Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-30
SMITH IS SILENT
| ON STATE POLITICS
Speaks at New York Fair,
Then Confers With Po-
IiticaI Leaders.

n the Associated Press.
SYRACUSE. N. Y, August 30.-A1tel
his second speech since he was notified
of his selection as Democratic presiden-
tial candidate, Gov, Smith today was
the central figure of gathering OF
state politicians here to name new
party chairman and also of the daily
throng that is turning out for the New
York State Fair.
The Democratic State committee rau-
fed the selection Of NJ, William Bray OF
Utica as chairman TO succeed Lieut.,
Gov. Edwin Corning. resigned. James
A. Farley. member Of the athletic COM
mission was elected secretary OF the
State committee Gov Smith said he
would have nothing To say oil State
politics at this stage. Behind the scenes
there was some talk that an entire State
ticket would be discussed
win Return TO Albany.
After an appearance at the State Fair
later with a brief non political speech
the governor returns to Albany tonight
to spend the rest Of the week and some
Of next week on State business. His
presidential campaign plans still are
Indefinite and he insists he viii nave
nothing 10 reveal about his Speech-maK-
fng tour until one Of three distinct
routes mapped out for hun is finally
chosen.
Addressing several hundred officials
of New York State farm organizations
last night at the Onondaga Coll and
Country Club. the governor confined ms
talk of half an hour to costs Of local
governments and an appeal for reor-
canization of town and country control
groups to bring about reduction OF
taxes and overhead.
The affair was the annual farm
dinner" given by Jerome B. Barnum,
publisher of the Syracuse PoSt-Standard,
and the governor spoke after Gov. Gore
Of West Virginia. Commissioner Lowell
of the Tariff Commission, who is from
New York, and a number Of State farm
leaders
Recalls Farm Conference.
The governor began with one of his
favorite stories about his consultation
with a throat specialist after the 1920
camnaign. He was told that William
j. Bryan was in class by himself when
Il came 10 preserving the voice.
The governor recalled having told q
group OF farm leaders several years ago
that he new what is the matter with
agriculture as well as everybody else
around the table but that he did not
know how TO cure it He vas talk
ing Of State conditions at the time, and
he also recalled having said he was
open to suggestions, was willing TO sit
down with anybody who does know how
to cure it and help work 1t out, ana II
II required legislation, recommended
tons Of committee would assist mat
tiers
This thought in measure was SINH
lar TO that expressed by Gov. Smith IN
his acceptance speech.
Besides recommending an overhaul
ing of local administrative machinery,
the governor defended his record at
Albany as to appropriations, attacked
those who have fought his program IN
the Legislature, and declared the only
way To keep expenses down was To at
tack the evil at its root-the court OF
local government"
Hits County Patronage.
He blamed no particular party for
the situation he thought should b.
remedied. but asserted the nucleus of
the trouble lay in county patronage.
'Th. way TO control the mounting
cost Of government is TO attack the
causes CT H. ne So4G. lou VIII never
do it BY talking about the size Of the
appropriation bill
Warning his audience not to listen
% press bureau accounts Of the awful
extravaganza at Albany as this was
"the season of bunk" he challenged the
opposition to find fault with his eonten-
lions.
At one point he referred TO hostile
Legislature having reduced his appropri-
alton recommendation only "one-hun-
dredth Of one per cent" and brought
laughter by adding They made Old
Man Volstead look like a piker. In
some mysterious way he hit on one
half of one per cent"