New-York tribune., 1922-11-05
Governor Rests Case ON
Record of Achievement,
Scoring Rivals Stand on
Confession of Failure
Charge of Reaction
Branded Falsehood
Opponent Challenged to
Match His Summary of
Real Public Service

Enumerating point by point the
solid achievements of his admins
tration, upon which he is standing
for reelection, Governor Miller
closed his campaign last night by
submitting to the Judgment Of the
voters the question of whether they
want that kind of government or
whether they v Mt to strike it down;
and substitute for it the administers
ton of candidate who has con-
fessed that he failed to govern when
in Office and who, in the closing days
Of the campaign, has asserted that
the paramount issue is his "fake,
false promise to give the people
rum"
The Governor scored Mr.. Smiths
reiterated charge that he is 'sheart-
less reactionary," repeated on FRI
day night, by characte tizing his op-
ponent's statement as 80 mendacious
as to call for no particular answer"
The electors Of the state, he told his
audience, can best decide the matter
by studying the list of things that he
has done. He then laid before them
the catalogue of the progressive, hu-
nanitarian and business-like accon-
plishments of the last two years for
which he stands sponsor, in each
case challenging his opponent to
brand it with the mark of Toryisn,.
Is Saving Reaction7 He Asks
Il ask him. began Governor Miller,
was it reactionary TO stop the Increase
in the cost Of government which, under
his administration, rose 10 such .
height as to incite general alarm?
WAS it reactionary to save the City
OF New York alone this year $4,000, 900
in direct taxes for the support of the
state government? For the testimony
Of the Mayor Is. and it is true, that
the state taxes in the budget Of the
City of New York just completed are
only S12,5oo,ooo, while under the last
year Of my predecessor they were
nearly s22,5oo, goo.
Was 1t reactionary to save $4,000.
coo that might have been used to give
more. liberal and more just treatment
to the school teachers, the firemen
and the policemen If the city adminis-
tration had not been too intent on
using that extra money thus saved to
reward political favors?
Or to invoke, when we were con.
fronted last August with the prospect
OF an alayning fuel shortage, all Of
the power of the state to prevent
boarding, profteering and gouging, to
subject rights Of contract and rights
Of persons to the general public in
terest, and to assure to every one In
this state fair share OF what fuel
there might be at reasonable price7
Coal Furnished Poor
"Was 1t reactionary to have already
provided for the poor people of this
great city, through what is known az
the Peddiers' Pool, the coal which Is to
keep them from freezing this winter
and to have provided that at prices
which they paid for coal last springf
teeth in the housing laws to restrain
the rapacity of inscriptions and over.
reaching landlords?
WAS it reactionary to have eubstf.
tuted deeds FOR words in the improve.
ment of transportation facilities, to
bring the producer and the consumer
nearer together, to cut out waste and
useless expense between the two, to re-
duce the cost of living, first by the
great work of laying the foundation
for the improvement and development
OF the terminal facilities of this great
port by the appropriation this year of
Sb,500,000, and last year Of $4,000 600
for the construction of the New York.
New Jersey vehicuIar tunnel, money
not added to the burden of the tax
payers, but money secured from saw
ings by tho elimination Of waste in.
Cured and practiced under his admin.
istration?
"Was it reactionary to have apuro.
priated $780, 900 for the Improvement
Of the Harlem River, and other millions
for the completion Of canal terminals,
TO bring the producer and the consumer
nearer, together? Those millions, teS,s
not added to the taxpayers burden, but
saved from other waste committed
under his administration.
Highway Aid Cited
"Was it a reactionary act to have In.
creased the appropriations from rev.
enucs for the construction Of new high-
ways, and for aid to the town and
county systems, TO Ine tune OF. between
four and FIVE million dollars? That
doubled the mileage Of highway con-
struction in single year; the increase,
likewise, being met not from new taxes
but, again, from savings the result oz
elimination of waste practiced by him.
Was it reactionary to have made the
temporary provision for increased
teachers quotas passed by Republic
can Legislature under his ADMINISTERS
tion, the credit for which has ..lways
been claimed by him, a permanent fes-
ture Of the lew, provided for, it is true,
not by direct tax but two-thirds OF IL,
again, cut of savings from waste of his
administration eliminated ~
Continuing his bombardment Of facts.
Governor Miller asked whether it had
been reaetionary To have set up the
rule in this state that II was the highs
est obligation Of the state to see that
every boy and girl in the state should
have an equal opportunity. an unre-
stricted chance to get an education, to
make the most of himseH and herself,
that The f.ifu tav pBd osrI ShcufS ~. I'll