The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-13

from your Legislature or from your
Government. II is controlled entirely
by the moneyed interests. You don't
need TO look to Washington. You don't
need to look to Albany. The only re-
lief that you can ever get is by taking
the Government into your own hands
That is true. That Is the gospel.
That Ia the argument. And let us see
let US look into the performance in AL
bany of the last three or four weeks
and see II We can't find In the senseless
opposition to progressive legislation
something that makes good that gospel
and makes for strength in the forces
that are tending to destroy or attempt
ing TO destroy orderly government"
jefferson Would he Proud.
Gov. Smith said at the outset that IL
Jefferson would revisit the earth he
would be proud of the fact that America
stands In the forefront Of the nations
and her President and leader is the
leader OF the civilized world" mild
applause He then told OF his appoint
ments to State office. speaking espe-
cialiy Of the Superintendency of Prisons
and the committee Supt. Rattigan had
summoned to study prison questions.
Three months of the Governorship
has impressed upon my mind" Mr..
Smith said. harder than It could be
impressed In any other way. the neces-
sity for some thoughtful, scientific study
or the prison question in this State. l
have been approached in these three
months by women and children. helpless
dependents on relatives, objects of pub
Ito charity. while tne. offender. tho re-
sponsible party, Is fed and clothed and
kept warm and cared for by the state
OF New York"
The Governor vaid that practically the
rame Legislature. under the same leader
ship. appropriated for a Republican Gov
ernor (Whitman) S3.600,000 for war
purposes. but refused 100000 for the
commission Gov. Smith appointed to
delve into one of the States biggest
problems. reconstruction. The refusal
| wouldn't dsmpen the ardor of the COM
mission, he said. but II expressed the
attitude of the majority party in the
Legislature toward this great work"
He was proud to say that there ex-
lists a Republican minority in Senate,
| a sufficient number of men with the in
telligence and the understanding to know
| that the thought Of this State Ia demand
| ing progress" and through that body in
the last week several bills have passed.
Minimum Wage Not n Favor.
Gov. Smith was satisfied that many
| men who have aspired to great political
Office In this State" had no idea what
the minimum wage meant. He said Its
opponents were inclined to regard 1t as
something that was being extended to "a
Gloss OF people as a favor. while the
Democratic idea OF safeguarding the
| health. lives and comfort of women
| and children was matter of State
| duty. something that the State itself
should do to conserve our greatest nat
| ural resource"
Similarly, he said, health insurance
| was opposed "by the same old reaction
airy forces that never want any progress
made" Moreover, he had found the
Department of Agriculture not up to
standard efficiency. but his suggestion
that it be reorganized and taken out
Of politics was rejected. for the rea-
son that the powerful forces OF patron
age inside the department WELD more
tower and have more to say ut Albany
than the people themselves"
Secretary Roosevelt termed the Gov
| ernor's speech the kind the navy likes
speech Of action" He remarked that
| from the time our navy entered the war
whether we had anything to do with Il
or not. the allied policy changed ''and
!
| waiting for him to come to u.s.
| II take IT, he went on. that the off,
GERS and men of the United States Navy
| are very pro- of the record OF this Ad-
| ministration in the war. / can't help
feel that to-day the Democratic party
Is like the navy. a party of action. but
| unlike the navy II does not have to re-
main silent.
II personally think that everybody is
| getting pretty tired of listening to the
assaults and insinuations which are be-
ing made by men without any policy
| men like the senior Senator from Massa>
| chusetts. who says openly that he will
| oppose anything in policy that the Pres
dent of the United States stands for
| men like the junior Senator from this
| State, across the bridge, who says, leave
1t to the United States Senate We will
rewrite the treaty, and all will be well.
He b one of the new fifty-seven varie
ties.
Criticises Foe of Presidents.
Mr.. Roosevelt spoke of a ''prorpinen
New Yorker" whom he did not name
who always hailed the advent of an!
President. beginning with Cleveland ant
going on down to Wilson, only TO fin'
them the greatest menace the countr!
has ever SEEN" THAT type we all know
and have to have with US, unfortunate
ly" Mr.. Roosevelt said.
To-day" he went on. "the leaders o
the other great party are carrying on
campaign Of insnuation, of destruction
without any answer on the other side
To-day the Republican party as repre-
sented by the Lodges, the Borahs an
the Calders and their chairman Is ;
party Of discomfort, without a construc
tive programme. disconnected not onl
with the Government at Washington. bu
disjointed with themselves"
He said that the Democratic party di'
not have to apologize for the past o
the present, but 1t was time it did more
that IL carried the war into the enemy
camp as the navy did, that we asser
what is the truth--that we are the part
of progress honestly and honorabl
looking forward to the best that is i
American citizenship. If we could do
little bit more, all saying out loud tina
we are proud of our democracy, tina
| NE proud In he Democratic II WOul