Evening star., 1940-04-28
Office Building
And Richie Highway
Are Dedicated :.
Maryland Capital Pays
Homage to Late
Governor
BY the Associated Press.


By the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, April IT.
Maryland's capital paid homage to-
day to the late Gov. Albert c.
Ritchie in a colorful all-day cele-
bration marking the dedication Of
the ultra-modern Ritchie highway
and the new Office building, the
States $3,250,00O investments.
Federal, State, city and county
officials and thousands of specta-
tors came here from all sections Of
the State to participate in the cere-
monies in honor of Gov. Ritchie,
who served as chief executive of the
Free State for is years.
Annapolitans were prideful of the
occasion because to them the high
way and the Office building were
manifestations of bringing the
capital back to Annapolis"
Dignitaries Present.
The celebration, with it's high
way dedication in the morning, and
2-mile-long parade in the after
noon, brought together two Demo-
cratic senatorial candidates-Sena-
tor Radcliffe and Howard Bruce.
They and Gov. Herbert R. O'Conor
headed list of dignitaries which
included Mayor Jackson of Balti-
more, Mayor George w. Haley of
Annapolis, Judge Ridgely P. Mel
win of the Anne Arundel County
Circuit Court, State Senators Louis
N. Phipps and Phillip Dorsey, Ezra
B. Whitman, State Roads Commits
sion chairman, and w. Lee Elgin,
commissioner of motor vehicles.
In an address from the balcony
of the new State Office building,
Gov. O'Conor paid tribute to Gov.
!. Ritchie. He praised the new high
way and Office building and said the
State would make every effort to
utilize the building to the fullest
possible extent.
Judge Melvin Speaks.
Judge Melvin, who sponsored the
Office building while a member Of
the Legislature, said in part:
"It is particularly appropriate
that this building should be linked
with these dedication ceremonies,
for they are being held for the glo-
rification of a great citizen, states
man and Governor who literally
consecrated the best years of his
life to the service of our State and
in so doing brought even greater
recognition to Annapolis as the
ancient and honored capital of the
State.
This reconstructed highway and
this building are both manifesto
tions of the States increased in
terest and pride in Annapolis, of
the dawning of the new day which
has come for her, the day which
sees the defensive attitude and in
feriority complex of one period in
her life completely eliminated and
In their place a proud consciousness
of her constitutional rights as the
States capital"
Other Addresses Made.
The other speakers included
Mayor jackson, Mayor Haley, Har-
ry S. Kenchington, general chair
man of the Celebration Committee,
and State Senator Phipps, who
acted as POSTMASTER. SOD
: MIR. Bruce and Senator Radcliffe
were introduced to the assemblage,
but they did not speak.
Tho co1ohro tioy, booor Of - q ~
when Gov. O'Conor formally dedi-
Gated the Ritchie highway at cere-
monies held at the Ritchie Memo
rial, overlooking the Severn River
and the Naval Academy.
He promised definite advance
nient" in Maryland road building
and planning, saying that his prom
ise would materialize before the
end of his administration.
After the address Mrs. O'Conor
cut 285-foot ribbon, formally
opening the road to traffic.
Following lunch at the Govern
ment House for visiting dignitaries,
Gov. O'Conor, Mrs. O'Conor and
his military staff led the parade
In an open automobile.
When the official delegation ar
rived at the State Office Building,
they left the procession and entered
q reviewing stand.
Planes Soar Overhead.
AS the parade, with it's floats,
troops, firemen and bands filed past
the reviewing stand a group of Navy
airplanes from the naval reserve
base at Anacostia, Va, saluted by
swooping down on the city with
engines roaring.
The floats were entered by the va
rious counties. Montgomery County
recalled Ritchie's interest in educa-
ton, Prince Georges entered a float
showing Francis Scott Key writing
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner"
In the line of march were fire
mems units. field artillery, infantry
and war veterans.
At night minuet was danced by
80 couples in Colonial costume at the
State Office Building. The singing