Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-03
VARESAYS MAYOR
WASPLOT VICTIM
Senator Calls Ex-Judge Cor.
I don and Zone Stern"
Prime Movers
FORMER MAKES DENIAL
Declares Contractor-Politician
4 Lucky He Was Not Ar
rested Also

State Senator Edwin II. Ware charges
that a plot, planned here and approved
In Washington, led TO the arrest and
Prosecution OF Mayor Smith on tho
Fifth Ward conspiracy charges.
The Senator made his accusations in
a. statement issued last night at the
Manufacturers Club.
Senator wares Statement
Tho Senator's statement, in full. fol
lows:
1T took a common sense Philadelphla
jury under the guidance of fearless
and Independent judge less than ten
minutes to clear Mayor Smith and 10
smash a plan that was started in the
North American Building at a con-
ference between Judge Gordon. one Stern
and others, when the letter that figured
in the Mayors trial was written by
Judge Gordon, signed by James Carey
ana delivered TO the Mayor by stern,
This plan was then submitted at a
conference in Washington and approved.
A. warrant for the ARE st of the Mayor
was issued by Judge Brown. who sat
al a committing magistrate at the pre-
liminary hearing. and at that hearing
tho District Attorney, who had been
elected by tho people OF Philadelphia,
was superseded and set aside by Judge
Gordon. who acted as prosecuting at
torney.
f"Afterward certain newspaper proprie-
tors were consulted, and in order to do
as much harm as possible 10 the Mayor
the Municipal Court room was turned
into show house by the installation of
calcium lights and cameras for the pur-
pose Of reproducing pictures in the
newspapers and of sending them broad
cast throughout the country.
ut must be remembered that these
farcical proceedings continued for three
weeks Just before an election. and that
since that time the plan has been so
to poison the public mind against tho
Mayor by the publication of falsehoods
as to himself and the police department
that fair trial would be impossible.
Praise Jury for verdict
'They failed, however. TO reach the
fountain head OF justice our jury sys-
tenn met the crucial test and has yindi-
Gated It's existence.
saThose who planned the arrest OF the
Mayor also decided 20 arrest that upright
Young man, Select Councilman William
r. Finley, because he happened TO he
the executive director of the Republican
Central Campaign Committee and in
very close relationship to nc II has
taken fifteen months for the District At
torney to make up his mind to place
the Mayors case before a jury. and al
though his counsel and have frequently
reuuested a trial for Mr.. Finley, this
innocent young man must still go about
lis bus ness with an untried indictment
hanging over his head. As result his
Md father, respected officer of tho
6<vts, died of a broken heart and his
mother has become Frustrated with grief
tIt Is time that the people of Phila-
delphia stopped to analyze the motives
behind these prosecutions, and TO realize
the harm that has been done the city
of Philadelphia.
III am glad to note that the real estate
boards in different parts of the city, tho
business and Improvement associations
as we'll as the operative builders, are be-
ginning. to protest against the great
financial damage that the city has suf-
fered and is suffering as a result of
these unfounded attacks upon its officials
by men who do not hesitate to assas-
sinate character, TO cause anguish and
pain to women and children whose hus-
bands, fathers and sons they assault
and to paint their own city black for
turing the government of this city.
s.All good Philadelphians should now
forget the past. Great problems are at
our doors. No good citizen has a right
to or would defame or belittle his city.
Returning soldiers should meet Philsdel-
pllians proud of their city and willing
to assist. in making it greater.
'-This city has been improved by leaps
and bounds during the last twenty-five
years, its presen. assets are over three
hundred million, while its liabilities are
1nas than one hundred and thirty-five
1niiiion,~ and its tax rate is lower than
any large city IN this country, and tho
city deserves better than constant
abuse"
what Judge Gordon Says
- Former Judge James Gay Gordon and
"ons Stern" were named by Senator
Ware as the prime movers in the plot
against the Mayor. Judge Gordon, when
shown the statement, made the follow lns
reply:
Tho testimony OF the trial suffici-
emily answers Ware as TO the crimes
committed by Mayor Smiths admins
tration. I DO not wish any controversy
with him over the facts. They are writ
ten IN history, and his audacious words
win not efface them.
$50 far as his remarks concern me
they are false In their entirety. Every
thing he utters or implies respecting my
self is false.
"He should be grateful that he wa:
not included in the prosecution. Silence
would best become him. l know OF nc
ono who has less justification for swag
ger or braggadocio."