New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-06
Business Mems League.
Appalled, by Extrava-
sance, Seeks New Can
didate for Mayoralty
Merchant Urged
To Head Ticket
Need for Investigations
in City Affairs and Cost
of Inquiries Deplored

The Business Mems League, the or
sanization which sponsored the can
didacy of John F. Hylan for Mayor in
1917, has turned against the Mayor and
is opposed to his denomination, The
reason, it is understood, is that the
majority of the members of the league,
among whom are many Original" Hy-
Ian men, have come to realize that the
Hylan administration has been grossly
inefficient and extravagant
The fact that the league was op-
posed to a second term for their for
mer candidate was learned after the
first meeting of the organization yes
.erday at its headquarters, 800 Madi-
son Avenue, preparatory for the COM
ing city campaign. The Mayor and
other candidates We're discussed, but no
announcement was made as to whom
the league ultimately would support,
except that 1t was said by leader that
it would not be Mayor Hylan.
Administrative Courage Needed
A specific statement in opposition to
the Mayors denomination was said to
Rave been prepared by certain govern
ing othclals of the organization, but
was reconsldered and withdrawn tenn
pcrarlly at the last moment. A more
tempered statement, however. was is
sued from the leagues Headquarters,
deprecating the various legislative in
Vestlgations now in progress in the city
and state, and declaring that the only
way to bring this sort of thing to an
md was through "a capable and
courageous administration of the city's
affairs"
It is likely that formal statement
sstting forth the reasons for the
leagues disapproval of the Hylan ad-
rinistration will be issued soon by its
xecutive committee, of which Preston
+. Lynn is chairman. Mr. Lynn, who IS
manager Of the Wanamaker store, was
chairman of the executive committee
when the league brought forth Hylan
IS candidate in 1917. Joseph Yeska,
aiJerward appointed by the Mayor as a
member Of the Board of Education,
sas chairman of the league. Carl
doHhauer was treasurer and Webster
Oliver secretary.
some of the members of the league
most active in the first Hylan CAMPAIGN
we're the recipients of remunerative ap-
continents by the Mayor Grover A.
naien, VINO managed the Mayors cam
oalgn from the leagues headquarters,
men at % East Forty-second Street. be-
came the Mayors secretary and later
commissioner of Plant and Structures.
David Hlrshfeld, Commissioner of
Accounts, and E. j. O'Malley, Commits
s.oner Of Pubic Markets, were other
MemDers Ms OF the league active in the
mayor oehalf during the first cam
palgn. 1t IS not to be supposed that
,aese members. who are beneficiaries
Of the Mayor side with the majority
against ms renomina ton
Business Candidate Urged
me Business Mems League was orig
.Ia!ly composed or large and repre-
sentative number of business men.
nany OF them Democrats but MANY
more more Independently inclined in poll
ilts' who finally picked Hylan out Of
several candidates considered and ney-
STlaaed Charles F. Murphy and the
ur ulsmmIany organization to indorse him.
All AT, Lynn was among those considered
as business mans candidate" II ia
1nuerstood that the majority of tho
.eaguers now feel that a mistake was
MADE mace IN not insisting upon business
,nIH a;i, LOT mayor in 1917 and that thew
tba;u I'ai correct that mistake, as far as
sn sne,r influence may go, this fall by
Mayor. '0'i'ieaS man Tor
lows uay loi-
Careful consideration has been
gwen recently by the Business Mems
league to what is considered useless
a mulHpllcation of legislative and other
;nnvestigating COMMITTEES now function
Mds Me., 'h tnls city and state The Business
NJ o.''l League has no criticism to make
any y. any sincere effort to discover and
aaa SensoVe evil wherever it exists. but it
yves aus deprecate the apparent delieht
Slu Nn wiillngness of many citizens Of
.nN ,,rw ork to encourage and give aid to
ors or one one who through grievance. erudee
~ ~ noooy aims to destroy, rather than
'Sa93T1r1eet' develop or improve.
70 aialons of dollars have been paid
s,a ~ certain 1i cliques of men for salaries
'hi aha alleged expenses in inyestipations
onI,, only" were fruitless and absurd, The
to toy ~ way to bring this sort of thing
cOns ~ an end is through a capable and
afFiaeeous administration of the citv's
orairs. ord;a. The time has come to sub.
saS,nafe saSnnfe politics to business and to
psr1isax tie an honest, intelligent and non
'''@h revision of the city charter