New-York tribune., 1920-11-03
Record of Miller
An Unbroken Chain
OF Loyal Service
Judge, a Stalwart Republican
Since Student Days, Has
Filled Every Office With
Honor and Intelligence

selD Miller, lived at Solon. in Cortland
County, N. Y, and there he was born
on October 10. 1868. Four years later
his father sold his farm and the family
removed to Tompkins County and set
tied on another farm. The boy at
tended the Groton Union School and
was graduated from it in 1888
Four years at the Cortland Normal
School followed, and after his gradua-
ton, in 1887, he settled down for some
years at Cortland rs a school teacher.
Mcanwhlle, however, he found time to
study law, at first in private, but later
in the office Of Smith e. Dickinson. In
1898 he was admitted to the bar.
He was already interested in poll
tics as Republican. When in school
at Groton in 1884 he had organized a
James G. Blaine marching club among
his fellows and had made some
speeches, though he was far below the
voting age. In 1894 he was elected
school commissioner for the first dis
trict Of Cortland County, and held the
place for six years. He declined re-
election because of the increasing de-
mands of his profession He had in
1898 formed partnership with James
Dougherty, and was rapidly rising to
foremost place at the Cortland bar.
From 1898 to 1902 he was chairman of
the Cortland County Republican COM
mittee, in the latter year declining re-
election.
His neighbors would not, however,
permit MIN TO remain IN private life.
In 1901 they made him Corporation
Counsel Of Cortland, and at the same
{ time SO sounded his praise abroad that
in the fall Of the same year he was ap-
pointed Comptroller of the State of
New York, being the thirty sixth holder
Of that Office. Comptrollers are usu-
| ally elected, but he was appointed by
Governor B. B. Odel to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Erastus
{. knight, who had been elected Mayor
of Buffalo.
AS Comptroller Mr.. Miller personally
directed the legal transactions of his
office. He managed the numerous cor
poration hearings which came before
it, and also the proceedings, suits and
compromises arising out Of the opera
tions of the transfer tax Law. The
work of both the corporation and trans
fer bureaus of his department was ex-
ceptionally heavy, but by giving his
full attention to it Mr.. Miller was able
to execute it all promptly and salts
factorily.
Fine Record in Office
The matter of the states investments
in bonds was something which also re-
qulred his personal conside ration and
Investigation. and was so cared for by
him that the fiscal operations Of the
state in that respect were highly salts
factory. His habits of research and
his capacity for work were shown in
the financial statements and statistical
tables which he prepared and pub
lished, showing the marked advance
which the state had made in its pract-
cal economies and the improved results
which had been attained from year to
year in the outlay of the peoples
money.
The fine record which he made
quicfy led to another promotion, He
vas first appointed to fill vacancy on
the bench of the Supreme Court of the
state, and the next year was elected for
sociate justice Of that court from No
yember 10, 1903 to January l, 1913.
He was member OF its Appellate Di-
vision in the I'd District from 1905
to 1910, and in the 1st District from
1910 to 1913 AS justice he presided
over numerous important trials, and
won an envlable reputation for judi
cal impartiality and fairness. as we'll
as for the generally impeccable sound
ness OF his decisions.
1t was with the hearty approval of
the bench and bar Of the state, as we'll
as of the general public, that on Janu-
sociate judge OF the Court Of Appeals,
the highest tribunal of the state, to
which he was appointed at the re-
guess Of Chief Judge Cullen. There
he continued for two and half years
his distinguished career of ten years
in the Supreme Court.
Then, on August l. 1915, he resigned.
a family of seven daughters is an ex-
pensive luxury, and Mr. Miller found
his salary as judge inadequate to its
demands. He frankly declared, there
fore, that he had retired from the
bench in order to make living for
himself and his family. In that he sue
ceeded Before that summer was ended
great industrial concern at a salary of
$50 900 year, and it was not long be-
fore that income was probably doubled
Mr.. Miller, while yet school
teacher, made the acquaintance of an
other teacher Miss Elizabeth Deveree,
who was on the staff of the Marathon
IN. ~ Academy, and before long he
persuaded her to become his wife
They were married in 1896. As al
ready stated, she bore him seven dauSh-
ters. The eldest is Mrs Mildred Miller
Mccarthy. The others. still living in
the family home at Syracuse, are the
Misses Marian. Margaret and Eliza
Dcth twins; Louise, Eleanor and Con-
stance.
When the unofficial state convention
OF he Republican party was held at
Saratoga last July Mr.. and Mrs. Miller
and a part of their family were up in
the White Mountains. Mr.. Miller was
from the first a prime favorite for the
nomination for Governor and it was no
surprise that the convention decided to
recommend him to the Republican
voters OF the state for nomination at
the primaries.
Tat recommendation was followed
py decisive MAJ Jority, and soon after
ward the chosen candidate began a
personal speaking campaign. In this
he frequently addressed himself to ma
tlonaI issues more than to those of the
state, actuatcd by the conviction that
the national campaign was of pala-
mount Importance. He was, Of course
outspoken and emphatic in his support
of Harding and Coolidge. He did not,
however, neglect the interests OF the
Empire State.
While he avoided mere personalities,