Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-29
PERSONALITY WINS
MANY TO HIS SIDE
Knows Human Side of Peo-
pie and Likes to Mingle
With Them.


because of their organization, TO de-
rnand a minimum wage, and 1t is flXed,
If not by law so thoroughly by custom,
that you cannot conduct public work
or a public operation in this State with
out full recognition Of that fact.
Urges Progress
ssWonaen and children have no or
Sanization. No woman goes to work,
or no young girl goes to work, with
the intention Of forever working in a
department store or shirt factory,
she goes there for 8 start in life Her
ultimate desire is the desire Of al
women, that she have her own home
and her own family Consequently
they never or seldom organize, Con-
SeQuently they are without power TO
present their claims, and, therefore, It
Is proposed that this State itself help
them to present their claim"
Once more he mentioned the same
subject when he said. This legislation
means progress, and I do not have to
tell a man or woman in this hall
that progress is hard to make. 1t IS
very difficult. Take any great labor
reform and make a study of how long
ii took TO enact 1t in this state. Inc
workmen's compensation act. prooaoiy
the most forward looking piece of legls-
lation of its kind ever enacted III this
State, was a long time being put
through, The people themselves at
general election were obliged to amend
their own constitution before we could
get that legislation and organize
commission in this State.
II is this sort of an attitude that has
given Al Smith a reputation in New
York State and throughout the coun-
try. where his record is known, for be-
ing a progressive statesman. AS gov
ernor he succeeded in putting on the
statute books Of the State many OF the
things which were defeated at that
time as part of the constitution.
When AL Smith walked out OF the
constitutional convention he was no
longer merely popular Iammany
leader: he was big man IN the Sta0e.
so recognized by everybody who nad
attended that convention and by all
those who had followed its delibera-
tons.
He was in favor Of many OF the
nrnDosed amendments adopted by the
convention. but not all OF them. ne
advised the Republican leaders not TO
submit the amendments en- bloc, lest
tnev be defeated. But they did not
take his advice and met defeat. Later
many of the amendments favored 5y
Smith were adopted separately.
Elected Sheriff.
Back he went to New York City IN
tf,e Fau of 1915 and was handed the
nomination for sheriff of the big city.
His small salary as member OF the
LEGISLATURE had left him poor man,
and he had growing family 10 SIP
port. In consideration Of his E;Je SUrk
at Albany and TO make $<aeiIus for the
personal sacY%&<se u his legislative ca
Teer the New York Democratic leaders
derreed that he might have the fat fees,
trimming into many thousands OF dollars
EACH year, that went with the ONCE 81
sheriff. He was Overwhelmingly elected
to that Office. But New York sherlns
NAV not succeed themselves, and so IN
1917 Smith was looking around for an
other Mace TO land In, and hoping tnat
he might be nominated for mayor OF the
CT to do battle against the Fusionist.
John Pslrroy Mitchell. who had whipped
the wigwam In 1913, which was the
wear of Gov. Suffers impeachment.
But william Randolph Hearst, news
paper publisher. whose support Murphy
side mar was given the nomination Tor
the second place on the ticket ana was
elected president of the Board OF Alder
mar. He was tired Of the job In year.
ne Is q very active man and he wanted
something besides city motor Gar and
an Office IN the city hall. Then, too, ne
fsizfiked Mayor Hylan. He asked Muir
T,Yy 10 give him the nomination Tor
royernoy. The Tammany leader thought
Smith was crazy and told him so. II
looked like political suicide Tor smith o.
any other Democrat TO oppose Gov:
whitman. then completing his second
term. who was about TO be renomlnated
by the Republicans.
Elected Governor.
winning Murphy over and capturing
the Democratic gubernatorial nominal
tfou. AL Smith surprised everybody by
rettiag elected. He defeated Whitman
Ev some $4,000 votes Those were the
DAYS before Smith enjoyed the tremen-
fous prestige which he enjoys today. Al
Albany he found q hostile LEGISLATURE
awaiting him Although nothing mucn
happened In his first term, Smith start
Cd his famous program for State re-
organization, which in time became nls
outstanding achievement.
THE training which Smith had given
himself In the Legislature helped him
greatly. It brings 70 mind an answer
the East Side boy had made, IN ms
campaign for sheriff, when he was asked
a,y his ornament in a Joint debate what
Qualifications he had for that office.
II was for IL years a member OF the
Neg YORK legislature retorted Smith
land for 4 years Democratic leader
there. I was for years on the city
committee which revised the New YORK
City charter. As chairman OF the ways
and means committee, personally pre-
pared the State budget. IL cut down
expenses by SIS 100000, as compared
wit the last year Of Gov. Hughes adj
ministration. was vice chairman o.
the committee which obtained the en-
arfuent Of cur existing fire. prevention
laws. I was q member OF all the I'M
portant committees Of the last consti-
futlonal convention. If there is ans
man IN the city with the same leglsla-
tive experience. let him speak. ] VA
be glad 10 surrender my nomination <
him and go back to the Fulton FISH
Market"
Names Reconstruction Commission.
One Of Smiths first acts as governor
was the appointment Of recofGtruc'
ton commission. composed Of men anC
women Of character and fitness from al
parLG OF the 0JabEs AtAe lIVSOAaE ASSEia'
iature refused 70 pay the expenses ol
the commission, and the necessary
money was supplied by voluntary sub.
scriptlons Two months later the com
mission reported IN favor Of preserving
the States employment agencies. which
had become crippled by the collapse O
p Federal merger and the Legiglaturi
eoDropriated $50 600 thus enabling tn
STATE to carry on replacement work.
The governor was not unmlndtW O
his obligations 70 his party, but in hi
Appointments fitness for the job was al
WAYS the first requisite with him. II
frequently appointed men with no po
IiticaI prestige, such as Gen. ooethals
whom he made state fuel adnlinistra
tor: Col. Frederick s. Greene, whom h
named highway commissioner, France
Perkins, named on the Industrial Com