Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-01-09
Was PoIe++i
Paying Off
Vote Debt?
Fiirebug Quitting Prison
Termed Nasty DeaI
By WESTBROOK PEGLER

weren't an open and shut
case backed by absolute proof,
even a Nazi with his low opinion
of American politics and polit-
ical morality, might find it hard
10 believe.
Charles Poletti, tag-along
New York politician who trades
with the foreign crowd of natu-
rallied but unassimilated aliens
grouped in the so-called Ameri-
can Labor Party. was lieutenant
governor under Herbert Leh-
man. and served % days as
governor between Lehman's res
ignation to take a big admins
tration war job in the national
government and the Inaugural
ton of Tom Dewey.
During that time he carried
out jail delivery, turning loose
- convicts including an evil.
dangerous union terrorist of
Sidney Hlllman's crowd. named
Alexander Hoffman, a CONVICTED
fIrebug and thug of the cruelest
type.
Poletti said Hoffman had EN-
ioyed an excellent reputation
before his conviction but his rec
ord shows repeated arrests for
strong-arm work and stink
bombing IN furtherance of his
efforts Ia drive unwilling Ameri-
can workers into the ranks OF
his local union of cleaners and
dyers. which is under Commun-
Ist domination.
TT HAS not been shown that
L Hoffman was or is Com
munist but il took three years
and two long and expensive
TRIALS in the case of Harry
Bridges 70 show that he was one,
and If Hoffman doesn't hold a
card he certainly is fellow
/ traveller.
Hoffman had served less than
| eight months Of a term Of two
10 four years when Poletti let &.
| him out without consulting
either the Judge or the prose
cutting attorney in the case. The
latter official insisted that the
crime was vicious and might
have cost many lives by fire.
Polettl also by-passed the
board OF parole. and this sinister
/ thug, who had retained his Of
/ flee IN one Of Hillman's subordi-
nate unions during his brief va
cation IN prison. went right back
to the job after his release. thus
answering the frequent assertion
! Of professional unloneers that
they try 10 get rid of crooks and
! gangSters but that there are
bound 10 be some raScals in any
calling including as they never
fail 10 add, the clergy and jour
naliSm.
DOLETTI scored big vote on
the ticket of the So-called
American Labor Party. which is
neither American nor represent
atlve of labor but composed
largely Of Europeans and de-
voted 10 two political philoso-
plies imported from Europe.
namely social democracy and
communism.
II includes a few pernicious
native bleeding hearts of the
pseudo intellectual, butchers pa
per publications and a largex
group of Puerto Ricans whose
nelghborhoOd, in the district Of
] VITO Marcantonlo. the only rep
reSentatlVe Of the Communist
Party line in the United States
Congress, IS the most dangerous
and troublesome to the police in
all New York.
Why Poletti turned Hoffman
loose, is subject of specula-
ton, conclusion and personal
conviction, but hardly one for
proof.
Such things can't be proved.
hut you can add up the facts
and may come 10 the conclu-
sion that Poletti was paying off
the alien labor party for its en-
thuSlaStic support in the last
campaign in which he was de-
feated. nevertheless, at the ex-
penSe Of Justice and AT the risk
of the lives and freedom of
countless Americans.
But, that wasn't all.
PURSUANT 10 the policy Of
L maintaining in jobs and in
power individuals whom the
voters have repudiated and
thrown out of elective office at
the polls. the national govern
ment yanked Lehman out of
Albany even before his term
ended. and put him TO work
handling the meal ticket for the
world.
And. as soon as Poletti had
done his little trick in Albany,
including his Job for Sidney Hill
mans gangs ter and firebug.
Poletti, too. was taken care OF
IN the war department in job
the nature Of which. SAYS the
/ Associated Press. he doesn't
! even know. He just had 10 be
4 given a job.
N The Associated Press said
J Npolotti enid ba hadn't tho slight