New-York tribune., 1922-10-21
Smith Traces
Farmers Ills
70 Opponent
Republican Patronage, He
Says, Honeycombs State.
TO Prejudice OF the
Agricultural Popuiace
Calls i Largest Issue
Democratic Candidate Also
Assails Rival as to Barge
canal and State Hospitals
From o asag correato o,.l,.,,.

| age, honeycomhtng the state d.nsrs-
| ments, particularly the departments Of
Agriculture and of Highwsys, Yormer r
Governor Smith, Democratic candidate
Tor Governor, declared in his speech
here tonight was the reason wl,v tte
! needs OF the farmer had not rcceire d
proper attention under Goyernor
| Miller's administration and tho high
cost Of living still remained uniugtly
| high for The ultimate consumer.
! agriculture, the barge cansl and the
state hospitals received the greater
part OF the candidates. attention. 81 IIe
spoke st the Majestic Thcater to an au-
dience Of more than 1000, among whom
We're large proportion OF women, and
| farmers who came in from the outsy-
ting districts. Tho latter was 8 fact
that the Democratic leaders noted as q
| good omen, as most Of the ruraIites in
I these parts are sunpoBed to BE Repnb-
| licans.
Discussing tho patronage question,
| tho speaker took occasion to refer to
the general belle2-unj njustifed, he gsid
that whenever Tammany Hall was In
age purposes.
Upholds Tansmany
"Is's all very we'll FOR Governor MIl-
ler to take the high and lofty attitude y
said Mr. Smith. 'sThe Democratic
party, particularly that part Of It
known as Tanl,nany Hall, has been
charged with using public Office for
patronage. Beware OF the man that
makes that charge. Keep your eye on
him. That's the man who cries Stop
thief!' in the crowd to divert attention
from his own operations"
Speaking again Of the number Of de-
psrtments, commissions and bureaus in
the present state government, the
speaker said that Governor Miller evil
IDENTIFY believed the old adage that
what was everybody's huainess was
| nobody's business
"Thc larger you make the commit
tees. tho less there Is done," he said,
"lt's just like the situation at Wash
ington-the larger the gathering OF the
best minds, the less there's donc."
John D. Mcmahon, an attorney OF
Lunn, Of Schenectady, candidate Cor
Lieutenant Governor, preceded the
! Gubernatorial candidate and discussed
public utilities In his home town. He
declared that while the price OF gas
had been reduced in Schenectady by
the present Public Service Commission,
the standard OF MEASURE had besn
changed from twenty-five candlepower
TO the British thermal unit, affording
an inferior product.
Issues Farm Record Challenge
"In f.iy speeches SO FAR" said the
former Governor, * have had very
little difficulty in convincing tho peo-
plo that were open to argument that
Governor Miller has failed in nearly
every branch OF his administration.
part Of his support from the rural dis
tricts. In matters that have particu-
lar application to these scct,ons OF
the state he has also fallen down.
am willing Cor him to recount in his
public utterings what he did for the
promotion OF agriculture and market
ing, q subject that has an interest not
only In the country, but in tho great
cities.
81 made agriculture and its promo
tion very important part OF my pro-
gran, during nay term as Governor.
During my administration ] became
convinced that the people In this state
were not receiving an adequate return
for the appropriations made Yor the
promotion Of agriculture. The Depart
naent of Agriculture was seized upon
by the Republican political machine
as source Of patronage rather than
All efficient agency for help to the
farmer and relief TO the city people."
The former Governor said chat he
tried his best to establish an efficient
and progressive program for the agri-
cultural department during his term
y - f>,.A 2. L
Legislature blocked II. e,
"Tho largest problem facing the
people OF this stsSe to-day" he con-
tinued, "is the spread between the
price to-day TO the farmer for his
products and the price charged to the
ultimate consumer. Agriculture, from,
any standpoint that you view IL, must,
or necessity, be linked UP with the
question Of distribution and market
ing. Theaa phases Of the problem
have never been touched. a
in passing through St. Lawrence
County only this week gaw apples
rotting on the ground Of the fruit belt,
while they are costing as high as ten
cents apiece to tho consumer in the
Dig cities. A. vigorous department Of
agriculture, presided over by a man Of
ability, would at least have some aug-
gestion to offer. Under the present
system we seem to be helpless except
TO call attention TO it. Governor Miller,
IN his two years, has made no headway
III dealing with this problem. A proper
cooperation between that department
and the department Of public works
might result In the use Of the canal
for the reduction Of che cost Of trans-
portation, and existing canal terminals
might we'll be linked mp to pabiic mar
kets, bringing tho produce Of the
farmer to the ultimate consumer st q
minimum cost"
Smith Claims Grain Elevators
Speaking OF the barge canal, the
Democratic candidate called attention
to the fact that Governor Miller has
said that business Of the canal has In
creased during his administrations. II
happened by strange coincidence, the
speaker said, that tho increase In busi-
ness came largely from the feet OF
ninety boats purchased and operated by
his former Superintendent Of Public
Works. Public interest in the canal
had been SO great, he said, that after
they had spent $10l ,o00,0 600 for deep
ening and widening the canal they efa-
tirely overlooked the provision Of suit
able terminals. Tho terminals and
grain elevators, which are in course Of
construction or completed, were due to
his own initiative when Governor, Mr..
Smith declared. IL