because—He is champion of labor and a friend of the unfortunate.
Because—His public and private career has been one of unselfish service.
Because—Though Governor, he continues his philanthropic and social service work.
Because—As Governor, he has proved his capacity and independence.
Because—It is manifestly bad business to replace an experienced executive by an inexperienced man.
Because—Of his progressive, humane viewpoint and sound business administration.
Because—By practicing intelligent economy he reduced the State’s accumulated deficit one third.
Because—He has courageously fought to modernize all forms of local government against stubborn political opposition.
Because—He forced creation of Municipal Housing Authorities to eradicate slums.
Because—Of his $100,000,000 program for direct unemployment relief.
Because—His victory over the public utilities lobby assures cheaper electricity for homes.
Because—By forcing mandatory fair wage standards he put an end to exploitation of women and children in industry.
Because—He backed unemployment insurance and adoption of the Federal Child Labor Amendment.
Because—By setting up Poor Man’s Courts, he brought Justice within easy reach of those of limited means.
WHAT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND ALFRED E. SMITH THINK OF HIM:
Franklin D. Roosevelt says:
He is a man who has the knowledge, a man who knows every nook and corner of the State, who knows every principle of the details of government, a man who understands how to run things in a business way, but more important than that, a man with an understanding heart, a man to whom social justice is not an unknown word, a man who has courage—and you need lots of guts to be a Governor.
Alfred E. Smith says:
I don’t know of any man that ever occupied the office of Governor who went through any more perilous times, gave more attention and devotion to it than did Herbert H. Lehman. The State has never been more prudently managed, never been better supervised. Its appropriations of public money have never been better scrutinized. Incentive for hard work, application to business and careful management of State’s affairs, coupled with a record of progressive achievement, is entirely removed if the capable, sincere efforts of Governor Lehman are not appreciated by the people of our State through his re-election by an overwhelming plurality.
Herbert H. Lehman has endeared himself to millions with his activities in all fields of economic, philanthropic, cultural and spiritual endeavor in behalf of fellow Jews here and abroad. As one of the founders of the Joint Distribution Committee, as Chairman of the Reconstruction Committee of the J. D. C. , as one of the organizers of the Palestine Loan Bank and Palestine Economic Corporation, as a member of the Jewish Agency and as officer, director or trustee of numerous educational and social service organizations he has earned universal gratitude for what he has accomplished for the future of Jews the world over.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
