Evening star., 1932-01-08
R|TCH|E PROCLA|MS
He IS A CANDIDATE
Open Bid for Nomination Is
Made by Governor at
Jackson Day Dinner.
BY the Associated Press.

bert G. Ritchie, with q scathing de-
nunciation of the present Republican
administration, today stood before the
people with his first allusion to him
self as a Democratic presidential candi-
date.
Speaking last night at the Jackson
day dinner of the Concord Democratic
Club, at which national and State
leaders of the party were guests, the
four time Maryland executive declared
he would be proud to carry the Demo-
cratic banner to victory in November.
The four-time Maryland executive,
who had been lauded as the next
President, declared that 81 am deeply
grateful for the generous references
which have been made to nae in con-
nection with the presidency"
For any American to deny that he
Is proud of such mention would be
false modesty. There is no room for
false modeSty on my part and l say,
of course I would like to be Presi-
dent; who would not?'
First Thought for Party.
Having said this much, let me add
that as a Democrat my first aspiration
is to see the Democratic party win.
Should the mantle of party leadership
fall upon the shoulders of any of the
other distinguished Democrats who
have been mentioned or should the con-
vention'S choice be still another. then
cheerfully and wholeheartedly it shall
be my part to fight in the ranks be-
hind him, for him and for all those
cardinal and enduring things which
are living, breathing faith In our party.
New forces and strange tendencies
have steered us far from safe moorings.
The time has come in our Nations life
for a return to fundamentals and first
principles. In no other way can you
find a starting point again for sound
thinking and constructive planning.
I'VE began with a simple and unique
system of State and Federal sovereign
ties. And now by sheer Federal usurpa-
seen powers and responsibilities of the
States surrendered, rights and privileges
of the individual destroyed and the
functions of local self-government
steadily and progressively weakened"
Taxation Burden Feared.
Further extension of Federal powers
would imperil government itself and
create a burden of taxation which
would amount to confscation, he
declared.
Decrying the possibility of compulsory
government unemployment insurance,
the executive declared that should that
ever come to pass bureaucracy would
be established that would "out-bureau-
crat all our other bureaucracies."
tfrT11a daropr here 7 IL lies IN
the possibility of compulsory govern
mental unemployment insurance" he
continued. Should that ever come,
believe it would mean a bureaucracy so
great that 1t would out-bureaucrat all
our other bureaucracieS put together.
Industry itself can avoid this danger by
showing enlightened craftsmanship Of
its own. 1t has always seemed to me
that the obligation here rests primarily
not ON Government but on industry it
self. Industry benefits from labor in
days Of prosperity, and economic justice
demands that some adequate provision
be made for labor when adversely comes.
But II industry does not fulfill its part
in this obligation, then very much
fear that the pressure on Government
may nnally force 1t to step IN, and the
end may then be fearful drain on the
public treasury and a dangerous de-
parture from American standards"
i think the collective wisdom of
the American people is against the ap-
palltng extension Of government into
every field Of private enterprise The
years Of triumphant but self-serving
and scandal ridden Republicsnism have
been responsible for this.
Il believe the collective wisdom Is
for minimum Of government and max
imum Of freedom, and that it is against
public ownership Of utilities. Most of all
DO l believe it is against Communism,
Socialism, Sovietism, Hitlerism, black
shirts, red shirts and all other isms
that are running amuck in Europe"
The American people want none of
these things and will stand none of
these things. believe they look now
TO the Democratic party, with it's self
operating social forces and ideals, and
with its ability to mobilize the best
thought and intelligence of the country,
to see that none Of them secure any
foothold here.
Some may call our system capital
isuc, but that is a misleading term. In
dividualistic is nearer right, and indi-
vidualism is the Democratic ideal Our
party belief calls for the free play Of
individual endeavor. We insist on
mans right to the fruits OF his own
labor and the rewards of his own ener-
gies, and upon his freedom to work, to
create, to acquire and to rise"
The high-water mark Of all the Fed
eral interference, as seen by the Govern
or, is national prohibition. The great
est progress toward temperance, he said,
came when the question was left to
the States. u
Flags Present Tariff.
"I think it should be turned back to
the States" he declared. 80 that each
may settle it in accordance with the
needs and conditions of its own people,
and be protected by the Federal Gov
ernment against interstate shipments
which would Contravene its laws"
Tariffs, debts and disarmament were
seen by Gov. Ritchie as the greatest
Of the foreign affairs before the Ma
tion.
He fayed the present tariff as hav-
ing closed the doors to Americas best
customers, destroyed export trade and
as driving American industry to for
eign countries The foreign debts
cannot be cancelled he declared.
They are part Of the national budget,
and II the foreign nations do not pay
the money, the American people must.
While we are asked to consider their
dDLlLy 10 pay JHeSe governments are
spending huge sums on armaments,
which are an economic drain and in
cannot be Cancelled, he declared.
Message Attacked.
President Hoover's message TO Con-
gress was attacked for its great
Silences" about the issues before the
country.
The country is awakening, and that
always spells opportunity for the Dem
ocratic party. This is not the occasion
for concrete plans and specifications
II is enough to recognize the upsurging
of the people against Republican eva
sion and inaction and blundering in
Washington. The masses are turning
again to the party Of Democracy as
their authentic voice
In both Of the great parties thinking
people see that the salvation Of the