New-York tribune., 1922-05-25
Angry W omen
GetlivlaraE erlnit
To Sell Poppies
Senior League Delegation
Obtains Revocation of
Colcr Ban: 300 Girls Arc
Enlisted for the Y o,'k
Blossoms From 'Dug.Oui
Vendors Are Barred From
Subway and - Stations:
Must Operate in Streets

An indignant delegation OF members
Of the Senior League. headed by Mrs.
James l., Hand and accompanied by
John Reilly, counsel, called on Mayor
Hylan last night Just before he left
City Hall and protested against the
action Of Commissioner Bird s Coler.
Of the Department of Public Y cliare,
in refusing the league permission to
sell artificial roppies on the streets for
the benefit Of diss bled veterans Of the
World War. Following a hearing Tues
day Commissioner Colcr issued permits
to the American Legion and the Vet
Grams Of Foreign Wars to sell poppics
from now until Memorial Day
Mrs Hand Mrs. Robert Hilton Perry
and Mrs McAlster Smith, of tho
Senior League. demanded the Mayor tell
them why they had been Disseminated
against the Public Welfare Commits
sioner. The Mayor speedily capitulatod
and directed Deputy Commissioner
Christopher J. Dunn, of the Depart
ment Of Public Welfare. who was
present, "to give the women anything
they wanted compatible with what
the other organizations had been given.
The women had nothing but praise for
the Mayor when they left his reception
room.
Coler Rescinded First Permission
Mr.. Reilly said that after the hear
ing Tuesday he had understood from
Commissioner Coler that permit TO
sell poppies would be granted the
league and that he was surprised YES
terdaY when the Commissi called
him up and said he had decided not o
issue the permit. The league had pur-
chased five hundred sashes and badges
and enlisted three hundred girls to sell
the 10000 poppies which they had OBJ.
tanned from the Dug Out" at 100 East
! SiXty-trst Street, where the disabled
veterans had made them.
The proceeds from the sale o. the
poppies by the league was to go to the
/ Dug Out which is a workshop for
disabled ex-service men and also helps
t them IN other ways. Mr.. Reilly has.
tened to the Public Welfare Commits
sioners office only to find that Mr. Coler
had gone to Atlantic City. He then
got the committee together and called
on the Mayor.
All three organizations began to sell
the poppies yesterday. Some of them
were being sold on the subway and ell
evated stations, but the Mayor ordered
this stopped and directed that the
saIesmen confine themselves to the
streets and other public places.
In his letter yesterday to James F.
hiernan, State Commander of the Vet
Grams OF Foreign Wars, granting the ap-
phcatlon Of that organization, Commits
sloner Coler requested that they dsre-
gard their plan to purchase the poppies
made by French people and place their
order with American concerns. The
commissioner said that if the organiza-
ton had any litigation following their
refusal to pay for the French poppes,
he would personally see that the Vet,
Grams Of Foreign Wars we're properly
defended and would assume responsi-
billty for any damages.
Coler Opposes Women Selling
The commissioner explained this re-
quest by saying that he was sufficiently
CONVINCED that the poppies purchased
rom France were more commercial
IMAM charitable, and that it was neces-
sary Tor hlm TO take the step for the
protection of the public and the good
name of the American war veterans
IN hls letter Commissioner Coler also
requested that the organizations
granted a permit to sell poppies re-
train from enlisting the Services of
women for the purpose.
tie explained that he had refused q
permit, to the senior league when he
learned that both the American Legion
and the Veterans of Foreign Wars had
protested against the granting Of such |
permit, and that he had concluded
that the regular veteran organizations |
were the best censors of other agencies !
which claimed to help ex-service men.