Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-03
POWERFUL CITIZENS
PLAN TO BE FACTOR
IN MAYORALTY FIGHT
League, in Process Of Care
full Organization, Will
Start Battle for Clean
Government With Fully
Equipped Forces.

new political organization, to be
known as the Citizens League, will be
launched In Philadelphia within short
time for the purpose OF electing as Mayor
to succeed Rudolph Blankenburg a man
who will give the city clean administra-
tion for four more years
A Committee OF 5O similar to the Com
mittee of 100. will be in charge of the
campaign OF the new municipal party.
This committee is already being chosen
1t will be composed of men who stand for
high Ideals in the administration OF
municipal affairs and who rank as
leaders Of the business world the fin
ancial world and the bar in Philadelphia
These men VIII act as sponsors for the
league.
The league is to be formed principally
to fight for the election OF a Mayor who
Will give the city clean administration,
but the new organization will have a full
ticket in the field, including candidates
for Councils and Judge.
The candidate OF the Citizens League
is still. being discussed by the men who
are inausurating the movement. Indeed,
it is not probable that the league will
declare itself In favor of any candidate
when the formal announcement is made
of the league and the membership of its
committee.
The plan Of the leaders in the organiza-
tion of the Citizens League is TO give
citizens of Philadelphia an opportunity
to vote for the candidate 1t ultimately
indorses, regardless of whether the voter
be Organization Republican, independent
Republican. Washingtonian, Keystoner or
Democrat. or just ordinary, everyday In
dependent.
The movement has been under way for
months. The men who will form the
Committee of 80 have been selected with
the greatest care. Several prominent men
who stand for all that is best in life and
In Philadelphia have been asked to serve
as chairman. but, because II Is the desire
of the leaders In the movement to have
chairman who can unite all the various
currents in the Philadelphia political pool,
one after another has been laid aside
when opposition developed In other in
stances the men approached have felt
that they might fail to bring the har-
mony desired.
While the league will be guided by a
committee Of 50, as that large number is
unwieldy, the direction and control of
anairs, just as in the old Committee OF
Seventy and in the Committee OF One
hundred Will be in the hands OF a small
executive committee OF fve or seven
To this Xeoutive committee will be in
trusted the task OF directing the policy
OF the league and the carrying out OF
Its program, deciding and meeting any
and all questions that are certain TO arise
during the campaign.
The men behind the formation of the
citizens League are working night AMI
DAY TO perfect their organization, For
these men, all OF whom have been promi-
nent in reform movements in Philadel-
phia within the last Is or 20 years. have
learned that II is necessary to "fght the
devil with ire" and that a well-Oied and
smooth-running organization is utterly
essential In order to win.
Accordingly work Is going on actively
in each ward. Leaders have been select
ed for the IS wards. They have been
given lists OF men desired for their Ward
and Division Committees and they are
now quietly going about sounding out
these men ana arranging for their sup
port and active participation In the com
Ing campaign so that when the Citizens
League Is formally announced. there win
be thoroughly organized body OF
workers who win spring into open ac-
tiVity the night the league makes its
bow to Philadelphia.
Capitalization OF events betwf en- now
and the night the league Is Announced
viii determine whether or not at the
time or the announcement the league
win also indorse a candidate for. Mayor.
IT Is quite possible that the league viii
be content with the bare announcement
OF lts foundation and purpose and, that
Il will simply mark time. perfecting ali
details OF It's organization, until aftor
the primaries, when the various candl-
dates will be considered In the light OF
the primary vote and then a selection
made from among them for the leagues
Endorsement.
measure up 20 the standard Which the
Executive Committee OF the league deems
requisite IN the man whom they expect
10 give a clean, progressive administra-
tion to the city, Il ia on the cards that
the Citizens' League will choose 3 can
didats from outside the primary lista ana
viii asyote az ~ eneFeie- - elaatlna
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