Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-02-12
Governor Ritchie's Platform.

Governor Ritchie's platform, as he out
lined it last week in the announcement of
his decision to be candidate for nomina-
ton in the Democratic primary as Governor
OF Maryland, is as follows:
lit 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 cur people.
A Governor has not the opportunity to
resist effectively a good many Federal
encroachments. but he is in q position to
resist those which require affirmative Off
cial action by his State. OF these the
principal ones now proposed are three.
My position upon these is as follows
am opposed to the Volstesd law as a
State enforcement measure.
am opposed to the ratification Of the
Child Labor amendment. because believe
that the welfare Of the child is much bet
ter subserved II each State has the re-
sponsibility Of passing its own needed
legislation 10 conformity with It's own labor
conditions. and because do not want a
Federal bureau to fit children to bureau
cratic standards.
! 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 Government to interfere, or TO
get foothold here which may lead to
interfering. with the free and unrestricted
right 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 3l-72
cents when took Office In 1920. This
year it is slightly less than 81 l-3 cents.
showing reduction in seven years OF rs
per cent. the greatest reduction in any
period since the Civil War. Every effort
must be made TO reduce the rate still
further through the strictest economy con-
sistent with the needs OF the State.
3-The necessary measures must be
adopted for the preservation and Feplen-
ishment Of Maryland oysters, crabs and
fish. More has been done toward this end
during the last few years than ever before.
For the first time interests which were
hostile for years have been brought into
cooperation The plans are nearly worked
out. The thing now is to pull together
and secure their adoption.
4-The aim Of our State road program
must be more. better and safer roads. and
il must provide, among other things. for
the elimination Of railroad grade crossings
on State highways under 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 the
Maryland public schools from the rut they
were in TO a position which has made
them notable everywhere 10 the country
Other States send here to study them now
Teacher training is the keynote. This
progress must continue.
6-There must be adequate development
for the University Of Maryland. including
of course. its agricultural activities. ant
for the smaller State colleges.
7-SuitabIe action must be taken &c
meet the situation which will result I
Johns Hopkins University abandons IL
undergraduate courses. conferred a
length with DR.. Goodnow and the Hopkin
trustees on this subject last April ant
have had it under consideration since
The proposition is difficult to work out
and il cannot be done until the Hopkin
plans mature.
S-Experience and new conditions hav
made changes in the Public Service Com
mission law advisable for the protection
Of the public. The law must keep pac
with these conditions. do not believe Il
State ownership. because that general
means greater burdens on the people an
less efficient service. But the only alter
native TO 1t is adequate and effective regu
lation. All amendments to the publ
utility law necessary to secure this mus
therefore. be made.
There must also be secured such legisla
tion as may be needed to meet the condi
tons caused by the interstate development
Of different kinds which have recent
sprung up.
The commission will in due time advis
me its recommendations on the Who'll
problem of regulation, as II affects a
Maryland interests and people, and wi
personally cooperate in working out tn
proper legislative program.
9-There must be adequate facilitiC
for the care OF the prisoners. including III
criminal insane. and for the care of th
mentally afflicted. and particular study
the difficult and far-reachins problem pr,
scented by the feeble minded
This list is not intended to be exclusiv
There will be many other things TO
adequate zonine for Baltimore city. col
sideration of the advisability OF a surve
of the States resources. some adeQual
provision for reforestation. and so on. N
idea at this time is simply to indica
what seem to me the more essential Stat,
wide needs now evident. and to which
wish TO be committed.
1t should be understood also that Il
hieh-water mark in legislation has bee
reached. and that the motto Of the Legi
lature Of 1927 should be fewer laws. an
none that are not absolutely needed.
The Newcomb Club.