Evening star., 1932-06-28
.R|TCH|E CONFIDENT
OF REPEAL ACTION
Bares Hope for Returning
Dry Issue to States in
Forum Plea.
By a stan Correspondent of The Star.

BY STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
CHICAGO. June 25.-As the Demo-
cratic National Convention approached
the question of what it will do on the
prohibition issue, Gov. Albert c. Ritchie
of Maryland, one of the contenders for
the presidential nomination, told a Ma
tion-wide radio audience last night that
he had hope and confidence the con-
vention will take a clear stand for re-
peal, in order that the problem may be
returned to the individual States.
The Maryland Governor was speaking
in the National Radio Forum, arranged
by The washington Star and broadcast
over a coast-to-coast network Of the
National Brcadcasting Co.
In reiterating his pwn position for
return of the problem to the States,
Gov. Ritchie also emphasized that those
States which want prohibitory legisla-
ton are entitled to have it, and that
there should be effective Federal meas
urcs to protect those States against
shipments from other States that would
conCraVene LneH laws.
McAdoo Called Away.
William G. McAdoo, another promi-
nent figure at the convention as head
of the California delegation. also was
scheduled to speak on the radio pro-
gram last night, but had to attend a
meeting Of one of the committees OF
the convention.
Gov. Ritchie was introduced to the
radio audience by Oliver owen Kuhn,
managing editor Of The Star.
Gov Ritchies speech follows:
Ladies and gentlemen of the radio
audience: 1 am extremely glad for the
opportunity, very grateful for the op-
portunity, which the National Broad
casting Co. gives me to discuss with the
people of the country briefly my views
upon this great problem and subject
of national prohibition, and I may say
that nothing could have given me more
pleasure than to have been presented
to the American people tonight by my
verv good and valued friend, Mr.. Oliver
Owen Kuhn. I am appreciative OF his
very generous expressions about me.
II am glad to discuss national prohi-
bition this evening for one reason par
hans above others. I have believed
for so many years, for SO long time,
in the PRINCIPLES which I viii briefly
outline today. that it is great graft
fication to me to see so many people
coming to adopt them now. be-
lieved in them and Maryland believed
in them; but it was not, so to speak,
altoqether fashionable, 1t was not quite
in order, it was not quite the lad.
Sees Problem Of Control.
oBllt now the soundness Of those
fundamental principles Is coming 70 De
recognized, and ! am glad to outline
them here tonight and to outline them
when the great convention OF a great
political party is deiberating ana Is IN
session, for surely the platform OF tnat
marty must contain clear. unmiStakapie,
fierce declarations upon the subject,
and I feel that the candidate OF the
party. whoever he may be, should nave
sound. sane views on this subject, TOO.
: "To nv mind. national prohibition Is
not at all question Of wet or ques-
tion of drv. Those are inept, 1nap-
plicable phrases. The problem Is pure
Nv and simply q problem OF Govern
Ynert, and let me see If can present
it to you in that aspect.
president Washington, in the con-
vention that framed and submitted the
Constitution of the United States, not
President at that time, OF course, VIII
messed the beginning OF a contest tnat
still divides those concerned or inter-
ested in the processes OF Government.
On one side at that time was that great
Southerner Thomas jefferson, VINO oe-
lieved in democracy, who champloneo
the cause of all men and who insisted
on the full and complete sovereignty OF
the States over all matters OF local con-
Germ. On the other side stood Aexall-
der Hamilton, financial genius OF MS
day, but who believed in government by
an aristocracy and who argued Tor the
centralization of power in the Federal
Government.
Points to Jefferson.
Jefferson became President, and he
gave practical demonstration OF the
benefits that flow from recognition and
consideration of the rights of all, and
from a rigid adherence to the policy OF
allowing communities the greatest pos
sible measure of self-government. The
principles taught by Jefferson became
adcpted throughout the country, and
they are part of the heritage that has
been handed down with our traditions
of national patriotism, loyalty and high
standards of citizenship.
This conflict between Hamilton and
jefferson was not one OF theories, IL
was a conflict of actualities, and those
same elemental actualities are con-
fronting us and battling with each
other again today. The issue now, as
then. is much more fundamental than
whether this or that current contention
is to prevail, or whether this or that
party shall dispense the powers about
US. rights and liberties that are guar
anteed us by charter and by tradition;
''These are being lost and sacrificed
in the lux Of events and democracy
itself. I think, is being put TO the test.
Year after year we witness additional
encroachments by the Federal Govern
ment into fields of activity that prop
erly belong to the States. Where power
to do this is not conferred by the Fed
eral Constitution, Federal invasion Is
accomplished by Federal subsidies. Fed
eral bureaus have been developed and
explained with increasing Federal con-
troll and Federal supervision over mat
terS of local concern.
Jefferson has said that those people
are the best governed who are the least
governed, but we are being subjected
to such a superfuity of government that
at last the people are beginning 10 see
that unless this un-Amertcan process is
stopped it will some day destroy the
whole government ediflce which was
builded to assure happiness and peace
to our people.
"Our idea is a maximum of freedom
and a minimum of government. The
reality seems to be a minimum OF free
dom and maximum OF government
70 y,1f1n11 for tho hapkOrOIInO
Cites State Reforms.
"Now 1 will come closer to the ques-
ton. Most of our great reforms and
proposed changes in organic law to mt
rnndern needs have been Of State