Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-29
City Leaders Tell of
"IdeaI" for MAJOR

qualifications which. in his judgment,
the Mayor should possess:
"The Mayor of Philadelphia should
have the same qualifications as the sue
cessful head of large corporation or
other important business enterprise.
because administering the affairs of
great city is simply business under
taking. He should work with no other
thought than furthering the progress
and development of Philadelphia to the
greatest extent in his power
John s. BiOren, banker and president
of the Merchants Union Trust Com
pany. thus voices his views: 1T would
seem to me that the best interests of
Philadelphia require thai man of
affairs-a business man--be selected at
this time for the mayoralty. 1t is essen
tial that he be affiliated with the dom l.
inant political party, but I have no one
especially in mind.
Charles 5. CalwelI. president of the
Corn Exchange National Bank, referred
to referendum vote now being taken by
the Chamber of Commerce.
The qualifications sought by the
chamber in its referendum" said Mr..
Calwell, appear to me to be idealistic.
They call for a man 'one hundred per
cent pure Of course, the terms as laid
down by the chamber were intended to be
ideal, but, personally, / will be con
tent, if we cannot get 100 per cent
man to take one of 80 per cent
Honesty Chief Requirement
Ability and honesty are the chief
requirements in my opinion. A business
man, if he has ability, will easily ar-
quire the political and legislative
knowledge needed
Mrs. Rudolph Blankenburg. widow of
Philadelphia only reform Mayor, saws
women's organizations are ready to play
au active part in the approaching mu
nicipal contest.
Il recently attended the convention
of the League for Good Citizenship. 8"
said Mrs. Blankenburg, and found that
body fully organized and holding itself
in readiness to take a hand in the cam
paign provided there appeared to he any
chance of its work amounting to sue
cess.
For my own part. am not in .
clined to expect everything in the mat .
ter of a candidate at this time. Gov
ernor Sproul at the charter dinner said
he stood ready to co operate in every
move for our civic betterment and gov
erpment, but cautioned us not TO ex.
pect everything. AS he put it. wc will
have to let some mice get through in
order to get the elephants. That is
the way / feel at this time
For the candidate ! would suggest
business man, because We want busi
ness administration. ] do not think VIC
ought to have a clergyman or a LAWYER
rather man of broad intelligence and
experience from participation in public
affairs.
Must Have Political Backing
The new Mayor must have the no
litieal parties back of him. Mr.. Blank
enburg did not have that. consequeutI,
he was unable to do many things whici
he had in mind.
DR.. Russell II. ConwelI. president o
Temple University and pastor of Grac
Baptist Temple, suggests: "A suitabl
man, so far above petty party partisan
ship that he will not be led away from
his duty TO the people. Our presen
city charter was passed under mayo
who was the virtual choice of both polit
seal parties of his time. do not favo
an independent party. but the nomi
nation of a man on the ticket of bot
parties as our judges are
In the war crisis the government g
man, inspired by patriotic motives
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