[1][3] Together with members of his extended family, Adler owned Adler-Rochester, a clothing firm.
He is noted for his work preparing the city manager charter adopted by Rochester in 1925.
[6] The six men and women he invited included civic and labor leaders, individuals who held positions including chairman of the Democratic County committee and of the Women's City Club.
A "City Manager League" was formed to create public support for the change.
It was opposed by a "Non-Partisan League for the Preservation of Popular Government", hastily formed a few weeks before the vote.