Evening star., 1934-05-13
|GOv. R|TCH|E ASKS
FIFTH ELECTION
Statement Issued in Reply
to Demands of Group
in Baltimore.
CONTINUED From First Page.)

of my life to public service. First I
was assistant city solicitor, then peo-
pies counsel for Public Service Com
mission. Then followed a period Of
four years, 1916 to 1920, when I was
attorney general of the State. In
1919 I was elected Governor Of the
State, and was reelected in 1928,
1925 and 1880. My majority in 1880
was $1,000, which constituted a record
in this State, and my four successive
terms, comprising IS years, are a
record in the country.
"Candidly, admit that have been
honored by the people Of the State
beyond my deserts. Aside from my
gratitude, which has been whole
hearted and honestly inexpressible,
there has been but one thing in my
power to give in return. That have
given in full measure, namely, I have
given to the people and their affairs
my undivided time and the best
thought, energy and effort I possess.
Since becoming Governor I have had
no business but the peoples business.
have had no client but the State of
Maryland; no outside interest Of any
kind.
Record Is "Open Book"
Everybody knows this. My record
has been an open book. There Is
nothing in it to hide or conceal. I
have made mistakes, doubtless. my
fair share Of them, but they have been
mistakes Of the mind and not of the
heart.
Now I reach the point where I
must make q decision for the future.
There are three roads ahead. First,
I can retire from public life and re-
turn to the practice of law. Frankly,
I do not want to do this. I have be-
come attached to public life, and be-
heve-or at least I hope-that the
years Of my experience have fitted me
for it. Secondly, I can run for the
United States Senate. Thirdly, can
run for Governor again.
Ever since last Fall I have OBJ
served as closely as I could the politi-
cal situation in this State. I have
talked to hundreds of citizens, men
and women. have received any
number of letters and communications.
Perhaps I have delayed long enough
to impose upon the patience of the
people. But have wanted to ap-
praise the political sentiment as well
as could, and have wanted to give
every one who aspired to the Cover
norship the fullest opportunity to an
nounce himself.
Senate Race Considered.
Some of those whom I saw or
communicated with preferred me to
run for the Senate. They considered
this an honorable ending to a politi-
cal career as we'll as the easiest course
and the one involving little or no risk.
The majority by far have asked me
to run for Governor. None has asked
me to retire. On Wednesday last, %
Marylanders, irrespectively of political
creed or factional lines, presented me
with petition urging me to run for
Governor, on the ground, which
repeat with difidence. that the expert
ence I have had could be used with
more value to the people as Governor
than as Senator. Naturally I was i'm
pressed with the forcefulmess of this
petition and the evident sincerity of
those who signed it.
"I need not say that am fully
conscious Of the dignity Of the honor
and responsibility Of the seat in the
United States Senate. It may be that
I am making a mistake, as some Of
my friends think, in not running for
that high office, but it so happens
that I had rather be Governor Of
Maryland than hold any other office
within the gift of the people of the
State. My heart and my interest are
bound up here. If am taking any
risk in running for Governor. then
I had rather take that risk than the
certainty of being elected Senator.
I have shown that by running for
Governor on two occasions when I had
the opportunity of running for the
Senate.
Opportunity for Service Ahead.
'In addition to this personal de-
sire, might still hesitate did ! not
knnv that during the npYt four wears