Evening star., 1936-02-24
Richie
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frequent trips to Washington for treat
ment by specialist.
Ritchie often remarked that his de-
feat by Gov. Nice probably was q
blessing in disguise" and that, owing
to break in his health just before
the 1884 election, he probably would
not have survived the strain of an
other executive term.
Returned to Law Practice.
At the end of his gubernatorial
tenure, Ritchie returned to private law
practice in Baltimore.
News of his death spread rapidly
and expressions of grief and tribute
were widespread, coming from ma
tional leaders in all sections of the
country.
One of the first in the State to ex-
press coincidence was Gov. Harry w.
Nice, Republican victor over the noted
Democrat in the 1894 election.
II am shocked beyond expression, -
Gov. Nice said. "The State has sus-
tanned a heavy loss-a loss that will
be hard to meet"
Ritchie. always strong personality
and outspoken in his convictions,
ascended to Nation wide notice in
1922 by his blunt opposition to pro-
hibition-a stand that then was un-
popular in many sections. especially
the South, Democratic stronghold.
Flaying the eighteenth amendment as
a destroyer of States rights, he boldly
set forth his position whenever called
upon to speak upon the heated issue.
He was thoroughgoing in his insist
ence on the application of the old
Jeffersonian principles to all the
problems of government. He described
his code as liberalism" but insisted it
was "a liberalism that often takes us
back to fundamentals"
His State rights doctrine applied
not only to prohibition. but to such
issues as supervision of industries and
utilities and questions arising on such
subjects as education and child labor.
So pronounced was Ritchie's opposi-
ton to governmental regulation Of
utilities that he incurred the en-
nifty of factions in his own party
because of his uncompromising stand.
Bureaucracies and commissions were
abhorrent to him. He was steadfastly
against all manner of censorship. He
believed in an adequate military es-
tablishment, however, for the purpose
of maintaining peace and assuring
respect for our neutrality"
White House Long His Goal.
Though most presidential aspir-
ants develop the ambition for the
highest public Office in the land only
after long public careers. Richie de-
liberately set cut at the beginning of
his public career with the White
House as his ultimate goal.
He abandoned brilliant and high
ly profitable law practice to enter
public life, undaunted by the fact
that he was serving in State with
only eight electoral votes and little
national political significance. He did
not allow tradition or custom to
stand in his way Maryland tradition
and custom for years dictated that
no Maryland Governor shall serve
more than one term. Some have
tried; all had failed. Further
more, the revised State constitution,
which Ritchie's father, State Judge,
had helped frame, specifically
stated that rotation in Office was de-
s1rable. Reelection was not pro-
hibited, but tradition and the con-
stitution advised against it.
Gov. Ritchie was the embodiment of
the Southland with its fine old ira
ditions, its gentle breeding and its
principles. He came from famous
stock. His father was an eminent
Maryland jurist, his mother one of
the famous Cabells of Virginia, q
family long brilliant in the history Of
its State. The Governor was born In
Richmond. Va, on August 20, 1876.
Young Ritchie, the only child Of his
parents, was educated in the private
schools Of Baltimore, at Johns Hopkins
University and the University of
Maryland Law School.
When 81, he married Elizabeth
Catherine Baker of Catonsville, Md.
They were divorced nine years later
and Ritchie never remarked. They
had no children.
He was "a when he began to achieve
his political aspirations. He then
sought and, obtained appointment as
peoples counsel for the Maryland
Public Service Commission, scenting
there an opuOrtunitv for nuhlic seYv
ice which would lead to advancement.
He became crusading utility rate re-
former.
Fought Gas Rate War.
When Ritchie became peoples coun-
sci. the Baltimore Gas Co. had an ap-
plication for a rate increase pending.
The stage was set for Ritchie The
people of Maryland were making their
first serious effort to enforce their