New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-09
REFORM CAMPAIGN ON
BUSINESS 4DMINTSTR1-
TION rs DEM4NDED.
Committee Of One Hundred Nay Be
O7tComc Of Gail Issued by
Prominent CitizeHS.

Informal conference regarding the possibility
Of securing business administration of the
city-'s affairs at the next election, which have
been going on for some time between groups OF
men representing various interests but not con-
nected with any political party. crystalized last
night in the issuance OF the following call:
The need Of securing an administration Of the
fairs Of the city of New York based upon ousl-
ness principles IS plainly apparent the IuLuQII
welfare Of the city. both economic and social
will be gravely endangered II such principles are
not recognized now
To tbe end that measures may be taken -
place the present situation fully before the peo'
pls and to determine the means OF securing the
nomination OF proper candidates for the city Of
nCes TO be filed at the coming municipal elec-
ton. the undersigned call upon their Fellow ctti-
zens holding these views TO attend preliminary
nseetiuR ~ be held at the Lecture Room Of
Cooper Union on Tuesday. May II. at 5 p m
This call is signed by ntnety-ssven men, some
OF whom have been interested in former inde
pendent political movements, while others are
business men who have been impelled TO join in
such action by the revelations made in the last
wear Of the unbusinesslike way in which the
affairs Of the city have been administered.
This call comes at an especially appropriate
time as the Bureau Of Municipal Research has
issued a pamphlet on the subject Of What New
York's Next Mayor Must Do condensation
OF which appears on another page Of this
paper.
NOT 4 CITY CLUB MOVE
II was stated last night that the men sign
the call simply in their individual capacity, al
though they are representative men in various
lines of activity-business philanthropic and
civic betternent. Although George McAneny.
president of the City Club, is one Of the sgners,
he denies sthe statement that he is acting in
any way as chairman Of the conference or that
If is being engineered by the city Club. None
of The preliminary conferences have been held
there. as stated. most Of them taking place IN
the Astor House and other downtown meeting
places
Aside from the objects stated in the CALL it
is said that the promoters of the movement de
sire 10 leave the shaping Of the details to the
conference on Tuesday and the men who may
he apDointed on nominating committee at that
time It is probable that citizens committee
of one hundred will be chosen 10 carry the
work and nominate candidates for municipal
Offices if It should be thought that independent
candidates. are necessary to secure good Off
cials The question of the advsability Of max
ing. Independent nominations or of fusing with
the Republicans or other political organizations
against Tammany will be left to future consid-
Grafton.
Winfred T. Denison, ex-Assstant United
states District Attorney. who has been acting
as secretary of the preliminary conference, said
last night that Tuesdays meeting not in
tended in any sense as a campaign mass meet
ing for the sounding of 'keynotes," but pub
lie conference, In which all who desired might
ioin TO consider ways and means OF securing s
capable business administration.
What we desire" he said, is public con-
ference that shall be broader than could be had
5v individuals gathered informally, matter
how many interests points of view such per
sons might represent 1t is not our intention to
Law down any policy or prescribe any pro-
gramme but to obtain the views OF men COM
ing from many branches of public life No slate
for q campaign committee has been made, and
the method of selecting such a committee will
he left entirely TO those who attend the con
ference. Those who sign the call consider that
their function as a committee has been ended
with the issuance of the call"
Included in the signers to the call Will
lam J. Schiefelin. julius Henry Cohen and Isaac
n Seligman, officers Of the Citizens Union;
Allan Robinson, Henry Morgenthau and Edgar
Ievey, who have been active in the Allied
Realty interests; A. Barton Hepburn and other
members of the Chamber Of Commerce. Presi-
dent Butler of Columbia University. represent
atives of labor and men who in the past have
bee7 active in the Independence League.
MANY INTERESTS REPRESENTED.
THOSE who sign the call are as follows:
Frank L. Babbott. Brooklyn. lawyer Henry
De Forest Baldwin, Manhattan. formerly ASSIST
ant Corporation Counsel; August Bauer. Man
n attain merchant James BegSs, Mammalian, OF
~ AInsicaI Protective Union; Edward G Blum,
Rroolzlyn of Abraham Straus; Henry La
P,eert Queens president Kings County Bar As
sociation; George W. Brush, Brooklyn, president