The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-09-19

Albert c. Ritchie, Democratic
nominee for Governor, is the present
Attorney General Of Maryland, to
which office he was elected four
years ago by majority of about 25,-
600 votes, running far ahead of the
rest Of the ticket
| Mr.. Ritchie received his general
education in Baltimore City and was
graduated from the law school OF the
University of Maryland in 1893. In
the same year he began the practice
of law with the law firm or Steele,
Semmes, Carey & Bond. Two years
later he became a member OF the
firm In March, -- 1908, Mr.. Rltchle
was appointed Assistant City Solicl-
tor. In November of the same year
he formed a law partnership with
Stuart s. Janney. Since 1907 Mr.
Ritchic has been Professor OF Law
at lie University of Maryland.
=! In July, 1910, Mr.. Ritchie became
Peoples Counsel 20 the Public Ser
vice Commission Of Maryland. One
of the most important events in MS
career was the fight made by him IN
1912 as Peoples Counsel for cheaper
gas in Baltimore City. Practically
singlehanded, Mr. Ritchie was pitted
AGAINST the DGSI CApCL III CAAS SSAA~
=. ,try and the ablest legal talent the
= Gas Company could employ. He de-
voted all OF his time for nine months
to the fight, and his efforts resulted
i'm a brilliant victory. The price OF
gas was reduced from 80 to 80 cents
Der 900 cubic feet, and the price OF
electricity from 10 to S12 cents pei
K w. Fl.
Mr. Ritchie resigned as Peoples
Counsel in February 1913, to resume
the practice of his profession. More
than year later it was charged
l that the gas company had evadec
t the reduction in the price of gas by
}, lowering the quality. Mr.. Ritchlf
: devoted the summer of 1914 to
: study of this question, which NJ
e made as a private citizen and at mi
4 own expense. He filed a brief witt
: the Public Service Commission ant
: aupeared before it at the hearings
z, i'm behalf of the people Of Baltimore
; His work resulted in another victor.
i when the Commission ordered tn
> Gas Company either to restore th
II former quality oil gas or to turthe
IS reduce the price. The Gas Compan,
) decided to reduce the price to g
+ cents per 1000 cubic feet. Tn
fights made by Mr. Ritchie, in an
If out of Office saved to the people
n Baltimore an amount estimated Z
il total about 100000 annually.
LIN an editorial on the gas cas-
The Baltimore Sun said:
u "He (Ritchie) has gone up aga1ns
1f the ablest lawyers the Gas Compan
could command ...... big corpora
n tions have way Of obtaining th
z, best legal talent He has measure
W lances with the most experience
of fencers. And. whatever, the Com
missions decision may be, Ritchi
IN has made good"
v. When Mr. Ritchie resigned Q
Mt PEOPLES Counsel The Baltimore Sta
ii said editorially:
W "His CRitchie's) conduct of the ga
ly probe was one of the most brlll1a1
a and exhaustive pieces Of, advocac
u. which have commanded public after
ut tion in Baltimore i'm recent year
ne but his very devotion to his Work
e. a public servant required the nel
il lect OF his private practice, ana
lie IL not surprising that ne nnds
id impossibla to make further sacrlnce
Sc There can he little doubt, hoWeve
~, that he will be found serving III
[r. people i'm higher places i'm time; sul
TIA abilities al his are needed ln u
IA public service.
I'LL After Mr.. Ritehie had broug
ah about further reduction i'm the prl'
nd of gas by his own investigation
- 1914. The Baltimore Sun in an eo
". ltoriaI said:
lie i4Mr. Ritchie again wins the cor
nd mendation of the public Tor none
II. service efficiently rendered"
h- The ability and energy shown
d. MIR Ritchie as Peoples Counsel II
S.,ltod IN hiS nominations bv II