New-York tribune., 1909-05-10
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BUSINESS MEN STIRRING.
Reformers Preparing Issues for
City Cam pdign.

scfentif- principles backed up BY abundance
Of money. viii be used II the campaign for an
efficient business administration Of the city WHICH
has been started By the ninety-seven men ~no
signed a call for a conference in the lecture room
at Cooper Union tomorrow Although the speciRc
plans for the campaign viii be left 70 the commit
tee or one hundred which will probably Dc cocseh
] general outline OF = hat such d hs1l
should be has been worked out By those VINO foT
some months have had it under consideration
According 70 one in q position to know What Is
the minds Of the promoters Of the movement j
is 10 0e a practical businesslike fight by hard
headed rren OF affairs, who are used 10 conducting
big enterprises. Il Is 10 be campaign OF educa-
ton In effect an Indictment Will be drawn up
against the way in which the affairs OF the CITY
have been conducted. Evidence will be collected 10
support this indictment, just II It were neces-
sary TO prove the in court The people VII DC
the jury.
Firs-The committee will undertake 10 prove that
millions Of dollars have been in the conduct
Of city affairs in years. II has been stated
taat much s25o 0oo 90 might have been saved
II more busnesslike methods had been used
Second-It will be the aim Of the movement 70
show just how this Of money has affected not
only the various classes in the city, but also tne
various districts. For instance. attempt Will be
made 10 demonstrate how the increased taxes lave
directly affected the property owner and the ner-
chant and also how they have raised indirectly the
cost OF living and made life harder for the poor
man. who has nothing but his daily wage 70 de-
pend on.
Specific facts will be presented next 20 show how
each district in the city has suffered for want OF
improvements because of the waste in various de-
partments. II Will be shown. for example, how the
West Side has not had much needed subway and
how the East Side has not had parks which II
should have. Lack of school facilities. Il will he
shown, has been brought about by extravaganza
which could have been eliminated.
The Bureau Of Municipal Research already has
collected much material along this line which will
be available This may be used, but II will be sup
plemented by the results OF further research. This
material and these facts will be given a political
significance It is 4 big task and work in collect
ing and coIlating the facts will be started as soon
as possible II is understood that there are num-
Der OF OF means. who stand ready 70 do their
share toward financing the movement. which II
carried along the lines contemplated, will take
money than has ever been spent leg1timateiy
a municipal campaign in this city.
just when the committee will start TO use its am
munition is something TO be determined later 1t
will be long while however, before the ordinary
time for making nominations
In making up the list Of signers 10 the call for
conference, care was taken TO include represent
Charles J. Hohlweck. OF the Lithogra piers Union;
lam J. O'Brien. OF the Granite Workers. and Will
lam 2. Long. OF the Lthographers' Union.
Leaders OF the regular political organizations
not willing express any great interest in
the movement yesterday, saying that it
only the usual independent demonstration that al
ways springs up If municipal election year.