New-York tribune., 1920-10-31
Smith A.ssails
Fircnen, Police
Who Quit Him
Move Declared Effort at So
vietism: No Small Group
by Threats Can Dictate
His Course as Governor
Circular Called Spurious
individuals Interested in
Success Of Republicans
Arc Blamed for Action


Success of Republicans
Arc Blamed for Action
Governor Alfred T. Smith, in the last
speech Of his campaign in Madison
Square Garden last night, denounced
me movement mong the rank and file
OF the Polrce and Fire departments to
work against his reelection as an of-
tort at sovletsm. He declared that no
sma II group Of threats could dictate the
course he would pursue as Governor.
The tlremen and patroimen based thei-
opposition to the Governor on the
ground that he vetoed the bills rrovid-
,hg tor the rlatoon system In the Fire
Department.
Inc Governor referred to the circular
with the title "a Broken Promise and
Double Cross which was distributed
at meeting Of the police and fire
men benevolent associations Friday
as spurious and without sponsors. He
ueclared the whole movement looked
20 mn as propaganda which did not come
dfom any accredited representatives
OF any group. but rather was a political
move, engineered from behind bv in
"NI0usls more interested in the sue
cess OF the Republican ticket than the
welfare OF either the fircmnn tho no
4lcemen or the public
- the outset Of my rcnarks to-
night he SAID. Il desire to disnoso of
circular brought to my attention
Wnlch was mailed to the policemen and
NteN.en OF the Ci.y Of New York AM
ing mem. TOR personal reasons. 10 Or
pose my ro'loction. Nobody that | ann
anle 10 md seems willing 10 take the
% n s.
STATEMENTS It contains. no names arc
lgnod to il, and il looks to me like an
eieTenth- hour attempt to discredIt me
WIN a large group Of people in this
i am entirely unwilling to believe
f0af the rank and lie Of either tho
l,oi'ce or Fire Department arc moved in
tho slightest degree bv the sentiments
con- ned ~ this circular.
nave as intimate knovlodre o.
ma Ne-pp OF the rank and file .of
lasse two great departments as any
puhlic official could have. Nv lone
public career has led me on mani. any ocrs- ar'e
SONS to make the statement that ho
lleVed the Follce and Fire departronts
o. TINS city to be made up Of selfre-
specting. hard-headed mad clear-thlnk-
ing cluzens. who would be anfong the
flrst 10 denOunce any such cowardlv.
underhand move.
am further informed that at a
meeting Of small group declaring
themselves 10 be representative Of the
rank and tie, suggestion was made that
ne punlshcd for my failure to accent
q ''rla hill AT Albany, SAID 10 he In
.'' interests Of members Of -ha Yiro
Aepaltmone Fer tna hsnoff nc
of these donartmon.s DO
.'fn ~ declare that 1hile | haze
curing ny nuhlc career 7eal,u =,
gHarded fhcir rrhfs and interests. what
~ 0oslflon M7aGe ~ any legislation
pending before nc Vas made after INV
Tear sNd oonscience dictated to me
asf the action taken was in the best
interests n the state Of New York.
thlnh 1t but right and proper
call the attention Of the
people cf the whole STATE to The
ec'.on 'sken by 1nis alleged repre-
7enf fatlFo group. Nothing the, can saw
of do can in the slightest docrao in-
HNence my Official action to vary in rnv
respe0. from what in nv honest
opinion ls for the hest interests Of all
ne people of the whole State Of New
OK. " g have not reached the point
~ cur democrats government whore
s'laIi groups cen b. fl"oat dictate 'r,
ooNc-e that Nuhl'c officials arc Ia nu~-
SIC. | would regret the day when M.
man IN office or a candidate for public
ofiic would hnd 1t necessary to bend
the knee to men who have in rnind
only that thing which belps thom-
SeiYHs and is not consistent wlth the
general public welfare.
Soviet government can flourish
wherever else it Will. Ii cannot and
must not be encouraged in an Amcr-
can democracy. 1t runs counter to the
Fundamental democrats princ1plo
expressing by law that thing which
does the greatest good for the great.
est number and best meets the present
day needs Of society.
1t Is one thing to stand for fair
square and just treatment of anv rroun
OF public officials 1t is an entirely
different thing to recognize their mower
to the extent Of being forced to serve
when the object that they seek is so
presented as TO be against the publ
interest.
Il reiterate my confidence in the com
mon sense and the sound judgment Of
the rank and file of both of these do
partments, and | am entirely urwi1lino
TO DeIeVe that their honest sentiments
ave voiced BY the men who purported
to represent them at that meeting.
1T looks Very much 10 me as thourh
TINS entire propaganda did not come
from accredited representatives of arv
group, but is rather political movo
oNrlOpcrad Fror9 hoh,oj -