The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-16
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1881
Ritchie's Chances

oOseIHOI IllOeIt SdDal or land has made his supreme effort for the presidential nomination on the democratic ticket political leaders all over the country are convinced after reading and hearing over the radio his fourth inaugural address deliv- cred in historic Annapolis Wednesday after noon. In 1892 the popular Maryland executive will come before the assembled dele gates at the democratic national convention to assume leadership of the party or to be de- teated by some other candidate like Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York, Owen D. Young of the same state or Senator Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas There can be no confusion on Governor Ritche's stand It is clear cut and loyal to the oldest tenets and traditions of the democratic party.
 It is probably for this very reason that Governor Ritchie will find less favor in the eyes of the democratic delegations in l932. As an expounder of the doctrine of states rights Governor Ritchie breaches what Thomas Jef- ferson laid down as a primary law of his party, but counter to the course that many of his fellow democrats take Less government and more rights for the people IS what Ritehie wants Out in Arkansas today the federal government is expected to foot sizeable bill to feed. clothe, and re- habllltate thousands of starving Arkansas farmers. The state is concerned, but more so in having Uncle Sam perform in this emer- gency.
 On prohibition Governor Ritchie stands where most of us would like to have him stand If the democratic party adopts plat form in which the 18th amendment is op- pofed then Governor Ritchie is the man to de fend this stand for bis IS unequivocal. He believes that to the several states should be entrusted the problem of controlling liquor -lanuf1 1cture and sale with the federal govern mcnt merely regulating interstate traffic. This view is the most popular one among oppo- nents of the 18th amendment and we don, doubt that time will show it to be the real solution of what we now realize is the worst ease of wholesale political corruption and bribery that the nation has ever witnessed.
 T believe" said Governor Ritchie the country is entering decade which will sec new economic and political dispensation, in which the ideals and principles lncarnate in our Maryland traditions and institutions will IlnO IuHlllTnenl. neSe traditions are tOlef- ation in all things and to all people; ordered liberty for the individual and the right to follow his own pursuits and to secure bis own happiness in bis own way so long he does not interfere with the like rights Of others or the recognized sanctions of society; and of d self-governing state free to settle its local problems in conformity with the needs of its peoples, who should be unhampercd by . an excess of government from within and by undue Federal supervision or interference from without.
 Nothing revolutionary or strange about these sentiments, They are ideals which were apparent a century ago to the fathers of the nation That they are 100 years old does not mean they are out of date nor not in keep ing with the progress of tbe United States. l here are some principles that must live for ever if we are to preserve the rich heritage handed down to us in the blood of our fore fathers. Executives like Governor Ritche are too few. Their regimes occur too ire quenty. We can thank Providence that our time has been made the richer by the presence of this Maryland democrat