The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-27
HARRIS TORESIGN
AS CAMPAIGN OPENS
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Continued from First Page.
pared speech, pledrng a quick compile
tion OF the barge canal declaring for a
minimum wage for women. home rule.
publication OF campaign contributions
and women suffrage, but against the
prohibition amendment until It has been
decided by vote OF the people.
Mayor Harry Walker OF Binghamtop,
Bird S. Coler of New York and d.
Wight Ladue, candidates for Lieutenant
Governor and Comptroller. followed Mr..
Smith.
speech Proves Disappointing.
The speech OF Mr. smith was OF the
ordinary campaign type. no better and
no worse. and rather disappointed the
Democratic leaders, who had hoped he
would be able to launch slogan for
the campaign that would spell victory.
Declaring that the leading issue Of tho
campaign Is upon the question OF what
this State can do TO back up President
Wilson and the Federal Administration
In successful prosecution of the war. "
he did not ind a single thing in the
record OF Gov. whitman as a war Gov
ernor to criticise.
Rather feebly attacking the "extrava-
eance" OF the present administration
| and ita conduct Of some OF the depart
ments of government along the time
honored lines. not in a single place did
the speech OF the Democratic candidate
for Governor rise above the level OF
partisan campaign argument. lie de-
cleared for the passage of the Federal
| suffrage amendment and against the
ratification of the Federal prohibition
amendment prior to its submission in a
referendum, excusing himself for in
| consistency on the-.grouui that the
woman suffrage had received the o. X.
Of this State by the action of the voters
at the last election.
The candidate declared that the Whit
man administration instead OF needing
the plea for general economy during
these war times had passed through a
period OF recklessness and waste in the
| appropriation Of public moneys not
eouaned in the history OF the State. The
| statement of the Democratic platform
| that Of the difference between the forty
eight million dollar appropriation bill of
the last Democratic administration and
| the eighty-one million dollar bill OF this
year only three millions was for war
purposes had not been challenged, he
| asserted.
Attacks whitman's Appointees.
The barge canal had not been COM
pleted. the speaker said. in spite OF the
war necessity for ira asportation Of food
fuel and material. The states electri-
cal energy had not been developed The
Department OF Agriculture was next to
useless because OF appointments made
for political reasons.
1 - II.
clared. 81 will cooperate with the agri-
cultural interests Of the State to the
end that men fitted by training will be
| put in charge OF every activity OF the
department and money appropriated for
the salaries OF farm specialists will not
| hnd its way into the pockets Of cigar
makers. labor agitators. railroad track
men and printers, who can serve only
one purpose-the building up a poltica
machine
| Asserting that the Democratic party
had received the credit for the enact.
ment OF the most enlightened factor.
code in the country. Mr.. Smith said tina,
the present administration not only had
OF tearing down.
! The candidate declared that the "mar
power OF our jails and prisons Is etiil for
the most part maintained In idleness
and al the same time kept under an iron
discipline which degrades and destroys It's
manhood" The prison department had
been under a reactionary political contro
and should be purged of politics ant
put on a basis OF humanity, economy
and efficiency.
Home Rule and City Ownership.
Standing for home rule and municipal
ownership and operation OF public utili
ties by such cities as desired to ADOPT
that method, he said:
During all OF my legislative career
| have been n strong advocate of homt
rule for our municipalities. While 7 rec
| ognize the sovereign power Of the State
nevertheless believe that there should b,
a greater measure of control given t.
cities over affairs that are purely local
| Particularly do I believe that the cities
OF the State should have the power 4
acquire. own and operate all public utili
ties. Up to ten years ago regulation o
them was exercised by the Legislature
! That failed. and the State resorted t.
regulation by commission.
while am not entirely familiar will
the conditions in other cities. so far a.
the city Of New York Is concerned regu
lation by commission has broken down
and at time when 1t should be at TIT
very height Of efficiency the transporta
ton system OF Greater New York is a
its worst. Aside from filing the place
on the Public Service Commission will
the favored ones. no attention has beer
paid to 1t by the Whitman administra
ton, and recommendations contained II
the minority report of the investigate,
OF the commission. looking to tn
strengthening OF the law. were entirel,
ignored.
at the recent State conference o
Mayors legislation providing for munici
pal ownership of public utilities wa
unanimously Endorsed. IT is strange 4
say that what every city wants the
seem to be unable to get"
Favors Vote on Prohibition.
As to his attitude on woman suffrag
and prohibition the candidate said:
II am in favor OF the passage Of Al