The New York herald., 1922-11-07
Smith SAYS MILLER
HANDED OUT 'PLUMS:
Replies to Mr.. Munsey Saying
He Has Better Of Business
Politics Issue.

The NEW York HERALD cheerfully
prints the following letter from eX-
Gov. Smith. At this late hour. how
ever, THE New York HERALD has no
comment to make on it, more than to
say that the letter contains nothing
new, nothing that ex-Gov. Smith has
not said in his campaign. nothing that
has not been fully answered by Gov.
Miller.
FRANK A. MUNsEY.
Hon. FrdnE A. Munsey. Editor. THE
New YORK HERALD, ESQ Broadway,
New York City:
MY DEAR MIR. MUNsEY-I read your
letter in THE HERALD Of Monday No
vember g. addressed to the voters OF
New York. 1 agree with you that the
big issue in this campaign is business
against politics" and have by far the
best Of that argument.
gave the State n thoroughgoing
business administration. Gov. Miller
substituted politics and / will show II
to you:
l appointed TO office people with par
ticular qualificat tions for the places they
were to fill. Gov. Miller, in the matter
OF appointments, was led by the Re-
publican State machine. The four large
patronage offices of the State were di-
vided by Gov. Miller between the lead
ers of the party commonly known as
the Big Four.
Cites Instances.
Boss" Ward OF Westchester got the
Tax Department with a lump sum ap-
preparation In the hands of his COM
missioners to hire and fire at VIII. The
result was increases in salary to the
commissioners and to the holders of all
positions exempt from the provisions of
the civil service law.
Barnes of Albany got the Conserva-
ton Department. The able and COM
petent Commissioner Pratt, himself
Republican. failed of reappointment TO
make room for the chairman OF the
Albany Republican County Committee.
Rochester got the Department os Pub
lie Works.
Greiner OF Erie got the Department
of Highways. The competent. able en-
2ineer the best Superintendent Of High
WAYS the state has ever had, Col. Fred
erick Stuart Greene. was removed by
Gov Miller and that important engi-
neering department was placed under
the direction of an Erie county politl-
clan who was formerly Excise Com
missioner.
The same story runs all along the
line in the minor appointments.
government OF the State. Nobody IA
vored IL any stronger than YOU did. II
had the approval Of Senator Root,
Attorney-General Wickersham. Secre-
tary Of War stinson, Charles T. Hughes.
Adelbert Moot OF Buffalo and leading
citizens, men and women, throughout the
State During my time as Governor !
forced the constitutional amendments 10
accomplish this through the Senate and
the Assembly During Gov. Millers time
they passed the Senate by the weight OF
their own merit. and when the Assembly
destroyed them GOV. Miller openly said
that nc would take the responsibility.
I therefore stood for a good. practical.
common sense business plan for the
reorganization OF tho government and
Gov. Miller stood FOR politics.
The Budgct Issue.
You know as we'll as do that the
state needs TO change its system %
making appropriations. urged an ex-
ocutive budget 10 the end that the sppro-
priation bills may be scientifically drawn
and responsibility for them definitely
hxed upon the Govsrnor. This Is good
business and It Is what 7 advocated
Gov. Miller insisted upon the present
system. which you know has nothing 10
commend IL but politics and the strong
desire for pap and patronage for the
machine.
II IS strange that forward looking
Republicans like yourself desired an
executive budget at Washington iu the
interest OF economy and then you stand
with the man who has denied Il 10 this
State. The budget during Gov. Millers
time. far from being placed on a busi-
ness basis, was drawn aud passed aiong
the same old lines that have been IA
vogue for half century. PORK barrel
items were inserted in the interest OF
certain communities and certain individ-
uals. and they have become law. Gov.
Miller made no record in cutting either
expenses or taxes. As far as taxes arc
concerned he increased them.
IL that record by Gov Miller Is 10
receive the approval Of the people no
man IN the Governors Office, upon the
theory that the machine wins after all.
will ever again attempt an effective
reorganization OF the State government
or the adoption OF an executive budget
Sincerely yours.
(signed) ALFRUD T. SMITH.