Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-15
TRANSIT VICTORY I
. CERTAIN AS FIGHT
FOR PEOPLE ENDS
So Say Mayor and Taylor,
Who Predict Success i.
for Loans
oBsTRuCT1oN1sTs BEATEN
Attacks Will Be Overwhelmed by
Loyal Citizens, Backers
of Measures Assert

Triumphant victory for the s67100, 600
/ transit and port loan bill at the polls to-
| morrow was predicted today by former
| Transit Director A. Merritt Taylor and
Mayor Smith. Both declared that the OBJ
| struotionists who have been launching
anonymous attacks against the loan will
be overwhelmed by the loyal citizenry ef
| Philadelphia.
The ex-Director at the same time warned
| the voters to demand the special loan bal
| lot when they entered the polls. An anony-
nous circular which was scattered broad
| cast over the city today attacking the loan
| he scored as the work of "sordid interests
| too cowardy TO lend their names to their
| false statements
The Mayor also predicted the passage Of
the general loan bill for municipal inn
| provements.
Advertisements inserted in all the news
| papers today by the "All-Philadephia on
| to Harrisburg" Committee call for every
registered voter in the city to support the
loan bill in the interests of a greater Phil.
adelphia.
e. j. Lafferty, chairman of the All-PhIla-
delphia Committee, after a careful canvass
of the city by members OF the committee,
assured Mayor Smith today that both the
S67,1O0,000 transit and port loan bill and
the general improvement loan bill would
pass tomorrow by majoritles of from go, 900
to $4,000. ,....a
SMITH SEES SUCCESS
Two weeks ago 1 was somewhat wor
ried about the transit and port and general
loan bills; but now 1 am sure OF their pas
sage" said the Mayor. II feel confident
that both bills will pass by large majori.
ties The opposition to the bills was purely
political, and this opposition Is by no means
strong enough to endanger loans upon
which the future growth Of the city de.
pends. Many of those who started out to
oppose the loans have now turned in for
them. and the opposition has weakened to
point where 1t Is no longer dangerous.
i believe the vast majority of the thinking
voters of the city will support both loans
and that their success Is certain
With the last hour of the fight at hand
the future of rapid transit development
In Philadelphia rests with the voters at the
polls tomorrow The passage of the transit
and port loan will insure highspeed sys.
tenn benefiting all sections and every resi-.
dent Of the city; the defeat of the loan bill
will leave Philadelphia decade behind
other cities In transit facilities.
Provision for the city's general progress
likewise depends upon the passage of the
S47,225,000 loan bill. Upon the passage of
this loan depends the completion of the
Parkway. the building of Convention Hall.
the Art Museum, the improvement of the
Philadelphia General Hospital. the ellmina-
ton of grade crossings and other improve
ments vital to Philadelphia's progress and
prestige.
Last-minute personal appeals for the
sit are being made throughout the city
by the leaders in the long fight.
DUTY OF VOTERS.
The 10000 non.partisan voters who can.
not vote for the nominees tomorrow have a
special duty. II is declared. These voters
must go to the polls and there cast vote
for both loans. They have the right to vote
upon the loan question, and it is their
duty to Join with other men in approving
the bills which will make possible Phila-
delphia's advancement. .lf.
Republican voters are pledged to the sup
port of both loan bills by their party's plat.
form. Adopting the personal platform of
Mayor Smith in the last campaign, the Re.
publican City Committee put itself on rec
ord as favoring every Improvement pro.
vided for In the two loans to go before the
people tomorrow. .
Each voter who counts himself true
Philadelphlan must make sure that he re-
ceiVes loan ballot tomorrow, and must
mark 1t Yes" for both loans. If the
loans fail, this city's opportunity will be
lost ...-r.