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Declares Ritchie Is Sitting On Political Dynamite As Result Of Shore Lynching
Chicago Tribune Writer Finds Governor Frankly Worried Over Situation—Says Executive Believes Probe Will Turn Up Real Story
{Chicago Bureau of The Sunl Chicago, Dec. 27—The Tribune tomorrow will publish the second article from, its correspondent, who went to Maryland tv investigate the lynching of the Negro, Matthew Williams, at Salisbury, The Tribune story follows:
By TOM 1
Chicago Tribun Baltimore, Dec. 27—Maryland is packed with dynamite and the spark to set it off may be found in the hearts of some of its citizens and in the court calendars. Gov. Albert C. Ritchie is sitting directly on top of a political munitions heap—and sitting quietly, too—for fear that any sudden move or loud noise might set his entire Eastern Shore to pistol popping and rope swinging. Another Free State lynching right now would seriously handicap the Maryland Governor's Democratic Presidential aspirations. The other may "blow over."
Talks with Governor Ritchie, William Preston lane, Jr., the Attorney-General, and other State officials have been singularly unproductive of statements that might be printed between quotation marks. To disclose the results of their investigations into the mob spirit of the Eastern Shore right now, they believe, would "do more harm than good."
Says Ritchie Is Worried The real reason they have nothing to say is that their investigators have made little headway in pinning the Salisbury lynching on individuals. Justice is frequently referred to as being!
e Press Service
blind, but justice in a small town after a lynching is deaf and dumb as well Governor Ritchie has done all that the law calls for him to do in the present case, but that has not been enough.
Governor Ritchie received the Tribune reporter irMiis office here in the Union Trust Building yesterday. He was frankly worried for Maryland an< for the effect that this State's internal upheavals would have on his nationa reputation, but he had no statement to make—yet.
"I want to wait and see how Mr Lane's work turns out," he said, "before I discuss this matter any moro I believe we are getting the rea story."
Birds Spoil Interview ,
The Governor might have been persuaded to talk about the lynching anc I might have got the "real story" if a flock of the largest and best fed sparrows in Maryland had not flown into the Executive office through an open window. For the next five minutes the Governor, his secretary and this reporter were busy chasing birds. Once the sparrows were out, towels were
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