Evening star., 1932-11-04

operation. The fact Is that with the
sanship should, in so far as possible,
be kept in the background. In meeting
this great majority of problems they
can and should be treated primarily
from the point of view of national
good rather than of party good. And
let me add that in the case Of most
reconstruction legislation there ought
to be no great difference in the policy
OF the two great political parties.
Influenced by Experience.
We are all influenced by our per-
sonal experiences For four long years,
as Governor of New York, have been
faced by Legislature Republican In
both of its branches. From the be-
ginning have worked on the assump-
ton that the members of this Legisla-
ture were human beings, that they
were patriotic, and that most Of our
State problems could best be solved by
cooperation between them and myself
We have differed on certain matters Of
fundamental policy. In those cases
have given them battle; sometimes they
have won-sometimes, and I think in
the majority of cases. I have won; but
clean, open fights.
However, when the problem has been
one affecting human welfare, the Leg
islature and I have always ended by
sitting around table and getting some
thing practical done. That was the
history Of the labor legislation in this
State during the past four years-of
the legislation for the improvement of
our hospitals and our prison system,
of the legislation that enacted that old
age security law-of the legislation that
made this State the leader among all
the States in providing unemployment
relief. In the later case I called q
special session, I proposed a bill. the
Republican leaders proposed another
bill, we had our fight, we sat around a
table, met them 20 per cent of the
way, they met me 80 per cent of the
way, they passed the bill, I signed the
bill, the relief work was started-and
all of this in the space Of six weeks,
while it took the Congress six months
to get the President to see that such
measures were necessary in the Nation
as we'll
I want to drive home the point that
I have practiced what I preach-that
there can be cooperation between an
executive and legislative body in the
interest Of action, of getting things
done.
Record illustrates Point
And while draw from my personal
experience one part of my record in
Albany well illustrates my point. Up to
the time I was inaugurated as Cover
nor. the record for vetoes be-
longed to former Gov. Grover Cleveland.
But in each of the last four years 1
have vetoed more legislative acts than
did Cleveland himself, and the per-
centage OF laws passed which received
my executive disapproval has run from
25 per cent to as high as 81 per cent
of all bills passed. That is not all.
During those four years not one single
bill which received my disapproval has
been passed by the Legislature over my
veto. And likewise with my record of
appointments AS in the Federal Gov
ernment nearly all important admins
trative or judicial appointments require
confirmation by the Senate. During
my four years as Governor not a single
one of my appointments has been re-
jected by the Senate OF the State Of
New York.
One final point on this subject. 1t
seems of course fairly obvious that the
next Congress OF the United States will
have a majority Of Democrats in both
its branches. Any child can under
stand that it will be easier for Demo-
cratic President to cooperate with the
next Congress than it would be If the
present Chief Executive were reelected.
But, at the same time, I honestly be-
lleve that even if the Congress of the
United States were to be Republican
in one or both o. its branches I could
get along with it better than the gentle
man who is running for President on
the Republican ticket.
The great issue this year is national,
comprehensive and humane. l have
painted it with broad lines because it
is a program for a great Nation. That
is why. from the beginning, insisting
upon the principle of new deal have
invited to join our cause Republicans
who believe that this country needs the
tonic of a new alignment of party 10y
altieS a new and enlightened support