New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-21
Elusive Sprout
OF Tamnany
Tags Hylan Q K
..(stizcns' independent De-
,s,ocraey'' Said to Consist
of Three Lawyers and Re-
tired Printer IN Europe
Buds in City Campaigns
Sired by William Hartman
Black, for Twenty Years
4 .Jobhoider of Murphy

Mater Hylan and his administration
ssvc been indorsed by the most per-
s:stont vest pocket organization in ex-
;stcnee. the Citizens Independent De-
mocracy.
The membership, so far as can be
earned. consists Of taree Southern
lswvers, WHO have rooms on the twen-
tvarst floor Of the Woolworth Build
ia9, and o retired printer and book
binder, who Is travelling in Europe and
~sav not be back before Christmas. Two
& Al the lawyers are members OF the gem
eral committee Of Tammany Hall.
The organization. which politicians
regard IS q volunteer annex Of Tam
many Hall, is headed. as usual, by Will
liam Harmsn Black. who since he came
% this city, some twenty-odd years ago
frcm Atlanta, has been holding jobs
under Tammany administrations.
Every four years or so Mr. Black
drags this organization from his vest
aeckct, decks it out with the names Of
Two or three estimshle gentiemen--in-
yariablv members of the Southern So
Getty of New York--and sends out
scams Of publicity.
Headquarters in Bedroom
Last Saturday Mr.. Black drew out
sis party from his lower right-hand
yest noeket, busted it off, had il in
aorse Mayor Hylan and the Hylan adj
uinistration with STRONG resolutions''
snd then hired bedroom at the VIM
derbilt Hotel for it's headquarters.
The bedroom is No. 5f9. The room.
il vas said at the hotel. had been en-
vsced by Mr. Black until election day.
''The headquarters of the Citizens
Independent Democracy is Room 1l9,
isn't it?" Mr. Black was asked yester-
day
aoh, is that the number Of the
room - inquired Mr.. Black. "I've never
been M there"
Mr. Black was asked if it wasn't true
that Joseph Ferriss Simmons, alleged
by Mr.. Black to be the treasurer of
the vest-pocket Hylan indorsing party.
had been in Europe since June %.
But he'h be back any minute" re-
nlied Mr. Black
Then Mr. Black was informed that
inquirers at the home Of Mr. Simmons,
b5okbuder of considerable wealth,
.ere told that Mr.. Simmons, who as
treasurer will receive all funds and
pa them out, will not be back for at
least north, and maybe not until
alter election.
@0h, nobody knows when Mr. Sim
mons will be back" said Mr.. Black.
He MAJ be back any day"
Details a State Secret
Nr. Black was coy about his organi-
rtion. refusing to name any Of it's
asmbers when it was suggested to him
dss it was a paper organization, ex-
GAMING that it might hurt the or
sss;iation TO reveal it's members just
asT Asked to name any of the per
saas who attended the meeting which
Re said il held at the Hotel Vanderbilt
en Sa ssarSs4y, he made the same reply.
But there were forty flour people
present" said Mr.. Black.
There are two other known members
OF the Citizens Independent Democ-
racs- One is Frank E. Carstarphen, a
former Assistant United States Attor-
ney, who comes from Missouri and WHO
is boyhood chum of the head of the
more cr less invisible Citizens hide
pendent Democracy. He was asked to
name some Of the members present at
Saturdays alleged meeting.
couldn't, for the very reason /