New-York tribune., 1920-10-05
Insists
Smith Declare
Self on Canal
Republican Candidate Chal-
lenges Governor to State
Position Regarding Pro-
posed Ship Waterway
Sees Big Loss to State
Declares. if Elected. He
Will Fight Plan Urged
in Democratic Platform

ROME, N. Y, Oct. 4.-Judge Nathan
L. Miller, Republican candidate for
Governor, in speech here tonight
challenged Governor Smith to declare
himself on the proposed St. Lawrence
River ship route canal, advocated by
the Democratic national platform.
He pledged himself, if elected, to use
all the power of the state to combat
the project Of ship route from the
Great Lakes to the sea via the St.
Lawrence.
The interests of the State of New
York would best be served, he said, by
blocking the project. He favored i'm
proving the barge canal. He described
the ship route project as a "chimerical
scheme" which, $50 far as it will work
at all, will only serve the interests Of
others, and mainly those of foreign
country."
There are many back of this projec
who are pressing it for its incidental
purpose that of water power-instead
of the real purpose assigned, the i'm
provement of navigation" he asserted d.
Judge Miller said that the develop
ment of the unused water power in the
state was a problem which could only
be worked out by the Governor of the
state, the Legislature and the Federal
government. Judge Miller directed at
tentlon to the fact that the San Fran
cisco platform commits the Democrats
to this ocean route, and that Governor
Smith says that he stands fairly
nd oh al 81, L..
form.
Would Destroy Canal Investment
This project, to which the State of
New York would have to contribute
more than one-fourth, would absolutely
destroy our investment in the Barge
Canal which, when the terminals are
compl eted, will amount to more than
SIZE. 100000" said Judge Miller. at
would destroy the shipping interests
a. the western terminus of the Barge
Cana and divert from the port of
New York to a foreign port commerce
Which now naturally passes through
our own port"
Governor Smith says that ne stands
SS,quarely and absolutely on the San
Francisco PLATFORM which he helped
to adopt continued the Judge. "That
means, although ne does not say so in
terms, that he stands for the Wilson
league without essential change and
with only such reservations as might
make our obligations clearer. But.
while now standing on the national
platform of his party, he still thinks
am devoting too much time to ma
tonal issues. do not blame him for
wishing to evade them. Apparently he
"lshes to discuss state issues only
so he can charge the Republican Leeis-
ryrt h, !
during his administration and with
every failure Of performance.
Neil' the state does not enjoy that
independence which the Republican,
party proposes to preserve for Amer
lca, or that isolation our opponents
charge we wish to maintain for Amer
lca' Inc independence and sovereignty
OF the State of New York were sub
originated to union of the states in
order that we might become nation.
and New York is to-day only + part
of greater whole and cannot 90 il
alone, as the Governor seems to de-
sire with respect to his campaign.
State vitality Concerned
ut is the most vitality concerned of
all states in the Union on national
issues. The administration of its
affairs and policies is Influenced
by the national Administration and
policies. and it must cooperate
both for the success of its own and
the Federal Administration.
This view may be illustrated By
one CT the matters that the Gov
ernor proposes to undertake, and
that is the development of water
power. The Democratic proposal is
that the state water power be de
veloped by the state itself and not
by private effort under such regu
lation as will retain in the people
control of their water powers and the
complete regulation of their develop
ment and use. Well, there are only
three sources of any considerable
water power in this state of which
| know One is that flrnis hed h,. a.