Evening star., 1932-08-02
B. E. F. CHIEF SEES
GOV. RITCHIE TODAY
IN REGARD TO COLONY
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already here that it would be 10 days
or two weeks before the main body
would be brought here.
There will be no repetition of Wash
ington, where they came helter Skelter,"
he asserted The men will be brought
in here in an orderly manner" He
added the camp will be designed as a
refuge solely for members of the B. E.
F. who were ousted from Washington.
Joseph Brennan, who was in charge
of the Commissary Department, said
he estimated the food supplies would
last about two days, but added neigh
bors and sightseers have been bring
ing in donations of food, tools and
bedding.
David S. jenkins, president of the
Annapolis Chamber Of Commerce,
meanwhile, attacked the presence of
the marchers in the county. He said
farmers in the county were having
trouble in making a living and he
failed to see how group of about A.
900 men could support themselves.
The Governors statement was:
Maryland treated these men with
every consideration while they were
here; fed them and transported them
to Pennsylvania, where they wanted to
go. Maryland will continue to respect
every right of any of the men who are
now in this State or who may come
here, and both as a people and as a
State we will show our sympathy and
helpfulness in every way. But to per-
nit settlement to be established here
along the lines suggested raises other
questions.
1T all sounds very utopian, but GER
tain practical things must rot be over
looked.
Calls Site Unsuitable.
"In the first place. the proposed site
is totally unsuitable for the purpose. I
have had it inspected by the State
Health Department. Il is principally
scrub woodland, with no agriculture
upon it possible No food Of any kind,
nothing like an adequate water supply,
ard of course, no sewerage facilities. No
| group could earn a livelihood or sustain
themselves on that land, and health
and sanitation would be seriously
menaced.
"Our own Maryland people are suf-
fering sadly now from the effect of de-
preston, want and unemployment. We
cannot be expected to accept in our
midst an organized body of men who
do not belong here, and who would
certainly be the object of public char
! ity, at a time when we will have to
strain every energy and tax every re-
source to care for our own people.
Under these conditions the settle
ment is totally impracticable and should
not be established.
Whether the men can be prevented
from coming into Maryland with the
intention of settling here may involve
legal questions. The attorney genera
is giving that consideration. But there
! is no question about what the sltua
| ton of the men would be If they Ole
settle here.
They would have no means OF live
| lihood resources. They would present {
social problem and problem oil Law
and order Of the first magnitude, par
| ticularly in the coming Winter.
There is no reason why Marylanf
! should assume the burdens and IN
| dangers their presence here would in
volve. The men belong in the variou
! other States from which they came
and they should return there, or els
the Federal Government should unoer
! take to send them there.
Il dc not think it necessary at tnl
time to say what action the state WI!
take If the men undertake to settle mere
+, I hope this statement, made with lul
| sympathy for the men in what the.
have gone through. will be sutnclent.