New-York tribune., 1920-10-30
Policemen and
FHe1nen Out
Defeat Smith
Veto of Two Platoon Bills
Expected to Cost Govern
or 10000 Votes in Citv
and $4,000 More Up State
Told to Support Miller
Latest Detection, With Ma.
lone Polling Estimated
100. 900, Declared Fatal

The rank and file Of the Fire and
Police departments came out In the
open yesterday against Governor AL
fred L. Smith for reelection. Thew
base their opposition on the Governors
veto Of the two platoon bills which
were passed by the 1919 and 1920 legis-
latures. 1t is estimated that the loss
OF support Of the fremen and police
men Will cost Governor Smith between
10000 and 10000 votes in this city and
a substantial number Of votes in thirty
other cities i'll the state
Ihe formal announcement yesterday
OF Frank ?. Walsh. labor leader. that
he would support Dudley Field Malone.
candidate of the FarmerLabor partv
for Governor promises TO take thou
sands Of votes away from Governor
smith. Political guessers estimate that
Malone viii poll about 100 900 votes,
the most Of which will come from or
ganization Democrats
1t is conceded in Tammanv circles
that if Malone polls anywhere near this
number Of votes Governor Smith will
be defeated. The break from the regu-
lar ranks by Walsh. coupled with the
detection among the hremen and
terday at Tnmmany Hall
Urged TO Support Miller
The firemen and policemen supported
The Governor in 1918. in answer TO n
questionnaire submitted to him during
his first campaign the Governor de
clared himself in favor Of the platoon
system, according to the representa-
tlves OF these two important bodies Of
city employees. They contend that the
Governor broke his promise and double
crossed them. The hretghters and pa
trclmen are urged TO vote for Judge
Nathan l.. Miller, Republican nominee
for Governor, who is understood to
have given assurances that he will ap-
prove platoon bill if presented to him
in case he is elected.
At united meeting Of the Uni
formed Firemens Association and the
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association at
Maennerchor Hall, in East FIFTY y-siXfi
Street. near Third Avenue, yesterday
circular with the title "A Broken
Promise and Double-Cross, carrying
an alleged reproduction OF Governor
Smiths signature TO the prediction
QUESTIONABLE in 1918, was distributed d
and favorably discussed, according to
+ officials of these organizations. While
claimed responsibility for it. it was
asserted that it expressed The senti-
ment Of the rank and file Of the two de
partments.
Say Smith Must BE Defeated
Joseph J. O'Reilly, secretary Of both
the iremen's and policemen'. assrci-
atoms. said the committee which had
charge Of the proposed platoon legisla
tion submitted report at yesterday g
meeting. which was read, declaring
that the committee had decided Gov
ernor Smith had broken his promise
and should be defeated. 1t Is under
stood the report will be adopted
by the firemen and that the police as
sociation decided to stand by the fire
men. despite the fact that statute
providing for the three platoon system
in the Police Department was enacted
prior to the Smith administration. The
report also condemned Mayor Hylan
and the Board Of Estimate for failing
to grant a maximum salary of 50 800 to
the firemen and policemen.
The circular distributed yesterday
condemned both the Governor and the
Mayor. 1t compared the former to the
imneached Governor William Sulzer.
who. it declared, had also be-a a
"l;lsc friend of the hremen' It de-
ciared the platoon vetoes furnished a
hitting climax to the long continued
policy Of insult and oppression of May
or Hylan toward city employees, par
ticuarly the tiremen, patrolmen, street
cleaners and teachers
Regard Regime With Suspicion
"The election Of Alfred Z. Smith as
Governor Will mean victory for an
administration that every city en-
ployee knows is regarded with sus
picion if not with contempt" the cir
cular SAID. "A victory for Alfred L.
Smith viii mean an Endorsement Of
the spirit of enmity at the City Hall
which has amazed the tens Of thou
sands of loyal employees who three
years ago voted to put the admins
tration in power.
"Do you, your relatives and your
friends want another two years Of the
Smith 'alibi' administration? Do you
want the Hylan administration Of in
suit and intimidation to get any en-
oouragement through the election Of
Alfred L. Smith for another term
Give the answer at the polls on
Election Day
In the opening paragraph of the
circular the fremens case against Gov
ernor Smith was stated as follows
Seldom has there been so fragrant
ii case Of a broken political promise to
loyal friends and supporters than the
written approval of platoon system
for tiremcn by Alfred +. Smith and
has two consecutive vetoes of their
measures. The man who for years
called himself the friend and admirer
of the fretightcrs; whose success in
political battles for ascerdoncy, from
Assemblyman up, could be attributed
in no small degree to the support of
these same tiremen, finally, upon reach
ing the top, used the executive pen
twice to crush the hopes of hremen in
all the cities of the state"
There are more than 5000 uniformed
firemen in the Fire Department and
about 1900 patrolmen in the Police
/ Department. Mr.. O'Reilly said both
bodies We're highly incensed against