New-York tribune., 1916-07-12
Cowlick Johnny and Sister
Lend Moral Support to
West Side Meeting.
SPEAKERS CONDEMN
MAYORS ATTITUDE
Two Hundred Residents OF
Riverside Drive Demand Time
to Study Proposal,

In the shadow OF tho Soldiers and
Sailors Monument a mass meeting Of
protest against the New York Ccntrals
plan to run its lines through Riverside
Park was in progress yesterday after
noon. Aldermen and Assemblymen and
lawyers, sculptors and architects and
landscape gardeners, women and good
citizens at large had liftod their voices
against the plan and against the city
officials who favor it, when the real
orators Of the day pattered into the
forum, led by a ten-year-old with a
cowlick, a loose tooth and an enviable
absence Of collar.
There was also a baby with a boat,
some gingham twins, with bobbed
blond hair, and half dozen others.
They grinned with friendly liberation
at the grownups in their territory,
charitably decided to allow them to re-
main and went on with their games on
the outskirts Of the meeting.
DASs suouSH tHCy HouiA SdAu q ""ANt
and though they weren't on the pro-
gramme, every one felt their arguments
got over. 1t was just as II they had
dropped in to keep an eye on things
and to make sure that the New York
Central should not transgress on their
playground.
"The waterfronts have always been
the legitimate Fairgrounds said AS
semblyman Vincent Gilroy. IF the
New York Central is allowed to despoil
Riverside Park, Central Park will soon
be subject to similar attacks"
The fact was emphasized, while the
audience sweltered in the sun, that
Riverside Park is the only breathing
place for a district where the child NOR
tality is said to be as high as any
where in the city. 1t is the playground
not only for the children who live
along the Drive, but for those who
come from several blocks in either
/ direction and who live too far from
/ Central Park to play there.
! A. Walker Otis, vice-president of the
West End Association, and other speak
ers attacked the attitude of Mayor
Mitchell, Controller Prendergast and the
Board Of Aldermen. 1t was urged that
the public, which pays the bills and
has the children, be given time enough
to study the plans and know exactly
what the conditions will be.
"To have a change take place in the
attitude of the Mayor toward the pub
lie is of vastly more Importance than
( the saving of Riverside Drive" said
DR.. William II. Allen, head of the In
stitute of Public Service. ITO have the
taxpayers regarded as interlopers when
they ask questions Of their representa-
! tives is a condition of things that can
I do more damage than the destruction of
many parks"
He urged every one to write p. =
sonal letters to the Mayor and the
| Comptroller.
Alderman w. Ferdinand Quinn, who
had previously led in the campaign
against the project, astonished the
assemblage by declaring that he had
had "a change of heart"
There is no necessity for any meet
! ing OF protest if the plans are to be
! carried out according to the model, y
he said. Riverside Park will be a
/ better place after the completion OF
the change than before. There will be
/ no smoke"
Ie sat down in the midst of an
ominous silence which lasted less than
ten seconds. Then Mrs. James VI.
Stewart, vice president of the Wom-
ems League for the Protection of Riv-
erside Drive, arose.
"The New York Central has not
signed for the model, but for the
( plans!" she cried.
Don't you let them fool you with
their playthings," said Mr.. Miller.
This is the sort of thing | have been
listening to for thirty-hve years. Some
politician always comes along and says
that everything is going to be all
right
Other speakers of the afternoon were
Mrs. John C. Kerr, j. Bleecker Miller,
/ James p Davenport. Charles W.
/ Stoughton and Benjamin Marsh. A pc
/ tition for more time TO consider the
plans was signed by almost every one
/ of the 200 present.
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