New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
esnds Them Legislation at
Public Expense, Charging
vide Propaganda and In.
t;uidation Behind Then,
Fears State Socialism
..sails Smiths Reconstruct
t;on Commission: Warns
public to Guard Treasury
Special Correspondence

Special Correspondence
srrTALO. Dec. 27.-In a speech to-
-. before the Saturn Club, Sena-
:. Henry NJ. Sage Of Albany, chairman
the Senate Finance Committee,
s;..d his opposition to the so-called
,.sl Welfare Legislation. characterize
VI. as class legislation at the pub
expense.
ae declared that the programme
euld cost millions and that the state
,,ady was burdened with unneces-
ar expenditures because Of the "ac-
rites Of highly paid press agents."
10, he said. deluded legislatures into
: |.Geving that the mass of the people
( ere behind the movement, when it
srved only to be noisy minority.
Perhaps the most notable instance
this successful propaganda is the
usage Of the prohibition amendment,
4 heh cost the state millions in rev.
cue" said Senator Sage. Another
& the Direct Primary.
n Charges Wide Propaganda
y you all know how easy it is to get
a inatures for almost anything. You
a Il know how propaganda was used
Il .sring the war. You all know the
8nue of Advertising; but have you
Mttpped to consider how many of our
,rs in this state have been passed
#.r those same methods? Propaganda, (
d .aver.ising. ntimidation-all are used"
q BE declared that similar methods
q sere being employed by the Governors
sscons.ruction Commission. saying:
y "A semi-offcial committee is touring
sfhe state with band wagon, arousing
II eminent seeking the Endorsement of
3aher groups and using all these we'll /
1rcognized methods of advertising in
sIa attempt to reorganize our entire !
:h:s.e government.
u Senator Sage declared that legisla-
sIDrs as rule, in the matter of local
Nils, which carry appropriations, are
3-y intent on getting their bills
a3rough, not caring where the state
Al 10 get the money. This, he said. was
Hsnerally true Of sponsors of measures
Marrying appropriations.
a Few Bother About Money
4 Continuing. he said: "Do you real
n that there are not dozen men
q, the Legislature who bother their
5 isads as to where the money is com
#ig FROM On whom, then, does the
responsibility rest? First, of course, on
H. Governor, who has the power of
IT., but almost equally on four men
i The Legislature the Speaker Of the
Asembly, the President pro TEN Of
as Senate and the two chairmen of
as financial committees"
! sRator Sage said the remedy lay
! /, the people taking an intelligent in
! alsst in public matters.
Why can't the overshadowing issue
Z sane government instead OF all the
sns' that people with time on their
'iaas have to offer?' Senator Sage
antinued ~ am not pessimist.
/ ave absolute faith in the people of the
Sate OF New York, but just as they
aroused themselves in time of war,
Ssi; as they are arousing themselves
Sigalnst the menace of radicalism they
aust arouse themselves TO combat the
41eRace OF state socialism.
The sooner we get awav from the
ziea that the state is to be father and
5aOther to every individual in the state
]as sooner we Will get back to the feel
Ing Of individual responsibility of com
aunty esponsibility and of self-re-
speet which is rapidly becoming
aAlhg O. the past in large groups Of our
1ppulation"