vrf>e RURAL NEW-YORKER 
1251 
The Agricultural Record of 
Charles S. Whitman 
is a record of broken promises and unful¬ 
filled agreements. Never in the history of 
New York State has agriculture been so 
shamefully treated as by the Whitman ad¬ 
ministration. Whitman promised a farm 
and market council that would be appointed 
on recommendation of farm organizations. 
He deliberately insulted the Grange, the 
Dairymen’s League, fruit growers’ associa¬ 
tions and other agricultural societies by ap¬ 
pointing Farm and Maiket Council No. I 
without consulting any farmer. Politicians 
made the appointments. The State Grange, 
the Federation of Agriculture, both State 
and horticultural societies and farm mass 
meetings protested by passing strong resolu¬ 
tions condemning Governor Whitman for 
his insults to farmers. 
Governor Whitman has increased the 
taxes of every farmer in New York State. 
Is any farmer better off? Governor Whit¬ 
man favored and signed a new school law 
that was so offensive and destructive of 
agricultural interests that it had to be re¬ 
pealed last Winter. Governor Whitman 
has slurred agriculture on many occasions. 
Though farmers helped to elect him, he 
has by his acts been an open enemy to 
farmers. 
lie made “Siisar Beet” Betts secretaiy of his 
first Farm and Market Commission. He put a 
labor leader at the head of both the first and 
second Farm and Market Council. Charles S. 
Whitman thinks no farmer in New York State 
is capalile of presiding over that Council. 
Cliarles S. Whitman has taken the State Fair 
Commission out ot the farmers’ hands entirely, 
lie even refused to apiioint a representative of 
tlie State Grange as one of the commissioners, 
altliongli until ho became Governor, the Grange 
was always given such recognition. 
Where Does the Farmer Come In? 
Who represented the farmers on the State 
Food Commission? What representation did 
they have on the Farms and Markets Council? 
Where is the State Deiiartment of Agideulture 
that every State is supposed to have to look 
after the interests of the farmer? New York 
State once had it. P(>liti(;s has taken its place, 
as the following will show: 
Farm Labor Specialists 
Charles W. Reynolds, cigar packer and barber, 
was apiiointed a farm labor specialist at Bing¬ 
hamton, N. Y., to have chai’gt^ of farm labor 
in-ohlems of that district. At Auburn, Cayuga 
County, there has been appointed John H. 
Rahrle as farm labor siieciali.st. He is president 
of the Central Labor TTnion, and a cigarmaker 
by occupation. The State Food Commission 
passed a resolution at New York City, March 4, 
101S. making certain appointments as farm 
labor specialists. This i-esolntion contained the 
name of Homer D. Call, 128 Wood Ave., Syra¬ 
cuse. N. Y. Call is international secretary of 
the International Butchers’ Union. 
.Another name included in the resolution is 
Join) M. O’llanlon of Troy. He is publisher of 
the Labor Advocate and Is a .iournalist, and has 
a considerable reputation as a labor agitator. 
Another name appealing on this list is John H. 
Clark. 219 Franklin St., Buffalo, N. Y., hu.siness 
agent of one of the trades unions. .Another 
name is that of Augustus .T. Bly, printing press¬ 
man, of 699 Jackson .Ave., New York City. 
Farmers! Consider and Reflect! 
The day is past when a Governor can tell a 
farm representative, as Charles S. Whitman 
did. that “It is none of the farmer.s’ business 
whom he appoints to office,” even though the 
appointments are for positions in agricultuml 
■ channels. Farmers of New York will show Gov¬ 
ernor Whitman that it does concern them as to 
whom he appoints to office. 
T.ikewise Avith school legi.slation. Rural dis- 
triefs Avill teach the lawmakers a lesson about 
consulting them when it comes to a matter so 
vitally close as our schools and the education of 
the farmer’s children. The farmers of New 
York State should consider well whether they 
desire to return to office a man who forgot their 
existence when their interest was at stake. 
Jobs or Food 
Which is the Farmer 
interested in? 
Are you getting a 
Square Deal? 
★ 
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE 
FOR GOVENOR 
WHERE 
ALFRED [.SMITH 
STANDS 
ALFRED E. SMITH BELIEVES 
THAT THERE ARE SOME DEPART¬ 
MENTS OF THE STATE GOVERN¬ 
MENT THAT SHOULD BE LIFTED 
OUT OF AND AS FAR REMOVED 
FROM POLITICS AS POSSIBLE, DE¬ 
PARTMENTS SUCH AS THE EDUCA¬ 
TION DEPARTMENT AND THE 
HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HE BE¬ 
LIEVES THAT THE DEPARTMENT 
OF AGRICULTURE SHOULD BE 
ADDED TO THIS NUMBER. 
He Can Do If, He Has the 
Capacity, He Has the Ability 
The New York Times Says Editorially: 
“If the Governor of J^ew York should 
know the business of the State of New 
York, who in modern memory has been 
better qualified for the post in that respect 
than Mr. Smith?” 
The Agricultural Record of 
Alfred £. Smith 
and the Democratic Party stands as a nota¬ 
ble achievement. From 1911 to 1914, years 
when Alfred E. Smith was a member of the 
Assembly, majority leader and speaker, 
more constructive and beneficial legislation 
was passed in the interest of the farmer 
than in the sixteen previous years of Repub¬ 
lican control. 
Alfred E. Smith Introduced the Foods 
and Markets Bill 
in 1914, which created the first State Depart- 
tnent of Food.s and Market.s, The bill became 
a law. 
Under Charles 8. Whitman, in 191.5, the 
appropriation allowed the department was 
so small the Commissioner was obliged to 
forego his salary and u.se it to pi'omote the 
woi’k. The further histoiw of the department to 
the present day is familiar to every farmer. 
Today the Whitman Council of Farra.s and Mar¬ 
kets of nine members consists of five men who 
ai-e residents of cities of this State, two who 
are residents of incorporated villages, and only 
two give their occupation as that of farmer. 
The Day of Reckoning 
The day of reckoning is here, and .\lfred E. 
Smith believes that the farmers of this State 
are ready to call to account Charles S. Whitman 
for his flagrant violation of his promises and 
his undisguised efforts to pay his political debts 
at the expense of the Department of Agriculture 
and the Department of Markets. 
Alfred E. Smith believes that the way to get 
things done is to get people to do them who are 
by training and exr)erience fitted for their job, 
and if elected he will see to it that the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture and the Department of 
Markets are rdstoi-ed to the farmers of the 
State. Each of these departments should be 
reorganized at the first opportunity and each 
placed under the head of a single commissioner. 
In making the.se appointments Mr. Smith will 
select only men who are farmers or agreeable to 
the farmers, and who know the farming hu.sine.ss. 
Agriculture means food. Food to be plenty 
must bring a reasonable profit to the actual 
fartners who labor to produce it. We may 
.safely leave the (piestion of maintaining the 
fertility of our fields to our .splendid expeilment 
stations, to our agricultural educational institu¬ 
tions, and to our farm Inireaus, all of which will 
have the earnest support of Alfred E. Smith. 
But the Department of Agriculture must and 
shall be made an active and efficient part of his 
administration. It must be operated under a 
single head, representing the farmers’ interests 
entirely, who shall be charged with full respon¬ 
sibility for the execution of the laws and for 
the protection of the farmers’ interests. 
Farmers Should Not Be Annoyed 
The farmers of the State should not be an¬ 
noyed by the interference of politicians. Neither 
should they be siibjected to useless and unneces¬ 
sary regulatory laws. Neither should they be 
harassed by the overlapping and countless in¬ 
spections of agents and representatives of va¬ 
rious bureaus, councils and commissions as now 
constituted. The State needs food, and the only 
men who can supply it are farmers. We rely 
.absolutely on the farmers of this country for 
food, and Mr. Smith believes the State can in no 
better way perform its duties than by making 
the production of food as easy as i)ossible and 
by making the distribution of it after it is pro¬ 
duced efficient and economical. 
Food Distribution 
The question of food distribution is one which 
Mr. Smith believes shonld engage our serioxis 
attention, because without an economical distri¬ 
bution it is diffi<a]lt. if not impossible, to produce 
food at a profit. To secure .such a distribution 
it may be necessary for the various cities of this 
State to undertake a new and I'evolutionary mar¬ 
keting program. The distribution of milk and 
other perishable foods is a local question, and 
will have to be aided with adecpiate legislation 
both by the cities and by the State. In this 
legislation the fundamental id('a should always 
be that the man who produces food is entitled 
to a reasonable living profit. 'Fo secure this 
reasonable i)rofit the farmers and their interests 
will have Mr. Smith’s cordial sui)port and his 
sincere co-operation, and no legislation relating 
to food distribution which affects the fanners’ 
interests vitally will receive his sanction until 
he is sure that it has theirs. 
Vote For Alfred E. Smith, He. Will Keep His Promises 
(A dveriisement) 
Democratic State Committee, Suracuse, N. Y. 
