If PR failed, the Council districts would be based on Assembly Districts plus three at large seats in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens in order to compensate for AD's not being redistricted since 1917, resulting in 32 seats total. Enlarging districts would bring men of vision and stature. Hare plan was favored by most, so voters could cross party lines, voting for individual candidates. Mayor LaGuardia supported a party list system. Wanted to have it on the '36 ballot because it was a Presidential election year, so would get a strong turnout.
Small turnouts allow party machines undue influence.
Conservatives who wanted new charter but not PR formed Citizens Charter Campaign Committee. Labor and independents supportive of both the Charter revisions and proportional representation created the Proportional Representation Committee. Made concerted campaign using radio, leaflets and speeches. Machine ignored it for quite a while, then tried to kill it in the courts but lost, then ordered all clubs to squash it. Both the charter and proportional representation were approved.