The New York herald., 1922-10-21
Smith SAYS FARMER
is POLITICAL VICTIM
Charges Agricultural De-
partment Under Miller
Has Done Nothing.
FOR PATRONAGE ONLY
Warns of Person Who
Raises Cry Against Meth
ods of Tammany Hall.
NIGHT BEAR WATCHING
Attacks Record of Governor on
the Barge Canal and
Highways.
NIGHT BEAR WATCHING

Special Dispatch 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD.
UTICA, Oct. 20.-Alfred Il. Smith. who
has been charging Gov. Miller's ad-
ministration with decreasing the eff
cheney of department after department
for political reasons, took up a discus
sion OF the Department of Agriculture
to- might.
Speaking to 1000 in the Majestic
Theater. the nominee asserted that the
present administration had neglected
those problems. as well as those of the
Highway Department and Of the barge
canal
Gov. Miller in two years has made
no headway in dealing with these prob
lems." he said referring particularly
to the Agriculture Department. ''Iie
has been content TO let 1t rest as an
object of political patronage.
For years the Democratic party. par
ticularly that part of It in New York
city known as Tammany Hall, has been
accused OF using public office for pat
ronage purposes. Keep your eye on the
man who makes that charge. He's the
one who in crowd will cry stop thief
TONS"
Not only had Gov. Miller been satis-
fed with conditions as he had found
them, the speaker added. but in many
cases had taken backward step. The
Department Of Agriculture had done abb
solutely nothing. he declared, 10 miti-
gate the largest problem facing the
people Of the State to-day. which was
the spread between the price to the
farmer for his produce and the price
to the ultimate consumer. He pictured
it in the light of political brokerage
office.
Discussing here. as he did in Syracuse
last night, Gov. Miller's public servic-
legislation. the candidate remarked: Il
do not think was unfair to him when
I charged his administration. so far as
the public service Legislation is con-
cerned, with leaning forcibly toward
capital and utility corporations
There being state asylum in Utica.
the candidate repeated his charges that
the so-cailed Miller economy had
weakened their administration.
John d. Mcmahon of Rome presided
Mayor George R. Lunn. candidate for
Lieutenant Governor. and James A.
Hamilton, candidate for Secretary of
State also spoke
Charges Failures 10 Mfiier.
Declaring that so far he had little
difficulty in convincing the people open
TO argument that Gov. Miller had failed
in nearly every branch Of his admins
tration, Mr.. Smith discussed the prob
lens that interest the farmer and the
business man with freight to move.
Gov. Miller" he said, received
great part of his support from the rural
districts. In matters that have particu-
lar application to these sections of tho
State he has fallen down. / made agri-
culture and it's promotion very impor-
tant part of my program during my
term as Governor. i signed bill for
State aid to county highways. in order
to provide roads that might be used as
feeders from the back sections of the
state 10 the main arteries Of travel.
.During my administration / became
convinced that the people In this State
were not receiving an adequate return
for the appropriations for the promo
ton of agriculture. The Department OF
Agriculture was seized upon by the Re-
publican political machine as a source
of patronage rather than an efficient
agency for help to the farmer and relief
to the city people"
Mr.. Smith said that in his admins
tration he had told those who had an
interest in agriculture he was ready to
give them the biggest and strongest
man In the state 20 head the Depart
ment of Agriculture. 4 bill was intro
duced 10 that effect Then the Repub-
llcan legislative leaders served notice on
the Governor that "the machine pro-
posed TO retain the Department OF Ag-
riculture under its immediate control"