Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-12-07
NAYOR WILL NOT
| OPPOSE OPENING
| OF Fairgrounds
Gates of All to Be
! Thrown Open
Next Week.
|ARONSON PLEASED AT
NEW APPOINTMENTS
Will Soon Call Meeting OF
Board to Consider the
Situation.

Every playground and recreation
centre in the city under the jurisdic-
ton of the Fairgrounds Commission
will be reopened next week. probably
on Tuesday, and without the slight
est interference by the city authori-
ties.
Mayor Haussling gave out a state
ment early today in which he de-
clared that he had not the slightest
intention of interfering with the
plans of Commissioner Louis ".
Aronson so far as the reopening and
MANAGEMENT of the Fairgrounds Is
concerned. In the face Of his letter
TO Mr.. Aronson yesterday afternoon
this declaration from the mayor to-
day came as a surprise. He wonio
make no comment other than to say
he would not interfere.
Both former Judge Sweeney ana
Mr.. Shanley qualified as members OF
the commission shortly before noon
when they took the oath of ONCE IN
the Office of the city clerk. The for-
mer appeared first and had snort
conference with the mayor. Mr.
shanlev appeared a short time later
but declared that he would not De
raadv n confer with the other COM
missioners until Monday
Although he would make no state
ment as to his plans as a memper
of the commission for the present.
Judge Sweeney declared that ne was
very much impressed by the report
of the conditions at the play centres
made by Leo Hammer. the expert
smnloved by the mayor. The new
commissioner declared that he knew
Mr.. Hammer personally, and that ne
knew of no better playground au-
thority in the country than THIS
same expert.
He said further that in his opinion
Mr.. Hammer was more competent 10
render a report on playground WORK
than was e. B. DeGroot, who was
employed by Mr. Aronson, following
the Hammer report
The Judge went into Mr.. Hammer 8
connection with the playground
movement. and declared that there
was scarcely playground in the
country of which he was not cog
nizant. Mr.. DeGroot, he said, is not
head of the south side Fairgrounds In
Chica go. He formerly held this posi-
ton. but is not now engaged In the
work. according to Commissioner
Sweeney.
All Play Centres TO Open.
The announcement that all of the
NAV centres would be in full run
ming order next week was made oy
Mr. Aronson today. He said that he
would delay action only long enough
10 confer with the newly appointed
members of the commission, Judge
Algernon T. Sweeney and bernard
M. Shanley, IT. Even should they
refuse to sanction the move, Mr..
Aronson will open the grounds on
his own responsibility In much the
same manner that he reopened the
Second city Fairgrounds at Waverly
avenue and Prince street yesterday
afternoon.
Mr.. Aronson as president will call
o meeting Of the commission just as
soon as the ly-appointed commits
sioners have qualified. Early this
morning he got in touch with As
sistant city Clerk Martin Bross, and
was assured that he would be notified
lust as soon as the new appointees
were sworn into office.
Greatly pleased with his success OF
Yesterday afternoon, Mr.. Aronson ap-
peared at the Prince street grounds
promptly at 10 o'clock this morning
When he appeared at the scene there
was not a child on the grounds, al
though the gates were open wide.
The children, about seventy-fve in
number, ranging In age from to IA
years, were huddled together in
groups on the sidewalk. As Mr.. Aron-
son, who was sunaccompahied, stepped
from his machine a youngster about
years old toddled up to him with
the greeting:
saluted by Children.
"Good morning, Mr.. Aronson."
This salute was taken up on all
hands, and the commissioner was
greeted by each group in turn as he
passed AS he entered the grounds
the children followed in his trail and
in a few minutes several hundred
we're within the enclosure. The boys
started basketball game; others
(Continued on Fourth PaEe.)