New-York tribune., 1922-11-18
S Smith To Be
A Good Fellow
To Whole State
Praises Newspapers for Way
They Treated Him; Says
He Has No Misgivings as to
Responsibilities of Office
Speaks at Press Club
Covernor-Elect Promises to
Vindicafe Judgment of
Voters Who Chose Him

Governor elect Alfred E. Smith said
yesterday at luncheon in his honor
given by the New York Press Club that
when it comes to handling the busi-
ness of the state he is going to be
good fellow" to the state as q whole,
as he was before; that he has no mis-
givings about the responsibilities Of
the governorship.
"No man can be successful if he lifts
himself above the people who put him
where he is" he said, adding later that
the newspapers had given him square
deal all over the state. He also de-
clared that acquiescence in majority
vote is the salvation of democratic
government.
"In the campaign just closed | was
impressed with the absolutely fair
dealing given by the newspapers" said
he. "They published what I had to
say, and the people judged for them
selves. The newspapers can perform
no better service than to publish what
an aspirant for public Office has to say.
The whole structuret of government
may be colored by expressions on the
editorial page, but the candidate feels
that he has to discuss all sides of a
proposition, and if the readers read
what he has to say the news columns
become more powerful than the edi-
torial page.
II have no misgivings about the
duties of the Governorship or any
other Office. / believe in good fellow
ship, and / was GOOD fellow when l
was Governor. But first of all ] was
a good fellow to the people of the
entire state. After the first of the
| year, when it comes to the handling
I stand, and will stand. But there is
personal side to government. Ad-
ministering great or-..ce would be the
coolest business in the world if you
could not, now and then. put your
hand on somebody's shoulder and say:
III take care of that for YOU
81 had expected that during the cam
paign there would be something said
about the clemency I exercised while
Governor, but there was nothing said.
1t may be of interest to say that of the
242 men pardoned by me only four were
unfaithful to the state afterward.
That's pretty good object lesson and
good study representing the result of
intelligent labor in the interest of
those unfortunate people. ] cannot
forget my own early days and the
struggles incident to my early life. 1t
is impossible for me TO get away from
it and | do not wish to forget it, If
being Governor meant that I should
have to wipe out the recollection of
those years, then would rather forego
public honors and remain a premier
truckman' right here in New York. The
Executive Mansion is a great place to
live, but there is not square inch of
it that looks to me a bit better than
Oliver Street
7 "All | want to do is to vindicate the
judgment of the people that l ought to
be their Governor. | promise all that
will do everything a man can do to
justify those who have reposed con-
fidcnce in me.'
Edward P. Howard, president of the
club, presided. Joseph P. Day, the real
estate man, said pleasing things about
the guest of honor, and presented to
him cartoon of himself.