New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-08-23
OVERNOR SMITH, IN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, TAKES STAND
FOR AMENDING OF 18TH AND PLEDGES AID FOR FARMERS

Herewith is printed in
full the text of Governor
Alfred E. Smiths accept
ance speech in which he
calls for the sale of liquor
under state regulation, a
survey of farmer condi-
tons and quick relief for
the agriculturists:
upou the steps of this Capitol
" here twenty-five years ago | first
came into the service of the State,
| receive my party's summons to
lead it in the nation. Within this
building, | learned the principles,
the purposes and the functions of
governmen, and to know that the
greatest privilege that can come to
any man is u give lltiisSil "
nation which has reared him and
raised him from obscurity to be a
contender for the highest office in
the gift of its people.
Here ] confirmed my faith in the
principles of the democratic party
50 eloquently defined by Woodrow
Wilson: First. the people as the
source and their interests and de-
sires as the text of laws and institu-
tons. Second, individual liberty as
the objective of all law" With a
gratitude too strong for words and
with humble reliance upon the aid
OF Divine Providence. l accept your
summons to the wider field of &C
ton.
Progressive Government
Government should be construc-
tive, not destructive; progressive,
not reactionary. l am entirely un-
willing to accept the old order or
things rs the best unless and uItil
I become convinced that it cannot
be made better.
It il our new world theory that
government exists for the people as
against the old world conception
that the people exist for the gov
eminent sharp line separates
those who believe that an elect
class should be the special object OF
the governments concern and those
who believe that the government IL
the agent and servant Of the people
who create 1t. Dominant in the re-
publican party today is the elemen,
which proclaims and executes the
POLITICAL theories against which the
party liberals like Roosevelt and La
Toilette and their party insurgents
have rebelled. This reactionary Gle.
ment seeks to vindicate the Theory
OF benevolent oligarchy. 1t assumes
that q material prosperity, the Yer,
existence Of which is challenged. II
an excuse for political inequality
1t makes the concern of the govern
ment. not people, but materia
things.
Reaction vs.. PrOgreSsivism
l have fought this spirit in m.
own state. nave had to fight
and to beat 1t, in order to plac
upon te statute books every one o
the progressive, humane laws TO
whose enactment / assumed respon
sibility in my legislative and execu
tive career. ! shall know how t
fight it in the nation.
1t is a fallacy that there is incon
sistency between progressive mea
sures protecting the rights of tn
people, including the poor and tn
weak. and a Just regard for tn
rights of legitimate bushes. grea
or small Therefore. while l empha
size my belief that legitimate bust
ness promotes the national welfare
let me warn the forces OF corrur
ton an favoritism, that Nemocrati
relegated to the rear and the fror
seats will be occupied by the friend
of equal opportunity.
Taking Issues to the People
Likewise. government polio
should spring from the delibera'
action of an informed electoral
OF all men. l have reason to belle,
that the people can and do gras
the problems Of the governmen
Against the opposition Of the sci
seeker and the partisan, again an
again. have seen legislation VIC
by the pressure of popular deman
exerted after the people had had a
honest. frank and complete explal
alton Of the issues. Great question
Of finance, the issuance OF million
Of dollars of bonds for public pr
jects. the complete reconstructic
Of the machinery of the state go
eminent. the institution Of an e,
ecutive budget, these are but fe
Of the complicated questions whit
I. myself have taken to the electo
ate. Every citizen has thus learn'
the nature Of the business in har
and appreciated that the state
business is his business.
Revf,ing National Ideals
That direct contact with the pc
pie l propose to continue in II
campaign and. if / am elected.
the conduct of the nations affairs
shall thereby strive to make the "
tons policy the true reflection
the nations ideals. Because ] belle
In the idealism of the party Of Jeffe
son, Cleveland. and Wilson, my q
ministration will be rooted in libeI
under the law; liberty that mea
freedom to the individual to folls