Smith backed Lehman to protect social welfare legislation from the Old Guard Moses served.

Evidence

According to Smith’s daughter and confidante, Emily, the former Governor had wanted desperately not to hurt Moses. But he had no choice. Moses might deny in public that he was the candidate of the Old Guard, but Smith knew he was. And the “Old Guard” was not just a phrase to Smith—they were the men who had fought against his efforts to cement into place above the heads of the state’s defenseless poor a roof of social welfare legislation that would give them some protection against the cold winds of illness, injury, old age and unemployment. He knew that if not held in check by a Democratic Governor, they would begin tearing down that structure brick by brick. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 1828