Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-02-06
RITCHIE SETTLES
QUESTION AS TO
HIS CANDIDACY
CONTINUED from Page u

Naturally l would like TO have ths
vote of everyone in my party who ap'
proves my administrations, wht
thinks / have done my best and WHIT
believes in the things believe in, bu
] want this primary to reflect the per-
fectly free choice of the democrats o.
Maryland, and if the result should bt
againts me no one will fall in mort
cheerfully behind the winner than
will. ~
AS different questions arise from
time to time / viii state my position
upon them. Tonight I simply want
to summarize where I stand on what
new appear to me to be the more
important things Of Statewide ma
ture. / will do this briefly, but hope
30 clearly that misunderstanding vii
not be possible.
/. II Is hardly necessary to say that
! am opposed to all encroachments by
the Federal Government upon the
rights of the State of Maryland and
the liberties of our people.
A Governor has not the opportunity
to resist effectively good many Fed
eral Entertainments, but he is in po-
sition to resist those which require
affirmative official action of his State.
Of these the principal ones now pro-
posed are three.
My position upon these is as fol-
lows:
am opposed to the Volstead law as
a State enforcement measure.
l am opposed to the ratification of
the Child Labor Amendment, because
I believe that the welfare of the
child is much better subserved If each
State has the responsibility of pass
ing It's own needed legislation in con-
formity with it's own labor conditions,
and do not want a Federal Bureau
to fit children TO bureaucratic stand
ards.
I am opposed to any action by this
State approving a Federal Department
Of Education, or accepting for this
State the provisions of any Act of
Congress enabling the Federal Gov
eminent to interfere, or to get foot
hold here which may lead to inter-
fering, with the free and unrestricted
rights of the people of Maryland to
continue to educate their children in
their own way as they have always
done.
2. The State tax rate was SO 31-72
cents when l took office in 1920. This
year it is slightly less than 27-1-3
cents, showing a reduction in seven
years of Is per cent, the greatest re-
duction in any period since the Civil
War. Every effort must be made to
reduce the rate still further through
the strictest economy consistent with
the needs Of the State.
3. The necessary measures must be
adopted for the preservation and re-
punishment Of Maryland oysters,
crabs and fish. More has been done
towards this end during the last few
years than ever before. For the first
time interests which were hostile for
years have been brought into opera
ton. The plans are nearly worked
out. The thing now is to pull togeth-
err and secure their adoption.
4. The aim of our State road pro-
gram must be more, better and safer
roads, and it must provide, among
other things, for the elimination of
railroad grade crossings on State
highways under a fair and proper
plan. The plan is being studied now
and will, of course, be submitted to
the public for constructive criticism.
5. The last six years have lifted
Maryland public schools from the rut