The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-08-29
.RITCH|E FOR
GOOD ROADS
WINS COUNTRY FOLK WITH PROMISE or
LATERAL HIGHWAYS.

. 1TUul GnT60 GOUnI16S--CAr-
roll, Howard and Frederick-as-
sembied at a. big picnic, in Wildwood
Park, near Mount Airy, Carroll coun-
ty, applauded Attorney General AL
bert Q. Ritchie, Democratic candidate
for Governor, when he told them
Saturday that he favored the i'm
provement of lateral roads connect
ing 'back-conntry" Marylanders with
the states main arteries of travel.
Several times recently during Mr..
/ Rltchie's personal campaign around
Maryland he has reiterated his ideas
on the lateral road proposition, and
each time the enthusiasm over them
has been more marked than before
It seems to be evident that the far
mers Of Maryland who do not live on
the State roads or the highways con-
Meeting the State roads need extern
sive improvements on the roads that
connect them with central markets
as much as they need anything else
MIR. Ritchie's sincere agreement that
they need them and his sincere state
ments that it is the States duty to
help supply the need seems to be
winning him many friends in the
country districts.
Speaking from a platform but re-
Gently stripped of the stage prop
critics of a slack-wire walker, a
couple of tumblers and two aerial
acrobats, Mr.. Kitchie said:
The system of State roads in
Maryland is not complete system as
it stands today. 1t is not enough
that you can 60 from Cambridge to
any county seat on the Eastern
Shore, or from Leonardtown to any
county seat in Southern Maryland,
! or from Baltimore to your county
seats here, and on through to the
county seats of Western Maryland.
Because you can do/that does not
mean that the road system of the
State is complete Thousands of
farmers do not live on these roads.
Some Of the roads that they must
use leading them into this existing
system are sometimes almost inn
passable. They have not the free
and convenient access to the States
markets that they ought to have
with their farm products. The people
in the cities want these products and
they want them as quickly as the
farmer can get them there.
The State cannot now sit back and
say, We have finished our road
system, when these farmers in the
back country are still in a state Of
partial isolation.
Gust how we should 60 about
getting these lateral roads we cannot
say now. For it is not political
matter at all; it is strictly a bust
ness matter Perhaps the State
ought to do it alone. Perhaps the
counties ought to help. We must
figure out their cost and we must
determine, with the application OF
hard business principles, who is to
pay for them and how they are to
be. paid for"
i Mr.. Richie spent more than four
hours in Wildwood Park, and he met
personally and talked with several
hundred voters, Democrats and Re
ipublicans. Most of the picnickers
seemed to be Democrats, and though
most OF them came from the three
adjoining counties, there were little
groups present from Montgomery ana
Washington counties. lit was the
third and last day Of the picnic. me
grove of tall chestnut trees was
crowded with people, and it was in
Etensely hot, despite scattered patches
Of shade Hundreds of automobiles
were packed there wheel to wheel.
Sideshows, ring games and candy
Wu00lS ulu q DuoAANohos
big booths where there was ice
cream, lemonade and soft drinks
were sWamped with customers all
day.
N On the big covered pavilion in the
center Of the park there was dancing
from morning until late Saturday
night. Early in the afternoon the
/ Knights Of the three counties
crossed lances in jousting tourna-
ment, and afterward many OF the
picnickers gathered at sale OF
thoroughbred Holstein cattle. Edgar
Mercer, Of Mount Airy, was the Auc-
tioneer. Two COWS consigned to the
sale by J. Harry Steele, of Mount
Airy, brought $3.50 and 5000 each. C.
Arnold Fleming had full charge Of
the picnic.
Attorney-General Ritchie was the
center Of a great deal OF friendly
campaigning during the day. Guided
about the picnic park by Senator
Wade Wtarfield, the Democratic can
didate for Senator from Carroll coun-
ty, and Humphrey D. Wolf, candidate
for Senator from Howard county, ne
got cordial receptions and pledges OF
support i'm the general election from
some Of Mary1and's oldest citizens.
SuCH 1ACLA do IlSAl 61AA OO00O
Stevenson and bud" Dorsey slapped
him on the back and called him
boy and, peering up into his face,
said he looked like a. good Demo
crat."
II Mr.. Dorsey, who is from out New
Freedom way, il 70 years old and a
Confederate veteran. He boasts that
he feels younger every day and that
he still has every tooth a man is
entitled to. He has, too; one can
see that when he laughs.
Alonzo Is. Sellman, chairman OF
the Board of Election Supervisors for
Carroll county brought MIR. Ritchie
in touch with many voters. EIis
popularity with all Democratic fac
tons in that part of the State
Though factions are few in Carroll
; county,, has had a decidedly har-
monizing influence. There are no
primary fights i'm the party in Car
roll, except for the States Attorney
ship. The Republicans, on the other
hand, are said to be confronted with
primary fights all along the line
Snader and Wooden are struggling
tooth and nail for the Republican
Senatorial nomination, while Senator
Warfield has no opposition IN the
Democratic ranks and hi supporters
feel confident of the outcome Ia the
general election