New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-09
He Denounces Gamblers
for Efforts to Thwart
State Legislation
Appeals to Farmers
Governor Asserts He Has No
Intention of Injuring
Producers

SODUS, n. Y, Aug. s.-Governor
Whitman, in an address before the
State Fruit Growers Association here
to-day, made his first public appeal for
support of his state food control pro-
gramme. He outlined in detail his
views of the legislation he wishes to
see enacted at the present extraordi-
nary session of the Legislature, an
nounced that he had no intention of in
Juring the individual producers, but
was only after "unscrupulous specula-
tors and gamblers" and answered some
OF the critics of his position, both
within and without the Legislature.
The Governor charged that the mis-
apprehension in the minds of the up
state farmers regarding his food con-
troll aims 'is due to the work of I'M
scrupulous and greedy food gamblers.
who have spared neither time nor
money in doing all they could by every
means, fair or unfair. to thwart any
attempt TO pass proper food legislation
both at Washington and Albany.
"They have been successful" the
Governor continued, "in blocking food
legislation in Washington for one
hundred and twenty days, and I do not
intend, if ] can prevent it, that they
shall succeed in delaying it that long
in the State of New York"
The Governor announced for the first
time his reason for wishing to appoint
the three proposed food commissioners
The appointing power was denied him
in the legislative war committees
bill, which named Theodore Roosevelt,
who since has declined to serve; James
". Wadsworth, sr., and Morgan j.
O'Brien. He wished to appoint as the
state commissioners, he said, three
members Of the proposed State Farms
and Markets Council, authorized by the
Wicks farms and markets law passed
at the regular legislative session.
This council has not been named yet.
In this connection the Governor prom
ised that one of the three food COM
missioners ould be practical farmer.
The Executive pointed gu: that a
food control bill, which he had pre-
pared but which had been largely ig-
nored by the war committee, made pro-
vision for empowering the commission
to buy, store and sell food products
and also included as necessar!es seeds,
fertilizers and agricultural implements,
which are not included in the commit
tee measure. He reiterated mis- aver
sion to the fixing Of maximum and
minimum prices by state authorities
and promised to veto any measure
which came to him with such provisions
attached. The committee DILL has no
price fixing clause.
The Governor characterized as Sab
surd" the charge by "the men who are
opposing me of being actuatel by po-
litical motives"
81 have come here for the express
purpose of talking to the farmer" said
Governor Whitman. "No one appre-
ciates more than | do the importance
Of the task which has fallen upon the
shoulders of the farmer at this time.
By his efforts the cultivated area has
been increased from 20 to 25 per cent
in the State of New York. IL would be
treachery 10 allow him TO suffer
through his patriotic action. No mat
ter how large the crop, he must be able
to market 1t in its entirety. he must
receive a generous profit, so that he will
be gratified and stimulated TO greater
effort in the future"