New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-22
Mrs. Bryan Accuses Him
of SHARP Practice" in
Giving Out Letter
HE PRAISES PLAN
IN HIS STATEMENT
Calls Jensen's Objections
Outrageous, Stupid
and Untruthful

Mrs. Charles Austin Bryan, president
Of the Women's League for the Protec-
ton Of Riverside Park, accused Con-
troller william A. Prendergast or
SHARP practice" last night in making
public a letter written him by Miss
Frances Peters, the organizations sec
rotary. The Controller did not wait
to receive permission, Mrs. Bryan as
serted, but gave out the letter and his
answer while a refusal Of permission
was being written.
"He has underestimated the effect on
other men," said Mrs. Bryan, "of his
trying to score against women by sharp
practice fori is given to most men to
have instincts which guide them in the
niceties of life
The Controller paid his respects to
Jens Jensen. a landscape architect en-
ployed BY the league, who had made OBJ
icctious to the proposed Riverside plan
on the ground that the railroad would
get additional waterfront and the park
would be defsced, in a statement ssued
yesterday.
Jensen Criticised
"The foregoing statements made by
Mr.. Jensen are simply outrageous" said
the Controller, "for two reasons: First
because they are untruthful, and, sec
ond, because they are stupid. How any
man claiming 10 serve in q public pro
fessionsl capacity could come to this
city and. after an examination, make
such statements about these plans
cannot conceive.
"The plan we have in mind means =
reclamation of the waterfront for Tho
/ city, for the parks and for the people
/ The commercial structures at Ninety
sixth Street will be removed below
Seventy-second Street. The Riverside
Park waterfront will be cleared and Is
70 be kent clear for everything eXcep
pleasure craft and possibly for naya
landing. which, I believe, is among thu
plans the Commissioner Of Docks hal
in hand"
The statement contained in the lette'
from Miss Frances Peters, correspond
ing secretary Of the woman's league
that property adjoining the drive ha'
been deprecated, was answered BY TN
Controller with the assertion that tn
organization general denunciation o
the proposed plan had had much to d.
with that, and that property value
would not have been impaired but 10
these "unfounded criticisms
Mrs. Bryan hssails Purpose
Tt really is hard 20 believe SAFE
Mrs. Bryan, that Mr.. Prendergas
presents the correspondence TO the pub
lie so that our side may be thorough!
weighed against bis.
40 some of us his indignation abou
'unfounded statements is rather funny
but not 30 funny as the adjectives HI
uses in connection with Jens Jensen
the Landscape artist. When one speak
Of Mr.. Jensen's standing he does no
use such words AS 'untruthful,' out
rageous,' stupid They arc too easil,
refuted to be considered, save as IN
expressions Of a prejudiced mind.
"To Mr. Prendergasts Once we WIS.,
TO show all respect. To Mr.. Premier
CAST, the man, we would say: VIVA
YOU have done is scarcely in accor'
with the dignity OF your Office.
Miss Peters gave out her answer q
the Controllers letter of Sunday, be
ginning the epistle, "This 10 an un
official letter I intended my las
10 be" She said that under the mos
favorable circumstances Riverside Par
WAS in for at least twelve years
steam shovels and unloveliness, an
the city was threatened with burde
Of expense in attempting restoration
She declared that the league favore
a plan TO sink the tracks, If tunnellln
was TOO costly, and that such actlo
was all that would save the park.