Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-01
PORTER ISSUES YELLED
THREAT AGAINST SMITH
IN SHERN LAW PROBE
Declares Mayor Will Have %
Hours to Decide whether
He Will Garry Out His
Oath of Office"
MAKES BITTER ATTACK

George n. Porter. Secretary of the Citt-
Sens Republican League, today replied
| TO the statement of Mayor Smith, in
| which the latter accused the former Dl-
rector of Public Safety Of not acting in
good faith. by stating that the Mayor will
have "a hours to decide whether he will
carry out his oath of office or become a
| responsible participant in the infractions
of the Shern law" The former Director
made a thnly yelled threat that in event
of the matter being dismissed by the
District Attorney II will be carried TO the
courts.
At the offices of District Attorney Rotan
1t was stated that the District Attorney
was examining the afFidavits submitted
Saturday, alleging political activity on
the part of the policemen in the 23d Ward
Mr.. Porter's statement was as follows:
II have read the disgusting and insult.
ing statement in which Mayor Thomas =,
Smith seeks airily to wave aside the evi
dence Of political corruption and violation
of the law under his administration.
"Mr. Smith cannot hope to gain either
time or other advantage by attempting to
obscure the real issue through personal at.
tacks upon me or any one else: nor can
such an attack now accomplish for him
anything In the opinion of the people II
Philadelphia, before whom he stands con
vcted of having prostituted the highest Of
fee In the municipal government to po-
litical Chicanery and private profit
His limited grasp of large questions
and public affairs has evidently misled
him into the belief that his election as
Mayor elevated him to the position of Car
of Philadelphia. but his dlsilusionment
is likely to be as sudden as it will be con-
vincing.
Events OF the next "a hours will show
whether Mayor Smith intends 10 carry out
his oath Of office and his frequent prom
ises to the people to prevent the perniclous
political activity of city employees. or
whether he will attempt TO defy both law
and public opinion by remaining quiescent
and, through such refusal to act, become
a responsible participant in such deliberate
infractions of the Shern law.
SMITH HITS AT PORTER
mfr, Porter in sending me charges
against Lieutenant Hustler Is not acting
in good faith but is merely acting as a
side show TO the big political circus, II is
an effort made to pun the wool over the
eyes of the public OF course, any charges
he makes will be investigated along with
all others relative to police activity in
politics"
So said Mayor Smith today. when he
learned that Secretary George d. Porter
of the Citizens Republican League and
former Director of Public Safety, had
forwarded him the record OF police lieu
tenant charged with activity on behalf
of the Vare-Smith forces in the 23d
Ward.
When asked as to the Hustler charges,
the Mayor sand: 81 suppose from what
/ read In the newspapers that Mr.. Porters
letter is on my desk, but have not yet
taken up its contents. 1t Is an apparent
efort on the part of Mr.. Porter to pull
the wool over the eyes of the people by
the statement that Hustler was rein
stated under my administration, when as
a matter of fact IL was by an order OF
court, a condition over which ] had no
control. This convinces me that the letter
from Mr.. Porter Is not sent in good faith,
and that he is merely side show to the
big circus"
PoRTER'S CHARGES.
The Porter letter calls attention to the
fact that Lieutenant Hustler, of the 18th
police district now charged with perni-
cious activity In the interest of the Ware
Smith combination in the Esd Ward, was
discharged from the Police Department
and the city employ while Porter was
head of Public Safety on charges similar
TO the ones again brought against him,
and lays bare his record OF years past.
Director Wilson, OF the Department of
Public Safety, acting under orders of
Mayor Smith, is today making an investi-
CATION OF charges OF political activity
brought against four policemen and two
hremen by City Commissioner Robert
Moore. II is likely that before the close
of the day the Porter letter will be turned
over 10 him. together with charges Of po-
lice activity preferred ~ David Hart OF
the 23d Ward. The Ssrt charges refer
to a number Of cases. including that OF
Lieutenant Huster.