Evening star., 1923-09-29
GOV. R|TCH|E HITS
c: P.P[ATFO|RM
Opens Prince Georges Cam
Il. t! Nss9eS-t 2
paign With Address at
Seat Pleasant.
Special pispa tch to The Star.

SEAT PLEASANT, mu-s Septeinoef
29.-Declaring that the republican
platform. adopted Thursday at the
state convention in Baltimore was
written by persons unfamiliar with
their state government or was draft
ed with the idea solely Of catching"
votes. Gov. Albert C. Ritchie address,
ed an overflow democratic mass meet
ing in Palmer's Hall here last night
This was the governor's first speech
of the campaign in Prince Georges
county, and he said the republicans
apparently have started the cam
paign with the idea of injecting into
it vituperation and abuse of the
democratic administration.
Particula rizing as to the republican
platform, he referred to the plank
which indorsed the building of aastate
tubercular hospital for the colored.
Sees Signs of Ignorance.
LAS matter of fact" declared the
governor, the democratic admins
tration of six years ago started to
build exactly such an institution and
Ii has been completed within the last
week or so and will be formally dedi-
Gated next week. If this does not
show either ignorance on the part of
the trainers of the republican plat
form or a bold attempt at claptrap
politics l am not familiar with these
terms.
Another plank in the platform
promised the people is a law which
would provide better methods of pro-
tecting coal miners in western Mary
land. AS a matter of fact, in 1920, as
governor of the state, / named a COM
mittee to take this situation under
advisement and this committee re-
was passed at the 1922 session of the
legislature and is now a law of the
state. This is another example of
Woeful ignorance or an attempt to de-
ceive the voters"
Gov Ritchie referred at some length
to the manner in which the affairs of
state had been managed for the past
four years and stated that so far as
he was concerned he would rely upon
this record for the support of the
people for a continuance of these pol
icies.
Equal Opportunity.
Gov. Ritehie declared that the
fundamental object In his judgment
of government was to see that every
man and woman had an equal oppor-
tunity in this life; that the whole
framework of our national and state
governmental was erect
ed upon this principle.
1--WE are spending a whole lot of
money to take care of Juvenile de-
linquents," said the governor. I'VE
want the boys and girls of our state
who have gotten a false start or COM
mitted indiscretions to feel that they
are not hardened criminals and that
the state proposes to give them an
other chance.
"The same can be said of the in
mates of penal institutions for the
adults We want them to feel that 1t
is not the sole object of the state to
punish them, but to rehabilitate their
lives and to make Of them good cit
izens."
The two principal objects of the
administration. said Gov. Richie. are
to improve the health and educa-
tional conditions of the state, No
man or woman can be a good citizen
unless sound physically and mentally,
he said.
the public school system OF the state,
and now the annual expenditures are
$4,000, 900.
IT do not believe that any good
citizen begrudges this money. he
said. "It is an investment. 1t come 8
back to us in Increased efficiency all
along the line.
Maryland has the best state road
syatem in the country. Seven hun
dred miles of improved highways
have been constructed during the
past four years. Maryland has built
is per cent of the prospective state
road system, and this percentage is
far in excess of that attained by any
other state in the Union.
The democratic party is pledged to
hiring about reciprocity between
Maryland and the District Of Column
hia in regard to automobile licenses.
told the washington Chamber of
Commerce last winter that this reci-
procity would be effective so far as
Maryland was concerned. and had
Congress passed the gasoline bill this
very desirable and fair reciprocity
would now be in effect. However. the
bill was caught in the fllibuster."
The governor referred to the re-
organization of the state governments
machinery. During the past forty
years there had been created numer-
Gus boards and commissions in charge
of various functions of the state gov
ernment resulting in much extrava-
gance and ineff1ciency. Today. in
stead of having about eighty of these
boards and commissions the reorz
ganfzation scheme now in effect has
reduced the number to about eighteen.
Prominent Democrats Present.
The meeting was arranged by the
democrats of Seat Pleasant election
district and was attended by promi-
nent democrats from all sections of
the county. George N. Palmer pre-
sided and introduced the speakers
who were, besides the governor,
George w. Waters of Laurel, candi-
date for county treasurer; William P.
Magruder of Hyattsville, candidate for
county commissioner; Joseph c. Mat
tingly Of Prince Georges county and
William M. Loker of st. Marys county.
candidates for associate justices of
the seventh judicial circuit, and a
number Of the other candidates for
local offices.