Evening star., 1928-11-06
Democratic Candidate Prom
iSeS to Give Progressive
Administration"
HAS "MADE NO PROMISES"
Says He Can Enter Office
With Mind Single to Best
interests of Country.
HAS "MADE NO PROMISES
Rv the Associated Press.

| BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, November 6.-Gov.
Smith in his final appeal to voters said:
/ Under our form of government the
/ citizens of this country must assume
an individual obligation to do their
full share to keep democratic govern
ment the success that it has been. And
| their Share on election day is to be sure
| to vote.
The declaration of the equality of
man is never better exemplified than
| it is on election day, when the hum
| blest man in the community Is the
equal of the President of the United
| States as he stands before the ballot
| box man or woman who is not suffl-
! GENTLY interested in the welfare of the
country to take the trouble to cast a
ballot cannot be said to be very good
| citizen. 1t is almost as though they
say in effect that they do not care
what happens.
The whole theory of democratic rep-
| reSentative government is predicated on
| the belief that the citizens of the coun-
| try are sufficiently interested in their
Government to determine for them
selves who is to run it. .
Likewise, it is the duty of every
American citizen, man or woman, to
vote according to the dictates of con-
science, solely upon the basis of what
he or she believes to be for the best
| interest of the country itself and not
upon the basis of any passion or any
prejudice. Any man or woman or any
group casting a ballot for any other
reason except the welfare of the coun-
try is doing what they possibly can to
negative the whole theory of democratic
government
Speaks Of His Record.
For six or seven weeks, as the Demo-
cratic candidate for the presidency of
the United States, have been travel
ing throughout this country. I have
spoken to the American people on every
important question that is pressing the
country for solution, Within the limit
of my ability I have endeavored to
state my position and the position of
my party on the issues presented in
this campaign clearly and concisely.
Tonight I am not surrounded by
thousands of people in a great hall,
and am going to take this opportunity
to talk Intimately to my radio audience
alone, as though I were sitting with
you in your cwn home and personally
discussing with you the decision that
you are to make tomorrow. If I were
physically present with you know you
would ask me to give you the facts to
convince you which of the two candi-
dates by training and by experience is
the better fitted to head your Govern
ment and lead the American people to
solution of the problems that will
confront the next administration. A
frank answer to your question makes it
necessary for me to speak of my own
record.
I am no stranger, as you all know
to public Office Prior to this year I
have been candidate for elective pub
lie Office 20 times and have been elected
10 times have served as Governor
of New York for longer period than
any man in its history since the days
of De Witt Clinton, 100 years ago.
Politically, tie State of New York
is a strong Republican State. Only
three men have been elected on the
Democratic ticket since 1892, period
of SO years. although we elect our
governors every second year. I am the
only Democrat in 40 years who has
been honored by the people of my
State with more than one term as gov
ernor.
In 1924, while the Republican candi-
date for the presidency carried the
100000 of New York by upward of
100000 plurality, was elected gov
ernor by 10000.
Legislature Republican.
At no time during my governorship
was the Legislature of the State in the
control of the Democratic party. I
vetoed more legislative proposals than
any two governors in the history of
the State. Not a single one of these
vetoes was oyerridden by the Legisla-
ture.
In this intimate talk you are entitled
TO know what actuated me in the ap-
pointments / have made to my own
| cabinet. I appointed to public Office
more men and women requiring con-
flrmation by the Senate than any two
governors in our history. While dur
ing my administrations the Senate was
Democratic for two years it was Re
publican for six years, and in. all of
that period not single appointment
was withdrawn by me or rejected by
the Senate
The test Of administrative capacity
lies largely in the ability of the execu-
tive to surround himself with officials
! who are competent to transact the busi-
ness of the Government. No living
man could do it all himself. If he is
to be successful he must have the abil-
| 1ty and the will to make the right kind
of selections.
For the first time In the history of
our State l set up cabinet Let us
take look at that cabinet for min
ute. Probably the most important ap-
pointment made by the governor is the
superintendent of public works He is
| charged by law with the operation of
the Erie Canal. In his department are
/ found the bureaus of highways, public
buildings, water control and architec-
| ture.
On highways alone in the year 1928
the superintendent of public works ex-
pended $45,000,000. In the bureau of
architecture and under the supervision
| of the engineering bureau there are in
course of completion contracts for pub
lie buildings approximating $600OO,O00.
Department Like a Business.
| At no time in the history of this
| department has there been as much
| public money expended as during the
last six years. All the Skill the inge-
nuity and the political sagacity which
the Republican party can bring to bear
have been directed to an effort to find
| something in the expenditure of all
| this money and in the deyeloDment of