?
GOVERNOR: Yes, I have. I have given a good deal or thought to it
riding back and forth places and in conversations with Attorney
General Xynes. Actually, you see, there is only one district in
Florida that is significantly under-represented. Florida in comparison
with other states or the nation as far as its congressional reappor-
tionment is concerned is in very good shape. Now this one ought to
be corrected. The only question is as to the mechanics of doing so.
I think you politically sophisticated people would understand that it
is impractical to call a special session at this rather turbulent
time Just before a primary. If you wait until after the primary, you
have other persons designated to serve you have a lame duck legis-
lature and it therefore appears to me that unless there is some great
urgency this matter should be left until 1965.
FRYE: Even if the Legislature should meet in the meantime for
reapportionment legislation?
GOVERNOR: This is entirely different. If there is other occasion
more demanding then this certainly should be brought to their attention
at the earliest practicable moment -- to borrow a phrase. I would
point out to you that we are in a little bit difficult situation
because the Florida Supreme Court has approved congressional
redistricting and, or course, I operate under that. The United States
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Supreme Court has not knocked down or even considered the Florida
districting act and, therefore, I am acting under a law which on its
face and under the order of the only court with Jurisdiction that has
considered it is valid.
DEEAREY: Governor, do you think it would be possible for the
Legislature to cope with legislative reapportionment and congressional
reapportionment in the same session?
GOVERNOR: Oh, yes, surs.why not?
FRYE: Well, there would still be the same old difficulty of election
and the lame duck legislature and that sort of thing?
GOVERNOR: He said "possible."
FRYE: Yes, but I was trying to get your differentiation you don't
want to call a special session Just for redistricting, but your main
reason is not the elections?
GOVERNOR: I hope there won't be any occasion for calling this
Legislature for anything - I mean a special session for any of those
purposes.
FRYE: You are not going to call one unless it is Just absolutely -
you have been almost forced to?
GOVERNOR: Well, I am not going to call one unless I decide it is
best for the State of Florida. I don't know what those circumstances
would be. I dont mean to be evasive but I can't foresee all the
circumstances.
FRYE: I am not making myself clear even to myself, but even with
these election difficulties and political difficulties if the
Legislature were in session for reapportionment you would feel that
you should ask them to look at redistricting?
GOVERNOR: That is correct, and constitutional revision.
THURSTON: Governor, does the Supreme Court view on the congressional
apportionment.seem to indicate to you that they might rule unfavorably
on legislative redistricting?
GOVERNOR: Oh, I have hunted very thoroughly for the logic of their
decisions and it has escaped me so I can't follow it to any logical
conclusions.
NORTH: You don't plan to do anything unless there is an attack on
congressional districting in Florida, is that correct?
GOVERNOR: No.
NORTB: It is not correct?
GOVERNOR: It is not correct.
FRYE: Hell, Governor, I expect you don't want to get into the
congressional redistricting specific formulas, but it they do some-
thing about I presume you are talking about Congressman Rogers'
district -
GOVERNOR: Yes.
PRYE: -- there would then necessarily have to be some adjustment in
the other districts, too. We have to have 12 districts don't we?
GOVERNOR: Yes.
DELAHEY: Governor, when you spoke a while ago about one district
were you speaking or Congressman Rogers' district which has too many
people or congressman Fuquas which has too rew?
GOVERNOR: Nobody complains about having too few. The complaint is
about having too many. Now, when you take or: or one, you have to
put on another and as Mrs. Frye suggested when you addust one there
will be an adjustment in a dominoe like fashion all along the way,
I am sure.
DELAREY: Well, a while ago you said one district ought to be
corrected. Which district were you referring to?
GOVERNOR: Congressman Rogers'.
NORTH: Governor, when you answered that question I asked you a
minute ago you kind or left me up in the air. I asked --
GOVERNOR: You made a statement and then asked if that statement was
correct. I told you no it is not.
RORTR: Then the converse of that would mean that you plan to do
something about congressional redistricting?
GOVERNnR: no, not at all. That's one of the possibilities. There
are several alternatives and you've covered two of then now. (laughter)
FRYE: Do nothing or do something. (laughter)
DEIANEY: what would be the other one?
GOVERNOR: No, he said do you plan to call a session or do you plan
not to call a session, that's in effect what you have asked.
NORTH: 0.K., it there is no legal challenge of Florida districting,
I said you will do nothing it there is no challenge brought and I was
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thinking or what you said that the Florida court has upheld it and
there is no other emergency?
FRYE: Re said it ought to be corrected.
GOVERNOR: It depends upon many, many circumstances. Right now there
is before us the legislative redistricting issue, which has not yet
Jelled -- which may or may not and which lay cone out in some as now
unforeseen fashion. I cannot predicate an opinion about what I am
going to do on what that will be, because I can't imagine. low, the
congressional redistricting thing, on the other hand, is a separate
problem. In my own Judgnent, at this time it would not by itself
suffice to call a session. However, if a pattern of conduct around
the nation or it the decreas for enforcement by the courts around
the nation call for immediate action, why then I, or course, would
review in the light or those changes in the law a present intention.
So when you say you will do nothing or you will do something, I can't
be categoric in that fashion. There are too many changing and
unforeseeahle circumstances.
BRADFORD: Hell, regardless of these possible changes would you submit
the congressional districting question to the Legislature in the
eVont that it was in session on the other matters?
GOVERNOR: Yes. I think all pertinent pending matters ought to be
brought before them and if I had to go through a session then I would
try to enjoy it and get constitutional revision through.
DELANEY: what type of session would you call for this, Governor?
would it be an extraordinary session ~-
GOVERROR: It would.
DELANEY: Or a special session? Well, you know the distinction don't
you?
GOVERROR: Yes. I think it would be an extraordinary session called
for certain particular purposes.
DBLAREY: But not limited to any one subJect. You would make it
broad enough to --
GOVERNOR: no. I would limit it to the several subjects.
DELAIEY: To several?
GOVERNOR: Yes, to the several subjects that seen to me to warrant
extraordinary consideration.
FRYE: But it wouldn't be a strict respportionment session that could
go on forever?
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GOVERNOR: I believe those are limited to twenty days aren't they?
FRYE: Hot reapportionment. If you call it for reapportionent, isn't
that one of those that can go on until the terms expire?
GOVERNOR: I will have to talk to Attorney General Kynes.
FRYB: Talk to me. All this happened before he was born. (laughter)
GOVERNOR: You can't testify to that. (laughter)
FRYE: Yeah.
GOVERNOR: I said you could not, you understand that. They were
laughing, but --
FRYE: I was seeing if there was some way I could get you re-elected.
(laughter)
NORTH: Governor, will you Join the President for the helicopter ride
back to Jacksonville and then to Miami?
GOVERNOR: I don't know. I plan to go in the state plane.
NORTH: From Palatka to Miami?
GOVERNOR: correct.
SHERRILL: Governor, has Senator Stratton reached you yet with his
request that you ask Labor Secretary Wirtz to step out and for you to
then make special use of Senator Stratton and Mr. Younsman in the
FEC quarrel?
GOVERNOR: Not directly. This is one or the plans that I have discussed
before and which has been under consideration -- the handling of the
negotiations by the Florida authorities, which of course is principally
the mediation and arbitration service of which he is an employee.
SHERRILL: But he Wouldn't have had to ask you to consider this plan,
would he? I mean you had this already under consideration.
GOVERNOR: we had it under consideration. or course I haven't read
yet what he asks for. What did he ask for?
SHERRILL: He said he was going to ask you to ask wirtz to get out and
let him get in and settle it.
GOVERNOR: Well, this is in essence what the mediation service has been
suggesting and the feeling is that the request ought to come from the
Governor to do this. Now we have been exploring all possibilities,
including this one.
SHERRILL: At what point do you think you might make this request?
GOVERNOR: When I felt it would be answered affirmatively.
SHERRILL: I take it that means a real deed-end for the federals and
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then you think you might answer it affirmatively?
GOVERNOR: I mean when I thought they might answer it affirmatively.
SHERRILL: Yes.
GOVERNOR: In other words I don't think they are going to want to ~-
I would not in their place -- Just relinquish Jurisdiction until they
have exhausted all opportunity to resolve the question.
FRYE: Governor, what did you think -- I read somewhere that Senator
Stratton said he thought the candidates for Governor ought to get on
Ed Ball -- have you gotten on Ed Ball?
GOVERNOR: I am not a candidate for Governor.
FRYE: I know it, but you are the Governor. That's even better.
GOVERNOR: I agree with you. (laughter)
FRYE: Do you feel that he is to blame in this thing and that there
is some way or other you might persuade him to relent?
GOVERNOR: I think in settlement of most issues -- most controversies
-- there has to be a relenting on both parts. I don't wish to go or
attempt u: go into the merits or this particular controversy, but
normally when you try to arbitrate, you try to get both people to give.
TRURSTON: Would you phrase that request by asking Senator Stratton
to get on the ball? (laughter)
GOVERNOR: No.
BOWEN: Governor, would you comment on the results of last night's
heavyweight championship right?
GOVERNOR: No. (laughter)
BRADFORD: Have you receiVed a request from the Pinelles County
prosecutor for you to appoint a tact-finding committee for the Fair?
GOVERNOR: No. I heard about it when I was in Pinellas County. The
various newspaper people there were telling me that something of this
kind was taking place. Normally this is a matter that would come within
the Jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Agriculture Doyle Conner and
would lie between him and local authorities, Sheriff Genung among
others. I had the chance to talk with Sheriff Genung and I am confident
that they will work out their problems in concert and that they will
be proper solutions.
DELANEY: Governor, have you been notified that the sub-soil borings
on the Adamucci site in Orange County have proven satisfactory?
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GOVERNOR: I have not got a final report, but I got a report after
about three of the borings and the indications were that they were
satisfactory, and that -- among other things -- it was developed that
the sea had apparently covered that area five times in the last
million years and receded and sort of built up.
FRYE: Five times in what?
GOVERNOR: In the last million years.
BRADFORD: It's rather dangerous. When is the next time? (laughter)
DELANEY: They have not notified you, though?
GOVERNOR: No.
THURSTON: no you think it is advisable to build a university on such
a short term site? (laughter)
GOVERNOR: Yes.
FRYE: When was the last time? Did they notify you about that?
GOVERNOR: I think it was in the '60 elections. (laughter)
R.STARR: Governor, between now and next Tuesday noon, do you plan to
walk down the hall and into Mrs. Glisson's office to file for a
candidacy of any kind?
GOVERNOR: I have no firm plans to that effect.
FRYE: He may ride down the hall. (laughter)
DELANEY: Or be carried piggy-back.
GOVERNOR: I have no plans to --
R.STARR: This is our last news conference before the deadline.
GOVERNOR: You are entitled to an early answer. (laughter) I have
no plans to file for any office other than the one that I have already
filed for.
DELANEY: Has anybody been down there in the last half hour?
(laughter)
FRYE: Delegate, I presume?
GOVERNOR: Are there other questions. Thank you.
SEVERAL: Thank you.
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