The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-31
LETTERS TO THE GOVERNOR.

the chief executive officer of every state will be found a metal box bearing the curt label "Cranks" Governor Hoch finds that he cannot keep house in his executive chambers without a reservation among his files for the freak letters that come to him. The most charitable char acterization of these communications is to call them unlntelligible. They would be humorous if they did not carry note of pathos. In them all burns the fierce fire of the zealot, and often the minds behind the hands that wrote them seem to have leaped the limits of sanity.
 Yet against not one does Governor Hoch lay the charge of mental dethrone- ment. Many are filled with violent abuse of the chief executive, often containing ribald and wicked words, making charges that reduce themselves to absurdities, but the governor makes no unkind com ment.
 '.t don't understand this letter." he says. Then he writes across the corner the word Crank and a clerk files it in the freak letter box. They go unanswered.
 A mere glance at the paper used, the ink the handwriting, invites search for the eccentric. In some the spelling and composition of words reflects an eduea- tlon, in others it is near illiteracy. Here is one, typewriter, neat and clean, with perfect spelling; but 1t contains not con nected thought, just a riotous ramble ITO use your infuence,' is written, fin favor of a square deal, closing the Kan. sas incident as we'll as the Danvlle in .sd ,fat inn of ra tional board of managers of the Soldiers Home Is involved as yours and my own is involved in the Kansas incident. How ever let us thank the Lord that we are not implicated in the Brownsville, Tex, incident. nor yet mixed up in the mikidor troubles at San Francisco. You and l have troubles enough of our own, thank the Lord from whom all blessings flow. It is now thoroughly up to you to inter- cede in favor of an amicable settlement in my case on the P. D. e. plan if you please"
 District Attorney Jerome once made speech in the West, and referring to Kansas and Missouri, said something about laws concerning Sundays and pro- hibition not being backed by public senti- ment. Governor Hook and Governor Folk both quickly answered Jerome through the newspapers. Then the Kansas gover- nor got this letter: "So-called Governor Hoch Any man opposes the will of the people as governor or to be hanged! Mark that! Religious Sunday laws have no business on any statute book on any state of the union!''
 Interminably long are some of the let ters. Here is one written on old fashioned store paper, on both sides of 40 pages, or 80 lead pencil written pages in all. The writer was a man and he had but one note and one key to play. It appears that he and some Sarah" are being defraud- ed and tormented and he begs for relief. Not a taint of abuse Is in the words. The lines are simple but monotonously redundant with the same idea. Implicit faith in the governors ability and de- termination to see them safely through their Red Sea pervades the long ap- peal.
 A woman in the western part of the state decries the fact that 'the county attorney of her county won't stop young people from drinking soda on Sunday with as much hilarity as on the week day" She says that she and her friends need something strong to lean upon," and Governor Hoch to her mind would be just the prop.
 Here is one written in a vertical hand from an eastern state describing the inc winter weather, and concluding; Such is life and there is no nse of get ting sentimental over it."
 A most remarkable letter of S57 words without a period, comma, dash or pune tuation mark of any kind is written in a good hand and perfect spelling.
 Lots of people write the governor to help them untangle money troubles. They think that he can reach out and stop the hand of lawyer in foreclosing a mortgage, can put an end to bank in- ssting that notes be paid, ad inf1nitum. One long tale of financial woe concludes: An excruciated citizen. leave the rest to your imagination
 "Heaven" Is the mark on a postal card as the place from which it was written. q make my own laws" declares the writer. "You can do as you please about obeying them, and will settle much dis puted saying that the Sabbath day begins with the first rays of light that color the eastern sky and ends with the golden halo of glory on the snow clad summit of the Selkirks. When the sun rises in the west I'll let got. Heaven
 Since woman has taken upon herself the task of preaching against race sul- eide Another deplores the love for dogs of the rich. Dozens of questions in- volving law points in the settlement of properties are asked, prompted possibly by the primeval custom of going before the magistrate and having him decide them by the code of rules which the community may have adopted.
 The smile on the face of the chance idle reader of these letters gives way to a look of sadness If he has lived long enough to have put away the make believes of childhood he will understand that large portion of these chance leaves have their origin in a single word trouble.
 HE HAD DONE HIS PART.