Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-11
PROSPECTS BRIGHTEN FOR US.
GOVT. PURCHASE CAPE COD CANAL
WOULD RE-ALIGN
AND REK|NDLE old
BELIEFS Of PARTIES

New York. Dec. 10.--Goverror
Albert C. Richie of Maryland voic-
ed tonight at the annual dinner Of
The Southern Society OF New York
a conviction that the time had come
for the Republican and Democratic
parties to "re-kindle some OF the
beliefs which vitalized them In the
past and to divide once again on
principle"
Traditional differences between
the major parties have quite dis
appeared, said Governor Richie,
adding that there never were more
than two--the tariff and states
rights. All others. he said, were
minor issues created for campaign
purposes and only distantly related
to fundamental party platforms.
Governor Richie did not believe
there was any one who thought that
IL the Democrats had won the 1924
election there would be tariff for
revenue only. He said the Demo-
cratic platform made no such prom
Used, or party leaders knew that
strict fulflllment would be impracti-
cable.
AS for states rights. the speaker
contended that both parties had
come to champion or combat certain
measures which affected the prin-
ciple of local self government and
both parties include persons who
want to make an exception in the
case of something in which they are
interested-child labor or federal
control over education or prohibition
or health or. state aid for internal
improvements or something else"
/ Governor Richie believed he
voiced the conviction of millions of
American citizens when lie said the
time was ripe for the re-kindling of
traditional beliefs and the re-align-
ment of parties according to basic
principles.
1.-THE most cherished. feature OF
ouf constitution Is the immunity 1t
gives the individual against govern
mental interference. millions OF
people think that this immunity is
not only being invaded but that 1t IL
being destroyed.
"They think it when congress, In
enforcing the 18th amendment, de-
clares that to be fact which every
one knows is not q fact; when the
states are permitted to punish per-
son FOR an act for which the fed
eral government already has pun
ished him.
"rhey think It Is being invaded by
subterfuges which substitute incom-
petent judges for n jury trial. they
they think 1t received a blow during
the world war when congress made
1t a crime even to say anything CAL
culated to bring our form of govern
ment into scorn or disrepnte."
Individual rights could be another
issue for the 1923 campaign, said
Governor Richie, for I'VE must ad-
NIT that never before has law res
tricted the freedom of the individ-
ual as much as now.
Were there any Hamilton In the
land today, viewing our country's
vast expansion and our relation to
International affairs, his brain would
conceive greater need than he had
ever dreamed of for a strong and
cohesive central government. re-
gulating and controlling firmly the
acts of it's citizenship.
Were there another Jefferson.
concluded Governor. Richie, "he
would demand. passionately as the
Jefferson of 1:;J years ago. that the
right Of the states to settle their To-
cal concerns be preserved or restored
to them and that the freedom of
the Individual be saved from govern
mental interference"