New-York tribune., 1919-05-27
600 Eat While
Giving g Thought
10 Broadwa ay
Luncheons From Park Row
10 l4oth Street StartCam.
paign for Larger Mem.
hership in Association
Ex'Gov. Whitman Speaks
80 Does Prendergast and
Louis Mann and Marcus
Loew; Drive Lasts 4 Davs


TIE Broadway Association, fostering
me "G.'e Though: &c Broadway
lcca, Yesterday began {. lour-day orivc
20 extend lis mem bersnIp to cover
broadway from Bowling Green to
klngsbridge. The drive started with
Simultaneous luncheons at the Hotel
Astor, the Ansonia, the Breslin. Hca,v's
cafe, at Broadway and l45th Street. and
Hams. in Park Row
SIX hundred New Workers, Including
business and professional men, the as
soclation announced will "Give n
thought to Broadway during the drive
In d concrete way. Divided into teams.
working under the direction of captalns
ana majors, they Will conduct a
thorough canvass of establishments in
Broadway. Deputy Police Commissioner
HarrIss, general chairman of the cam
palgn committee, announced that he
hoped TO have every firm on Broadway
IN the association by Thursday night.
Whitman Among Speakers
Speakers at the luncheons included
Ex-Governor Whitman, ex-Controller
William A. Prendcrgast, Louis Mann.
Marcus Loew, Deputy Police Commits
slonnr Frederick A. Wallis and General
j. f. c. Foster.
"Broadway is New York's proudes st
material possession Mr.. Whitman
said at the Astor luncheon. Its his
tory, and the history of it's institu.
tons are largely the history of the
city and the nation. 1t still remains
the mightest and most important
artery of the city and the most i'm
portant street in the world, despite
the fact that it has gone backward
somewhat in spots.
THE important thing is to get an
organization through which real bet
terments can be accomplished, and the
only way to do this is through num-
bers. We can have thousand
thoughts for Broadway but they
wont amount to much unless we have
the machinery through which they can
be carried out. This movement to bet
ter Broadway is bound to succeed"
Every caravan in the world eventual
ly wends its way along Broadway,
Louis Mann told the diners at the
Astor.
Ought to be Proud of 1t
We ought to be proud of the street,
but, unfortunately, under present con-
dltions, we can't be as proud as we'd
like to be. Broadway ought to be
lighted its entire length and breadth
by system unique and peculiar to it.
col
Columbus Circle and there should BE-
park spaces in its upper reaches,
where the people could go for recrea-
sion in summer.
"Wc ought to study the beautiful
streets of European countries, such as
the Ncvsky Prospect and the entrance
to Hyde Park in London and adapt
the best in them for our own great
ancient and honorable main street"
A strong plea for better lighting of
the thoroughfare was voiced by Marcus
Locw.
"Most of the present lighting in the
amusement district is furnished by
theatres, restaurants and shops" he
said, "and without their kindly rays
the street would be plunged in dark
ness.
During the coal shortage period the
town had chance to see what proper
lighting means to Broadway. People
had to use sticks to feel their way
around at night I'm going to do all
in my power to boost this membership
drive. | believe it's the best thing that
ever happened for Broadway"
Commissioner Wallis presided at
the Astor luncheon.
Prendergast Tells Why
Former Controller Prcndergast,
speaking at the Hotel Brcslin, at which
Chester Alexander presided, said:
after an experience Of eight years
in the finance department, can say
that if it were not for civic organiza-
tons, such as the Broadway Associa-
ton, many public improvements would
not be made Public officials do not
like to be responsible for the imitation
Of improvements involving expcndit-
ures. They like to have public opinion
urging them. Indeed, their duty is
almost that of opposing them.'
John Williams, vice president Of the
Irving Trust Company. presided at the
luncheon in Hams, f. c. Carrie had
charge Of the Ansonia affair, while
Reginald p. Bolton was chairman at
Hcaly's.
Similar district luncheons will be
held in the same places at 1880 p. M
to-day, when reports Of the progress Of
the campaign viii he made by the
Various teams. Police Commissioner
tnright is to speak at the Astor, Mark
l..Sun1 ~ 1Ln Ennslin .,1ul Carl II