The City Reform Club [ 247 ] Since its founding the City Reform Club had eschewed partisan politics. Though composed largely of men who were Republicans nationally, the Club had dedicated itself to support any candidate, regardless of political affiliation, who promised to oppose the elements of graft that plagued New York. From time to time there were unsuccessful proposals to enter an independent reform ticket, selected and endorsed by the Club, or to cooperate with other groups in order to put forth a ticket that refonn-rninded citizens could support.26 In the summer of 1890, however, a small group of New Yorkers—led by Rufus Wheeler Peckham, a future Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and Horace Deming, a civic reformer who had greatly aided in Seth Low's election as Mayor of Brooklyn—organized the People's Municipal League to challenge the incumbent Tammany Mayor of New York, Hugh J. Grant. With its slogan, "municipal governments- business and not politics" the League, composed of Republicans, Democrats, and independents, denounced Grant as a mere henchman of Boss Croker and nominated Francis M. Scott, an able lawyer and onetime member of the City Reform Club, to oppose him.27 A month before the People's Municipal League held its first official meeting, July 16,1890, the City Reform Club once again debated the wisdom of backing a reform ticket. Welling who had been recently reelected as the Club's president led the fight for cooperation, stressing that should the League make poor nominations, the City Reform Club could withdraw its support. Hayes also favored supporting the League since "it would rather be like establishing one thousand little City Reform Clubs in educating people to the doctrine that party politics should be divorced from city politics!' Nevertheless, several members including Pryor, Roome, and Opdycke opposed joining the League and no action was taken.28 While the City Reform Club never officially 2aIbid., I, April 15,1883 and September 21,1886. Lewis Delafield, a prominent New York lawyer, suggested the organization of a citizens' party to nominate a reform ticket for the 1886 city election. This motion, though tabled, illustrates the consideration given to a possible city-wide reform unit as a more effective means of combating civic problems. Many City Reform Club members joined the Citizens Union when the latter was established in 1897. 27 Werner, Tammany Hall, 313,320. 28Welling served as treasurer of the club from 1887 to 1889 and as president from 1889 to 1892; Minutes, H, June 23,1890.