New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-25
Adopts
Curran Idea to
Aid Veterans
Finally UrgesThat $500, 900
War Memorial Fund Be
Used for the Relief of
Jobless Service Men
Ridiculed 1t at FRS
Laid Borough Presidents S
Opposition to His Bizarre
Schemes to s'Politics''

Henry II. Curran, Republican-coali-
tlon nominee for Mayor, several months
ago In the Board of Estimate opposed
the indefinite and ineffective plans of
Mayor Hylan for memorial to the
men who served in the World War.
Mr.. Curran suggested at the time that
the 100000 collected by the Mayors
War Memorial Committee might be
used to much better advantage toward
relieving The immediate needs of the
ex-servicc men who were out of en-
ployment. The Mayor accused the Bor-
ough President, at the time, of "play-
ing politics."
Yesterday, without giving his op-
ponent for the Mayoralty due credit
for the idea, Mayor Hylan showed a
belated change Of attitude toward the
welfare Of the ex-service men and
adopted the previous suggestion of the
Borough President as his own. In a
letter to Bird S. Coler, Commissioner
of Public Welfare and chairman of
the new Industrial Aid Bureau, which
was appointed by the Mayor to deal
with the unemployment situation, he
suggested that this 100000 be used
for their relief.
May Use Sale Funds, Too
The Mayor further suggested that
the funds left over from the sales Of
surplus army food, which caused a
scandal in the Department of Public
Markets some time ago, be also used
for the same purpose. The Mayors
letter follows:
"There is money in the hands of the
the chairman of which is Chamberlain
Berolzheimer, which I believe can be
used by the Industrial Aid Bureau for
immediate relief.
"There is also fund collected some
time ago for memorial, amounting to
in the neighborhood of 100000 Con-
suit with the officers of the American
Legion as to the best purpose to which
this money can be devoted"
There was originally about 100000
in the surplus army food sale fund.
Edwin J. O'Malley, present Commits
sioner Of Public Markets, and formerly
sioner Jonathan Day, had charge of the
army food sale. O'Malley was dismissed
by DR.. Day in connection with the con-
troversy over the fund and later made
commissioner by Mayor Hylan when DR..
Day had been removed. The fund was
turned over to 8 committee appointed
by the Mayor, to be used for various
public welfare work. The records show
that the amount now in the possession
of the Food Sales Committee is $121,351.
When the war memorial was before
the Board of Estimate for consideration
various ideas, considered absurd by the
men of the American Legion. were .ad..
vanced by the Mayor and his political
memorial should take.
Curran Fought Plans
A bridge across the Hudson River
and a plan to transform Madison Square
Garden into conservatory of music,
were among the ideas advanced by the
Mayor and his committee. Mr.. Curran
fought the movement from the first. He
wrote to tho Mayor voicing his opposi-
tion to the plans under prevailing con-
ditions. The letter was read at meet
ing Of the Board of Estimate and the
Mayor remarked that "Henry is play
ing politics again."
In his letter to the Mayor, Mr.. Cur
ran said:
"There are thousands of soldiers out
of job through no fault Of their own.
When they came back from the war
they got such Jobs as were left over.
Then came the period Of unemployment,
which is now with us, and the soldiers
were laid off and lost their jobs. The
plea which make to you and which
urge is that you, as Mayor of the city,
ask the committee to devote its funds
to this present and pressing need.
nope that committee of three can
be appointed to administer this 100000
at once in the interest Of the soldier
who is out of luck to-day"