Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-10-05

Tne latter HELD 10 now being stunned
by a commission appointed By the
Governor pursuant to act Of the last
Legislature.
We favor such legislation as will
enable women to register for voting
purposes upon stating simply that
they are over 81 years Of age.
Conservation.
We pledge our party to the policy
Of State purchase of oyster shells for
the replenishing of our oyster beds.
We advocate legislation prohibiting
seed oysters being taken from the
State. We favor legislation appro-
pirate to stop pollution Of the Ches-
apeake Bay and other waters and trib-
utaries.
We favor an adequate program for
the protection and propagation Of the
game fishes Of the fresh waters Of the
State.
State Armoriss.
The States plan for constructing
additional armories at Hagerstown.
Crisfield, Easton and Kensington was
made dependent by the last Legisla-
ture upon the sale Of the old Fourth
Regiment Armory lot in Baltimore
city, and could not be carried out be-
cause this lot could not be sold. We
pledge our party to such legislation
as will assure the building Of State
armories at each above-named cities,
and also necessary improvements at
the Field Artillary Barracks at Pixies
Vile. the Fifth Regiment Armory in
Baltimore and the One Hundredth and
Fourth Medical Regiment Armory in
Baltimore, and proper provision to aid
in the continuance Of the Air Service
Flying Field now located at Dundslk.
State Purchasing Department.
We favor the establishment Of ware
housing facilities for the storage Of
merchandise purchased under favor.
able market conditions, thereby insur-
ing greater economy and better in
spection than is possible when pur-
chases are limited by the storage ia
cilities Of the using authorities.
States Rights And Prohibition.
The fundamental principle Of the
Democratic party has always been that
decentralization Of power in the Fed
Pral Government and Federal invas-
Ions Of the rights Of the States are
destructive of our form of govern
ment and of the liberties Of our people
The provisions of the Volstead act
constitute a clear departure from this
principle Of government, and we be-
lieve appropriate steps should be taken
by Congress to turn the subject back
10 the States, so that each State, with
In constitutional limitations, may have
the opportunity Of settling it in &C
cordance with the wishes Of its own
people; and until that time we believe
that the Volstead act should be amend
ed so as to permit the manufacture
and sale Of beer and light wine where
permitted by local law.
AS long as the Eighteenth Amend
ment is part Of the Constitution we
recognize, of course, that it should be
upheld and respected. We are forced,
however, to realize that the existence
of the Volstead act has caused a disre-
gard for law and order and a degree
Of actual lawlessness unparalleled in
this country. Particularly is this the
case in those States where the Vol
stead act, lacking popular support, has,
nevertheless, been enacted as a State
measure. AS long, therefore, as the
Federal Government elects to interpret
and enforce the Eighteenth Amend
ment in Maryland through the Vol.
stead act We feel that the response
bility for such enforcement here
should rest on the Federal Govern
ment alone; and we, therefore, believe
that the task Of enforcing the pro-
visions Of the Volstead act should not
be assumed by this State.
This does not mean that we depart
in the slightest degree from full rec
ognition Of the right OF the people of
the various political units of the State
to secure from the Legislature and
approve at the polls such prohibition
laws as they deem best for the re.
spective counties aad communities in
which they live. This is the Demo.
cratic principle Of home rule, which
has been many times exercised in
Maryland. The Maryland Court of
Appeals has held that the local laws
thus passed and approved are still in
force. While, therefore, we do not
approve the Volstead act as an en-
forcement measure in this State, we
favor the strict enforcement of these
various State local laws and such
amendments thereto as may from time
to time be adopted.
| Conclusion.
| Inc pieuges or this platform will
be faithfully and fully executed II
the Democratic party is continued in
control of the State administration.
The State candidates, Albert C.
Richie, of Baltimore City, but now a
resident of Annapolis under the Con.
stitution, for reelection as Governor;
Thomas H. Robinson, of Hartford coun.
ty, for Attorney-Generai; William s.
Gordy. Jr., of wicomico county, for
reelection as Comptroller, and James
A. Young. of Allegany county, for
Clerk of the Court of Appeals. are the
unanimous choices of our party.
Upon this platform and with these
candidates we submit our cause to the
people.