The Washington times., 1930-09-23
NEW ISSUE MAY
Be DECISIVE
! !. At Polls
SOHe.Man Rule" Of Governor
] Rltchle, His Presidential
| Chance, Record Are Issues
ny GEORGE 4. HOLMES
International News servIce)

By GEORGE b. HOLMES
gIntsrnational News servicel
i Another prohibition referendum
Mas chalked down on the list
today for decision In November.
The latest wet.dry test win be
sonducted almost within the
shad6w Of the Capitol-just
across the line in nearby Mary
aatad. where. many Washington
aanS, including some Government
officials, live and have their vot-
Ing residences.
g. o. p. Goes Dry
The action of the Maryland
Republicans, in convention as
ssemhled, in writing a prohibition
plank into their platform, makes
4t certain that this issue win
enter prominently, perhaps de
Cisively, into the Free States
gubernatorial contest. The Demo
crats have already adopted q
platform calling for the return
OF prohibition control to the
States. Thus the issue in Mary
land becomes clearcut.
residential politics also ENTER
into the Maryland contest, for
Maryland's ttree-tin1e governor
and three-time favorite son for
the Democratic Presidential nomi.
nation, Albert G. Richie, is seek.
Ing his fourth term. Perhaps the
most militant and persistent OF
all the vets, Ritchie has never
wsvered in his opposition to pro
hibition from the time the Eight
eenth amendment was written
into the Constitution.
RitCIhie In IL Years
Ritchie's Republican opponent
Is Mayor William F. Broening. Of
Baltimore, who was unoppoSed
Tor the nomination.
In addition to the prohibition
Issue against Ritchie, the Repub-
cans plan a savage attack on
what they characterize as lone
man rule" in Maryland. Ritchie
has been governor for IL years,
and II elected in November will
have extended his tenure Of Of
flee in Maryland over a span Of
is years. Until Ritchie came
along, no governor of Maryland
had ever succeeded himself.
Both Sides Speak Out
It has been due to Ritchie's
persistent opposition that Mary
land fnd0NF fC AR k1NA
states that has no state enforce
ment law to back up the Vol
stead Act. He has said repeat
edly:
''NO state officer is going to
enforce law that has been
forced upon the citizens Of.
Maryland without their consent
and without their approval"
In the face Of this stand Mary
Hand Republicans adopted this
plank in their platform:
''The evils Of the oId-time sa-
loon are now geUsrally ad-
Initted and the Republican
party is unalterably opposed to
its return. Public preaching
and cOndOning Of violations Of
the national liquor laws have
been reSOrted to as a screen
for the various shortcomings
Of the present administration,
and the purpose now is through
this means to divert public At
J tention from the fourth term.
I which is the chief issue of the
campaign.
"We recognize that there is a
divergence of opinion among
honest and patriotic citizens as
Go the wisdom of the Eighteenth
Amendment, and we cOncede to !
any individual or group Of indi.t
/, viduals the right to advocate
It's retention or repeal by all law
full means.
"As to the obligation Of pub
lie officials under their oath Of
l.'Office to support and enforce all
laws as they may exist, there can
Il be no question. Unless a public
ifOfficiaI Is himself an exempIar,
respect for law and order must
suffer.
we DcuCVc WIN washington
Aand Lincoln that the Federal
I 9ConstiSutiOn Is q sacred ObIiga-
Il tiOn. The Republican party de-
sClares its adherence to this great
j principle and pledges its candi-
lldateS to sincere observance Of
4 the same"
The outcome in Maryland will
Eoe watched closely by Capital poll.
ficians, not alone because of the
popular test Of prohibition Senti-
nlel1t, but also because if Gov.
ernor E2itchie is reelected it un-
doubtedly means that he will be
ka, foremost contender for the
democratic Presidential nomina-
kion in 1892.