Evening star., 1923-09-23

BALTIMORE, September 22.-The
| demoera attic state convention on Thurs
J day and the statement of Attorney
1 General Alexander Armstrong, repub-
! lican candidate for governor, that he
Is opposed to the volstead act In it's
present form and against any state-
| enforcement Legislation were the out
standing political features OF the
week.
| While his statement was not en-
| tirely unexpected. Mr.. Armstrong; g
| unqualified Endorsement of a modifi-
cation of the law to permit the sale
OF beer and light wines came as
| surprise. and on both sides great sat
| isfaction is expressed that the wet
! and dry issue has been shunted on to
| a Stdetrack by the utterances of both
parties-by the democrats through
! their platform and by the republicans.
+, thur far at least, by Mr.. Armstrong.
| The doctrine of states rights and
| protest against the further central
| ization of pcwer and authority in the
Federal Government, which. ne says,
has gone far enough" were the key
notes sounded by Gov. Ritchie in
his speech of acceptance at the Dem
ocratic State convention.
In again becoming the candidate
for his party, Gov. Ritchfe dedicated
his campaign to Maryland for Mary
+ landers." The people of this state,
he said. should alone have the power
tof determining their rules of liberty
and conduct.
! The people are reawake ening to
the truth that the endurance of our
country's government depends no
more upon federal supremacy in
federal affairs than it does upon
state supremacy In state affairs, and
that .invasions by either upon the do
main of the other are destructive of
the underlying principle of our Con-
stitution.
To Defend State Rights.
In the line with this truth the peo-
pie of Maryland insist that matters
pertaining solely to their internal
affairs and to their personal liberties
and conduct shall be decided by
Marylanders for Marylanders and not
by the federal government or by
other states for us.
The people want no more amend
ments to the federal Constitution un-
less the people themselves have the
opportunity OF passing upon them"
The platform adopted holds on
promises.
The Volstead act should be amend
ed to permit use of light wine and
beer.
rfarore[o,ion The yo,itead a. act is, is not proper
amendment. 1t should be enforced by
| the government alone.
! Passage of additional local option
| legislation will be aided when de-
sired by individual communities.
Permission for women to vote with
| out revealing their age.
Legislation to aid women and chill
dren in industry
! To apply all proceeds from motor
vehicle license fees to state roads and
l city streets.
Reduce Auto Licenses,
Reduction of auto licenses in 1924.
when the gasoline tax becomes 2
cents. Reciprocity with the District
of Columbia.
To make the Susquehanna river
bridge toll-free.
To block passage of burdensome or
unduly regulatory laws.
| prohibition OF shipment OF seed
oysters from the state and purchase
| or oyster shells by the state for prop
| agation purposes.
Armories will be built at HaRers-
town, Centeryille, Cumberland, Silver
Spring, Crisieid. .Easton and Kensing-
| ton. .
Improvement of state schools,
roads. penal institutions and refugees
Cut in the state tax rate through
sensible economy and by applying to
! the purpose all funds received from
increased assessments
Aid for agriculture and the Untver-
sity of Maryland
/ Fully informed on the policies.
pledges and plans of the democratic
party in the state campaign. the
trainers OF the republican platform
are now working on the task of
matching their opponents, utterance
with one equally attractive.
Inc democrats makn sfofo
tnelr main issue: the republicans will
concentrate their fire on Gov Rftchie's
administration.
The democrats promise expansion