The sun., 1919-03-30
GOV. SMITH GUEST.
OF THE LOTOS CLUB
Fulton Fish Market His Alma
Mater, He Tells the
Diners.
OPPOSES PROHIBITION
POSES PROHIBITION
Charles E. Hughes Discusses
Dangers Of Extravaganza
in State Management.

Gov Alfred e. Smith was the guest OF
honor at q dinner given last night by the
Lotos Club. At the table with Gov
Smith and Chester s. Lord, president OF
the club. were Charles e. Hughes Abram
]. E1kus. Charles s. Whitman, Frank l.
Cobb. Justice Robert r. Wagner and the
Raw. Edward p. Tivnan, president OF
Fordham.
Gov. Smith made his first after dinner
speech in New York city since his elec-
ton as Governor. He was in his usual
initials 'F. F. NJ" those of the artist
who embodied his photograph amid SYM
bolic mermaids on the menu, were the
initials Of his alma mater, Fulton Fish
Market"
II am a candidate for nothing in the
world" he said seriously in concluding
his speech. "All / want to show Is that
an ordinary man Off the streets Of the
city of New York can be a good Gov
srnor."
Favors Direct Taxation.
Earlier In the evening In describing
his work at Albany he said that the
State faced a budget Of $50, 900. 900. for
which It's visible revenues were $780,
900, 900 short. To this. he said. must be
added a prospective shortage of $4,000
900 In the aggregate revenues of the
cities of the State to meet their respec-
tive budgets. ...
In this connection he came out fiat for
direct taxation.
Indirect taxation In n way led 70
extravaganza" he said. Since the days
Of exclusive indirect taxation the work
OF the State has grown. its service to
the Individual has grown and II will be
hiv1nr fra
make the individual realize that he has
TO pay for the benefits he receives"
He declared that he had appointed his
new prison commission IN an effort to
md out II the State could not in some
way mitigate the condition whereby the
criminal is fed and housed at the States
expense while his innocent women and
, children are thrown upon the bounty OF
charity. The pardon power he declared
was the greatest burden the Governor s
office carried.
He took sharp issue with former Gov.
Whitman, the only speaker of the eve
ming who declared in favor OF tho pro-
hibition amendment-and they all had a
word to say about II. Gov. Smith
charged that the amendment had been
ratified solely through the archaic ma
chinery Of the party caucus. and alluded
TO tina demand in his annual message
for a special election at which every
nan and woman in the State could have
voted on the question. That. he de-
clared. would at least have had the
effect OF making every one satisfied about
IL. He said the Assemblymen who voted
for ratification at Albany. instead of
going back to the people every year as
Gov. Whitman said they did, had not
returned to their homes yet.
mo ono would venture TO deny the
statewide and unanimous sentime mt
against the saloon" he said. And the
passage OF the amendment is largely due
to the fact that the liquor people from
time immemorial have always resisted
every effort to regulate their business
But the Federal amendment was cutting
of the whole of the sick arm. It was
an unwarranted assumption of the State
police power by the Federal Govern
ment"
Whitman Stands By Drys.
Gov. Whitman in his turn. after pay
ing a graceful tribute to his successor
In Office, had taken sharp issue with Mr..
Hughes. Mr.. Cobb and Father Tiynan
Of Fordham on the prohibition amend
ment He declared that It was passed
as had every other amendment to the
Constitution.
req
resentatives of forty-five of the forty
eight States, and in the one State where
1t was submitted to the people. in Ohio,
the fourth State with some OF the largest
OF our cities. 1t was passed by an over
whelming majority. The position Of
those who say 1t is not in accord with
the great sentiment OF our country Is
q laughbale one"
Mr.. Cobb had characterized the
amendment as a blot on the escutcheon
of the Constitution. passed by stealth
and Affecting greater change in the
fundamental law OF the land than had
four bloody years OF civil war. He
warned the diners that the big business
interests who had contributed to prohi-
bition were playin with high explosive.
For In that amendment" he said,
ARE the seeds of Boishevism. In 1t is
established the principle that at least
one class of private property may be
confscated without compensation"
BOlshevism ana Its Antidote.
Mr. Hughes was the first speaker. In
paying tribute to Gov. Smith he said
that the Governor during his long po-
htical career had never lost a friend or
betrayed one. He gave much OF his ad-
dress TO a discussion OF the danger Of
Bolshevism and its antidotes. He said
IN part:
I'VE are Gr,rch concerned to-day with
what is going on on the other side Of
the sea. We have constantly pictured
to us the spectre of Bolshevism. Now,
Bolshevism Is system. II Is not a
thing without outline or method. 1t Is q