The New York herald., 1922-10-31
AL QUOTES DAWSON
in REPLY TO MILLER
Says Republican Defended
Him in Compensation Set
tlement Controversy.
OPENS HIS FIGHT HERE
Candidate Declares Cover
nor's Day of Reckoning
Has Arrived.
ASSAILS CORPORATIONS
AsSAILs CORPORATIONS
Asserts People Resent Execu-
tiye's Alleged Friendship
for Private Interests.

dstc for Governor, at a meeting last
night, opening his New York city
campaign, presented his defense to
the charges made by Gov. Miller in
Albany on Saturday that Smith had
condoned improper settlement OF cases
under the workrnens compensation
act by keeping in Office Thomas j.
Curtis, the deputy who handled them.
In a letter TO Mr.. Smith, Miles NJ.
Dawson, who was counsel in the In
vestigation Of the Labor Department
to which Gov. Miller referred. said
there was nothing disclosed to show
dishonesty or incompetency ON the
part of Curtis, or to give reason for
the deputy's removal.
If the story about Curtis was the
only reply Gov. Miller could make TO
charges that the Republican adminis-
tration had wrecked the efficiency OF
the Labor Department, it were better
that the Governor had made no reply
at all. Mr.. Smith asserted.
The Democratic candidate spoke 70
an overflowing audience in the audito-
RUM Of the Newton HSh School, Elm
hurst. The Rev. Dr. aE. J. McGuffey.
rector of ST. James Protestant Episcopal
Church Of that community, presided
When the meeting started there we're
], 200 seated. 500 standing in the audi
torium and 500 others had been sent TO
the old school. although Mr.. Smith did
rot speak there. 1t was a typical New
LA1fa axaH ltn ~ -
were used with yisor.
Soon after the meeting had got under
way, there was some confusion at the
door, due to crowding. Someone in
the audience cried:
Put those Republicans out!"
mo. don't put them out pleaded
al" Have them stay but keep them
quiet so they can listen to me-"
The candidate was cheered for several
minutes when he said:
rive got Gov. Miller on the defensa.
rye had him there for three weeks and
I'm going to keep hun there"
Speaking OF national affairs. Ar
charged that thoy have been on an eS-
cursion in Washington for two years,
with Santa Claus running round the
place. It-
"But there is limit" ho added. "and
the Democrats are going to sec TO IL
that there Is stop by electing Demo-
cratic Congress"
Attacks Home Rule stand.
In reversing Republican practice by
spending the last week OF his campaign
In New York city. Mr.. Smith said. Gov.
Miller was trying to get tho people here
to believe he wished 10 give them equal
justice with the public service corpora
tions, but 1t was ''crowding the mourn
ers n bit too far
He found upstate, the speaker as
serted, general belief that the admin
istration of the Governor. so far as he
could make II so, was devoted to the
promotion of the interests of the cor
porations as opposed TO the rank and
file of the people.
Tho candidate attacked the Governor
on his attitude toward home rule, direct
primaries and the Lush bills.
"fn all parts OF the State" he said,
II have charged Governor Miller with
destroying tho efficiency OF the labor
laws and the workmen's compensation
act by starving the Labor Department Ia
the matter OF adequate appropriations
Summarizes Charges.
IL have charged in effect he nullified
the factory code OF the state. have
charged that he left the State helpless
in her efforts to protect the health and
safety and 10 promate the comfort OF
the mon, women and children engaged
In industry. ! have charged that he
practically abolished the bureau or
women in industry within the Labor be-
partment by reducing IL to a. point where
aside from maintaining II in name only,
IL can perform no function.
81 havo charged him with permitting,
by the operation OF tho law reorganizing
the department, the return of the per-
nicious direct settlement system In COM
rensation cases. / have pointed out that
organized labor. women In Industry and
all those in sympathy with them
throughout the State have deeply re-
scented his attitude TO this great depart
ineut Of the Government.
Finally. In tho Capitol City on Sat-
Grday night OF last week, he makes the
remarkable explanation OF the whole
proceeding by referring To my failure 70
remove a man In that department by the
rame OF Curtis, who I am informed was
In the employ of tho Compensation Com
mission since it's inception. II that Is his
answer and the only one that he can
make 20 what have charged In all parts
Of tie state, II would be infinitely bet
ter for his canvass that no refuse to
speak about II entirely. because informa-
ton that comes TO me by letter from
Miles NJ Dawson, who was retained by
Governor Hughes as counsel and actuary
it the insurance investigation OF 1905
and who also was counsel In the investi-
CATION TO which the Governor refors. not
only takes sharp issue with the Cover
nor's expressed Judgment of Curtis but
denies In toto what tho Governor has
formed as his own conclusion. Among
other things Mr.. Dawson says;
My attention has been called to
Governor Miiler's speech criticizlng you
for failure TO remove Deputy Commits
s,oner Thomas j. Curtis of the State In
dustrial Commission by reason OF dis
closures before your Commissioner. Jere-
miah Il. Counor, who investigated the
operation OF the Workmen's Componsa-
tion Law.
Explains Abuses"
las counsel I conducted the inquiry
before Mr. Connor. Though Rapubli-
can J think It Is my duty 10 write you
for such use as you care to make OF It,
the plain truth--that there was absolute
lv nothing disclosed In the investigation
which indicated IN the slightest degree
dishonesty or Incompetence on the part
OF Mr. Curtis.
tint.