The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-13
CITIZENS UNION IS
FAKE,HYLAN'S REPLY
Prefers Aldermen to Rich Four
Flushers, He Tells Palm
Beach interviewer.
Special Despatch 10 THE suS.

PALM BEACH, Fla. Feb. 12.-For the
Hylan, after profound thought gave his
opinion to-day of the Citizens Union OF
New York, and Of its criticism that
the Board OF Aldermen Of that great
city is body Of lazy. ignorant. incom-
petent and superficial men OF low stand
ards. overgiven to passing measures
which allow heads OF city depa rtments
to buy supplies without public bidding.
Newspapers from the North reached
the Mayor while he was partakins OF
his breakfast. which consisted OF orange
juice semi-frapped, four strips of Irish
bacon. an egg. a steak. a rack OF toast
a pot of coffee and jar of clotted
cream.
He was dressed for the beach. all in
virginia. white. his morning jacket being
one of those nobby affairs with a half
belt effect in the back. his trousers and
footgear imma culate. A picture Of Lin
coin is a permanent ornament OF the
wall opposite the Mayors favorlte table
overlooking the sun kissed sea. and he
was earnestly studying the strong
melancholy face when the waiter. laying
the newspapers at his plate, broke in
upon the reverie.
The Mayor glanced at one of the
headlines, then pushing his steak aside
perused the article beneath 1t with the
ninutest care. Then ne read another
paper. then another. He was in the
middle Of a fourth when he was ap-
preached and asked II he cared to make
rejoinder to the biting irony of his
critics lie replied that he would have
Nipsy 70 At, he a
his thoughts in turn about the We
randa. He took the turn. Then an
other turn. and ultimately clearing his
throat said this:
There are lot more poor men than
there are rich men. and don't care
what traps the rich ones try to set for
me. ! am sticking by the poor ones
l am in my prime and in good health
and when I get through being a Mayor
am not afraid but can make a
living. That Is my entire attitude
Suffcien, unto the day is the trouble
thereof and We won't worry vet a
while about what may happen in the
sweet by and by
THE people OF the great city OF New
York pay no attention whatever to the
Citizens Union. 1t Is one OF the biggest
four flushing fakes We have II is one
of the lghtweights even among our 20
called reform institutions, and 1t is COM
posed virtually OF only two men. Any
one who knows anything about Il knows
that
The Citizens Union represents the
class OF reformers who put across the
$50. 000.0 900 court house deal under a re-
form administration. The Aldermen
repre- sent the people Of the city, which
is why this fake organization Is opposed
to them.
Il have found the Aldermen, with few
exceptions working in the peoples In
terests. II is true many of them are
poor men whose families were unable to
give them college Quotations; neverthe-
less they are honest. and II is better for
the great city OF New York to have these
men in its service than 10 have there
certain highly educated representatives
We can remember whose chief concern
was always for what we call the
interests"
The Mayor was asked II he wished 70
say anything specially concerning the
claim N the Citizens Union that the
Aldermen have been passing bills allow
ing the purchase OF supplies without
bids He replied that he did
THE reason for so doing is to save
money for the city by breaking up the
contractors trust. II Is enlightening TO
note how many of the reformers are In
terested directly or indirectly in the con-
tractors trust. They all get together
and put up the prices. Almost every day
We have the opportunity OF saving the
city from $4,000 to $1,000 because OF
these measures about which the so-called
Citizens Union Ia complaining"