Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-09-19


bill giving absent soldiers and sailors the
right to vote, which was. however, not
passed until 1918. The Million Dollar War
Loan Act and the law establishing State
Farm for prison labor were also in the list
of the war legislation presented by Mr..
Richie.
Among the acts drafted by Mr.. Richie
and passed by the Legislature of 1918 were
those increasing salaries of teachers and
providing for State aid to high schools the
Three Million Dollar Road Loan of 1918
abolishing contract prison labor increas-
ing the pay Of policemen in Baltimore
city; giving the Police Board of Balti-
more city the power to reinstate officers
who entered the military service revising
the insurance laws; creating the State
Armory Commission: revising the bank
laws and providing that Contractors
bonds for State work should cover labor
and materials. Mr.. Richie also advised
with the Governor in the preparation of
the Budget Bill. The Attorney General
secured the services of a committee Of
lawyers to advise with him in the drafting
OF the Home Rule Bill
During the session of 1916 Mr.. Richie
drafted the laws abolishing coptinuine sp-
preparations creating the State Board Of
Labor and Statistics creating the State
Law Department; reducing the member
ship of the State Roads Commission: aboI-
ishine the envelope system of voting in
the counties at primary elections and pro-
vidine registration day in the counties
before primary elections.
Mr.. Ritchie's work in Maryland .6ained
for him nationwide recognition, aid he
was summoned to Washington to become
General Counsel to the U. S. War Indus
tries Board, perhaps the most powerful of
the administrative agencies connected with
the prosecution of the war.
At the time of the announcement of Mr..
Ritchies appointment to the War Indus
tries Board. the Baltimore Sun said:
LET US hope that the State will again
be able to command his services after the
war. He has proved himself too good and
efficient to be given up. permanently, with
out struggle. There are a few men in
public life in Maryland who have shown
as much energy. ability and devotion to
the public welfare as he. and the people
worthy Of self-aovernment will always
strive to keep such men in Office"
When the War Industries Board was dis
solved in December. 1918, Mr.. Richie re-
ceived letter from Bernard M. Baruch
Chairman of the Board, in which he said :
The effective discharge of your work,
and the cheerfulness which you carried at
all times in difficult situations won for you
the affection and admiration of all your
associates. In the accomplishments of the
United States War Industries Board you
know you have done your full share"
When Mr.. Richie announced his candi-
dacy for the Governorship in May, 1919, the
Baltimore News said editorially:
Attorney General Ritchie's announce
ment Of his candidacy for the Democratic
nomination for Governor is in response to
a widespread desire in his party that he
make the race. 1t has been manifested in
many ways, and Mr.. Ritchie's friends may
properly declare that in his case the office
is seeking the man. His candidacy is of
interest and importance to the citizenship
of the State. regardless of party, because
Mr.. Richie is distinctly of eubernatorial
calibre''
Mr. Richie was born on August 20, 1875,
and the son Of the late Judge Albert Richie,
OF the Supreme Bench of Baltimore city
Judge Richie was a native of Frederick
Maryland. but spent the greater part Of
his life in Baltimore city. where he attained
eminence in his profession and finally was
elected to the bench. Mr.. Ritchies uncle
Judge John Richie. of Frederick, was 6
Congressman and later member of the
Maryland Court Of Appeals. His earlies
paternal American ancestor was William
Richie, who was born in the county O
Angus. Scotland. in 1925, and came t
America in about 1742.