Evening star., 1933-11-12
R|TCH|E PROPOSES
D|VORC|NG OF BEER
AND LIQUOR SALES
Opposes Handling in One
PIace-Prepares to Call
Legislature.
BY J. c. DEPONAI.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, November 11-Con-
trary to expectations and although he
was strongly urged 20 do SO by scores
of friends in both political parties. Gov.
Albert c. Ritchie made no reference to
his political plans in his speech at the
dinner rendered him here this week by
1900 leading citizens Of the State.
Instead, he confined his remarks to
the work that had been done by other
leaders in the cause, particularly Capt.
William H. Stayton, whom the Cover
nor declared was the real pioneer in
the work for the repeal of the eight
eenth amendment.
Gov Ritchie said, in part: "An honor
to you. Capt. Staytoni When enlisted
In this cause 1t was in the ranks behind
you. always regarded myself as hold
ing q commission signed with your
hand and sealed with your seal, and
now that it is over, say all honor to
you. sir, for the grit, the spirit and the
leadership you inspired
Grateful for Honor.
do not think. my friends. that I
consider myself deserving of the honor
you are doing me tonight. I am CRATE
ful-that goes without saying-but I
know too much about this long fight to
consider that the laurels of victory be-
long aT tom to me too r,,,c, about ~. r.,o, >.
took-the courage, the zeal, the hard
work, the enthusiasm and the fire It
took to win at last, to feel that any
single person. certainly not myself, de-
serves the honors of victory.
And please believe that to me this
celebration tonight is far bigger than
any one man here We are, all of us,
guests of honor. This is the reunion of
those who fought beside each other for
great creed and a great gospel.
In this fight Republicans Joined
with Democrats. Two months ago I
campaigned this town night after night
with the chairman of the Republican
State Central Committee of Baltimore
City and a former Republican State
Senator and others high in the ranks
OF the Republican party. In any event.
the cause was bigger than partisanship.
The events of this evening will pass
ana pe forgotten, even the incidents of
the great tight now happily over may
become memories which time will dis
PEI. but tonight. at least, we can clasp
Syne, and each of us can acclaim his
neighbor for what his neighbor did to
re-establish the honor and the dignity
10 American institutions, TO preserve
temperance and decency In American
life and to maintain the priceless
possessions of American liberty and
American freedom"
VIII Call Legislature.
While the Governor did not touch on
regulation OF the liquor trafdc when
Nf6 fo1 4,
announce he would call q special ses-
sion Of the State Legislature, he has
already announced he believes in the
separation of beer and hard LIQUOR.
In recent sneech on "Rerulation NJ
the Liquor Traff1c,' Gov. Ritci1ie said:
am opposed to the sale Of LIQUOR
IN the same places where beer is sold,
ana I also am opposed to a high
license tax.
IN the first place there win be the
Federal tax, and on top OF that will
come the State and then the county
imposts. All Of these, If piled on TOP
OF each other in high figures, will force
the price Of liquor so high that bootI
Logging will result.
The sale Of the two beverages should
De Kept separate so the benefits of tenn
perence brought about through sale of
the lighter will not be torn down bv the
SAFE OF hard liquor, and a return Of the
conditions which made prohibition
possibility be effected
:, Then there is the question of where
liquor may be sold. The rich man will
have his hotels and clubs where he NAV
buy ant drink. But what about the
poor man? Where is he to do his
drinking? That is another question
which has to be settled.
There also is the question of distri
nution-whether the State is to enter
the fleld Of manufacture and sale
through the dispensary system. or
wnetner that viii be left to private
State are ready to authorize entrance
OF the State into the liquor business is
another strong question. -