The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-08-05
GOVERNOR RITCHIES ADDRESS

GOVERNOR RITCHIE'S ADDRESS
Following is Governor Rltch-
les speech in part at the meet
ing of the Democratic State Cen
trail Committee in Baltimore last
week:
If the Democratic party would
win this fall, and l take it for
granted that we all want that,
because we are all Democrats.
believing that Democratic prln-
ciples and ideals are best for
the State, then two things are
necessary. First, we must Of
fer the people a constructive
program, and. next, we must
perfect the machinery of our
party organization.
Both in this State and in the
Nation our party has every rea-
son for confidence. We were
defeated last fall, but we were
defeated only because, after the
most constructive and progress
sive four years a National Ad-
ministration has ever given the
people, all the prejudices, all the
dislikes, all the animosities, all
the grudges which the war en-
gendered in many groups of the
people, were combined against
US.
Now we see Republican Ad-
mihistration which not only finds
that it cannot satisfy its cam
pajgn assurances to these various
groups, of their expectations,
but which has made little pro-
gress in satisfying the crying
need and demand of the country
for lower taxes. For after
nearly five months of Republi-
can rule, we see the Republican
party actually divided as to
whether the tariff Or taxation
should come first, with nothing
done about either.
In Annapolis not long ago a
nurse was brutally murdered,
The women who before this
had walked freely on the streets
at night without escort, began
to fear for their safety and for
that of their .chiidren. An ar
rest was made, the prisoner con-
fessed and he was tried and
found guilty in the United States
Court, which later denied him
a new trial. If there ever was
need for the law to take it's course
promptly, and for the guilty to
be punished, this was that case.
Yet first one .reprieve was
granted, then a second, and now
we are told that a third is likely.
No reasons whatever have been
advanced by the Department of
Justice for this delay, nothing
has been told us to raise doubt
as to the. mans guilt, and we
cannot help but feel alarm at the
suggestion which has been made
the delay is Influenced by con-
sideration for a large class of
people who are always allied
with the Republican party.
We recognize that an increas-
ing number of men and women
do not vote the Democratic
ticket just because those on it are
Democrats. We know that our
party must offer the people a
reason why they should vote the
Democratic ticket rather than
the Republican.
We have never failed yet to
offer such a reason. Our good
roads system, our workingmens'
compensation law, our Budget
system, and a hundred other
progressive measures were all
given US by Democrats.
The Democratic Party has
never yet been called upon to
legislate in the interest of the
working classes, particularly in
the interest of better working
conditions and hours for our
women and children, without
responding.
This year our party offers a
splendidly constructive program.
The public schools are being
studied, with the determination
Of placing them upon the high
est plane that is practicable.
The General Education Board.
without cost to the State. is sur
veying Jour State owned and
State aided Colleges, and as a
result of this work we will know
just what is needed to make our
system of higher education the
greatest possible credit Ito the
State. The National Hygiene
Bureau. also without cost to the