The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-27
COL.G. M. SMITH IN POLITICS
Police C0MMIssIONER RAN AN
"ANTIv EFT AT HIS PRIMARY.

whether Tor Low or for stronG Some OF the
Wen on NJ Don't Hknow-The Regulars We're
Scared when tho smith Ticket Dnwned, but
laugh Now An Impartial Policeman.
The organization Republicans OF the Twenty
eighth election district of the Twenty-ninth AZ.
scmbly district have been having fun with
Police Commissioner George Moore Smith. Up
to last Tuesdays primaries DR.. NJ. J. Jackson,
the organization captain OF the district, did not
regard Col. Smiths proceedings as subjects for
humorous thought. Police Commissioners have
sometimes had an advantage in political battles
that was hard to overcome, and when Col. Smith
pitched in DR.. jackson was scared. He isn't
scared any more.
Some time before Col. Smith was appointed
by Mayor Strong to the vacancy in the Police
Board left by Col. Grant, he came to DIR. Jackson
and wanted to be sure that his full name. George
Moore Smith, was on the Republican rolls. The
doctor took him for an organization man, and,
though feeling that 1t would not BIO proper to
ask the Commissioners to take an active part in
the coming campaign, took solid comfort In the
belief that he had so subst initial a citizen as
Col. Smith on his side. Tho Twenty. eighth
election district organization had had trouble
enough in fighting former Excise Commissioner
Joseph Murray, another OF Mayor Strong's bene.
hciaries, and John McConaughy.
A week ago Saturday night DIR. jackson heard
that Col. Smith had Joined hands with Murray
and McConaughy, and the drcibund had con-
tracted with one another and n person or
persons unknown to turn the election dis
trict over to the anti-Platt folks. The
leader in the resolution was ostcnsibly
to be Elliott Smith. the Commission.
er's son. Before receiving this information
DIR. jackson had put Elliott Smiths namo on
the regular organization ticket for delegate to
the Assembly district conventions to elect del;
egates TO the City and County Convention ana
to nominate an Assemblyman and an Alder
man. Tho young mans namo was hurrledly
scratched Off the ticket at had already been
printed and that of Lewis l.. Seelcy was substi.
tuted.
Or. jackson and his lieutennnts- 4. L. Chris
tian. Bonford B]oniface, and Joseph L. Jackson;
hustled through the district, which contains
200 Republican voters and sends ten delegates to
On Tuesday night Col. Smith came to the
primary early. His, vote was CHALLENGED by an
officious Individual. who was mixed in his in.
depreciation of the laws governing primaries.
Joseph l. jackson tried to smooth the dis
.HiT6SnG sc over quietly 9 But the Police Com GSmmis.
cited. In, a voice that could be heard all over
tho room he cried:
OF New York who is Republican by law. Ny Re.
publicanism is no more to be questioned than
my being q Police Commissioner.
Voters who did not know the Colonel by sight
made quite n stir to get n look at him and to toll
one another that he was the father OF Elliott
Smith. the head OF the oppositio ticket, and
had come to the primary to help his son along.
Three policemen had been assigned to duty at
the primary. One of them was on the sidewalk
in front OF the door. There WAS a crowd Of dis
putting voters out there. The Commissioner
went out to the policeman.
You know ME. you, officer" he said. II am
Police Commissioners Smith"
Everybody within fifty feet heard him. But
nobody except the policeman heard the rest of
the Commissioners remarks. Whatever tho
Colonel said, there must have been a misunder-
tween the regulars and the ants, during the
remainder Of the primary, this policeman.
tho Commissioner, spoke to him. rushed
into the fray and yanked the men who
either. II was at about this time that the
came a thing Of JOY for Dr.. Jackson and his men.
Lawyer A. T. Mason, who had come up from his
Smn Gis.ri the (. So sGH mss e%s; o Tho Colonel n,eis staye %
voted. He did a good deal. Of buttonholing.
ored voters with the general excellence Of tho
Smith ticket. Tho rumor went abroad that
Seth X Low Low me- mem qSS,sT"iiS nnermost RReeerts w re
filled with passionate admiration for w. L.
The Jackson ticket won. 1t had 20 votes.
The Smith ticket had 20.
ask them for whom they were working. Two
@ esiied w ON in. nemeS The TsF9 fr ef w shs' sid iisset sm meFe
a colored man. He lives at III East Eighty
Yes" he said. 81 am the Sidney Smith
whose name is on that ticket. But I didn't au-
thoriZe any one to put my name on that ticket.
That | did not. I've been q hard organization
worker in this district for years. always a hard.
working organization man. Now they have
name ont Col. George Moore Smith,
Commissioner OF Police. he put 1t on.
Were VIC to vote for Lowi Indeed. man. / don't
know. Let me ask you one question: Who
made Col: Smith a Commi sioner OF Police
Why didn't make him take my name Off the
ticket Cause I'm not fighting with any Police
Commissioners. No, sir! Not Sidney Smith"
The reporter next called on w. s. ,CuFhman of
1Ol East Eighty-fourth street, another man on
the ticket OF the Rntis.
A I know about that" said Mr.. Cushman.
els this: Col. Smith came up to me on the
street and said. Say, I'm going to use your
name
BE careful you don't use II for any bad pur.
pose / said, and laughed. Next thing | heard
my name was on his ticket. / tell you one more
thing: ! didn't vote his ticket, even II my name
was on it,"