Evening star., 1932-02-27
R|TCH|E PLATFORM
ONE OF LIBERALISM
Maryland Governor Known
Chiefly as Exponent
of States Rights.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, February 27.-Albert
Cabell Ritchie's campaign for the
Democratic presidential nomination has
been distinguished by a frank state
ment of issues. On the basis of his
public utterances, his platform" has
taken on form perhaps as specific as
one might be at this stage in the
scramble of candidates.
The Maryland Governor is known
chiefly as an exponent Of States rights
the traditional American doctrine Of
local self-government and State de-
termination" He believes the proper
function of government is to protect
the person and property of the citizen
and safeguard him in his pursuit of
happiness; not to exercise such control
that men do not know whether they
have any rights at all"
Many Of his utterances have a re-
dictionary ring in the public ear in
day when most politics lean toward
further GENERALIZATION Of the Govern
ment in Washington, extended control
over private enterprise and personal
conduct.
Code Called Liberalism.
Ritchie describes his code as liberal
ism, but liberalism that often takes us
back to fundamentals" His democracy
he describes as Jeffersonian, and sug-
gests that general revival OF the prln-
ciples of Jefferson is in order for the
country's welfare.
He has been a most vigorous oppo-
nent of national prohibition, urging that
the liquor problem be turned back 10
the States for their own solution.
His States rights doctrine applies
as well to such issues as the super
vision of industries and utilities and
questions arising on such subjects as
education and child labor.
R1tchie's opposition to government
regulation, of utilities has put him at
odds with a fraction of his party.
He cites the experience with the rail-
roads in fighting government owner
ship. The government, he says, turned
them back again disorganized and de-
moralized, with tracks, equipment and
rolling stock run down."
Ritchie is against making the power
question a party issue. Il hold no
brief for any of the utilities" he SAID,
but I know that the development OF
power has added immeaSurably to the
wealth of the nation, and 1t is not OLD
wealth taken from others by the pro-
cesses of trade, but new wealth wTung
from the treasure house of nature. This
involves a high order of initiative and
enterprise. It calls for risks for which
capital has the right to its just re-
turns"
Against All Censorship.
Bureaucracies and commissions are
abhorrent to him. He is steadfastly
against all manner of censorship. He
would have us maintain a military sys..
TEN adequate for our own national
defense" and able to assure respect for
our neutrality and our effectiveness as
a factor for world peace"
It Is his belief that the Hawley-Smoot
tariff is bringing retaliations from
other nations whose trade we ought TO
have and whose good will should be
an American asset" Only through en-
couraging our export trade in every
way, he says, can IAN overflow Of goods
from our factories and of produce from
our fields be absorbed"
He has advised extreme caution in
making any gestures toward an evSntudi
cancellation of the foreign debts, in
sisting that any such move must de-
pend upon what is of greatest advantage
to this nation in the end. If American
citizens are to assume the burden Of
the war debt from our former allies,
he maintains, it must be demonstrable
that Americas position in the world
market will be bettered thereby.
Gov. Ritchie Is a native of Richmond
Va, but attended Maryland colleges and
began the practice Of law in Baltimore
in 1898. The Ritchie family Of Mary
land and the Cabells of Virginia speak
of his representative American back
ground. He Is an Episcopalian.