The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-28

New York Herald Bureau.
Albany. Sept. "a.
Elihu Root told the Republican
State Convention in his keynote speech
to-day that the issue of the campaign
was moral rather than economic. and
the outcome of the election would be
reflected in higher or lower stand
ard of public morals.
or Gov. Miller Mr.. Root said:
HE is not playing the part of Gov
ernor in order to be President or Sena-
tor or to be reelected Governor. He
is simply doing what he thinks is wise
and just for the benefit of the people
of the State. He did not seek the office
Of Governor-it sought him. He is not
seeking office now--it is seeking him.
In contrast to Gov. Miller's efficient
administration of State affairs. Mr.. Root
called attention to the Hylan admins
tration in New York city.
Under that political control which is.
now seeking to substitute man of
their own choice in the Governors
chair" he said, appropriations of the
city of New York increased from $685.
475.32s. rs in 1920 to 1884, 5i3, 1861 In 1922"
and added that in the same period the
direct tax levied by the State had been
reduced over $l5,000.0O0.
Surveys State Finances.
In his survey of the financial affairs
of the State Mr.. Root pointed out that
in the ten year period from 1911 to 1920
the annual budget jumped from A3,074,-
1928 to sl45, 2l9, 906.eo, while in the same
period the States population had In
a ~. LOGS
than one-sixteenth as rapidly as the in
crease In expenditure.
Gov. Miller, he said. turned the tide
by reducing the expense of the State
government more than $ls.0o0.00o in 1921
and reducing the State budget by sl2,072,-
09926 in 1922.
Following are the important points
touched upon in his speech:
1.-THE most important question in the
coming New York State election will be
whether the great busy, orderly, good
natured majority are going to attend
seriously to their part of the business
OF government. 1t is question of the
amount of interest taken by the men.
and women who haven't any axes to
grind. who are not trying to get any
thing out of government except the ends
of government that affect everybody
alike; order and liberty. efficient pro-
lection to life and property. prompt and
impartial justice, good sanitation. good
roads. good schools, economy in public
expenditure, efficiency in public service,
moderation and fair distribution In taxa
ton. Will the men and women who
want these things and seek no special
privileges or profits from government
for themselves, realize their duty?
Let me try to state the situation as
I see il.
For period which began before the
great war there has been a steady in
crease in the activities and the cost of
State government. Expenses. appropria-
tons. payrolls, tax levies. all have
steadily mounted up higher and higher.
His Estimate of Miller.
THE continual increase was occasioned
partly by the increase of population.
partly by necessary and proper extern
sions of governmental activity to meet
new conditions of living; partly by the
pressure of organized minorities and
special groups who sought special ex-
penditures from government and whose
power to punish politically made resist
ance to their demands difficult: partly
by the increased desire to share in tho
distribution of public funds created by
observing freedom of distribution: part.
ly by the inevitable looseness of ex-
penditure incident to a government
whose organization formed under simple
conditions had never been adapted to
more complicated conditions; and partly
by that universal weakness of human
nature which makes 1t easier to spend
other peoples money than to make po-
litical or personal enemies by refusal.
THE process which have described
was reinforced by the demoralizing in
nitp nf hi hn
OF indifference TO cost under the necessi-
ties of war the habit of loose and prof
ligate expenditure which Is associated
with every great war: the widespread
appetite for public plumber cultivated by
getting easy money from public treas
uries. Under this Influence the process
of state extravaganza was accelerated
at the very time when we were all de-
handing that IL be checked"
Then Mr. Root quoted figures from
the States budgetary appropriations
from 1911 to 1920. showing the feverlsh
acceleration OF expenditures toward the
close OF the decade and pointing out how
the difficulty of stopping such a process
was increasing with each increased
budget. He continued:
I'm the election of November, 1920,
however, the people of the State elected
a Governor who happened to have
exactly the qualities needed for leader
ship In change of the business of the
State from public extravaganza 20 pub
lie economy and efficiency / say hap
pened because there Is always an
element OF chance when man IL
selected for now duties We all know
that Nathan l.. Miller had been an
honest and efficient Comptroller of the
State. We all knew that he had been
an able and impartial Judge Of the SUI
preme Court and of the Court OF APP