New-York tribune., 1920-10-08
Miller Attacks
GOv. Smith ON
; W Welfare Bills
Judge Charges Politics and
Says Democrats Claim
Credit for Measures
Started by Republicans
Favors Justice First
Supports Principle of the
Legislation, but Opposes
Form as Not Practical
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


PATCHOGUE, L. l., Oct. 7.-After
delivering addresses at several points
on Long Island to-day Judge Nathan L.
Miller made speech IN this city to-
night, defining his position on social
welfare legislation.
The Republican candidate attacked
Governor Smiths stand on social well
fare and declared that, while both the
Republican and Democratic parties
| stood for the promotion of social vel
fare, the difference between the two
parties was that the Democrats gave lip
service to every proposal that seemed
popular, regardless of its effect on in
dustry or the workers, while the Re-
publicans had the courage TO withstand
clamor and give constructive service.
He said the Republicans pat on the
statute books the progressive measures
for with Governor Smith is claiming
credit
Il stand squarcly for every construc-
tive effort to advance social welfare
and to promote social and industrial
justice" said Judge Miller "The at
tainment of justice is what society is
thriving for. Give every one his lust
due. establish our industrial relations
and social relations on basis which
Will assure to each his just deserts.
and YOU will have found and applied
the principle Of justice.
Attacks Governors Program
The Governors social welfare pro-
gram, recommended to the Legislature,
embraced three proposals: Compulsory
health insurance. eight-hour law for
women and children and a minimum
wage law for women and Children All
were insistently demanded by him. The
state platform of his party dropped
compulsory health insurance, and he
has apparently dropped the eight-hour
law, for in addressing me from the
platform the other day on this subject
he made no mention either of health
insurance or the eight-hour law.
Now, the insurance plan. as pre-
sented, involved the establishment Of
great state bureaucracy 20 admins
ter health insurance funds to which
employer and employee were required
to contribute equally. The adminis-
trative expense alone involved was suf-
ficient to condemn it. 1t was a plan to
force upon the working mon and women
OF the state nnternalistic oversight,
Tor which they would have had to pay,
both directly and Indirectly. 1t was a
violation OF the principle that justice
rather than forced charity be granted
Health Insurance is good thing.
1t should be brought about by the vol
untary cooperation of those Interested,
VINO, should themselves manage the
funds TO which they contributes The
state should direct its efforts to the
prevention of sickness.
An eight-hour law for women and
children. applicable to all mercantile
and industrial establishments, passed
the Senate, and on the very date that
1t passed the Governor signed the re-
peal Of nine-hour law, applicable to
the employment of women by the ele-
waited, surface and SUBWAY roads of
New York. That law, applicable only
to single industry, resulted in such
harm to the women whom it was design
ed to benefit that at the request of those
women the Legislature repealed and the
Governor signed the repeal Of the law.
Favors Eight-Hour Day
cam l not spcaking within modcra-
tion when | ask whether some part al
least of the Governors social welfare
program was not designed for political
effect? am not opposed to the eight
hour day.
"The industries with which am
connected have long since established
an elght-hour day. There are many
employments in which eight hours are
too much; A Republican Legislature
adopted the eight-hour day Tor all state
and munic pal work. But when it
comes to state Interference with pri-
vate employments cIre must DC cxer-
cised, IS was found to be necessary
when such law was attempted to be
applied to particular industry.