The New York herald., 1921-02-05
Civic Bodies. Clergy and
Citizens Send Thousands
of Approval Messages
to State Capitol.
CALL HOME RULE FAKE
Even Tammany Men See in
Programme Only SOlu-
ton of Bad Muddle
in City's Traction.
NOTABLE MEN IND0RSE 1T
Former Public Officials and
Experts on the Subject Join
in Praising Governor for
His Courageous Message.
NOTABLE MEN IND0RSE 1T

Special Despatch TO THE Nrw YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany, Feb. 4.
Public Endorsement of Gov. Miller's
plan for salvaging New York's transit
system is growing into a wave OF
popular approval. The State Capitol
is being showered with letters and
kilograms applauding the Governor for
his courageous stand.
Bushels of these letters have ar
rived in the last few days. The re-
action on the Governors message be-
gan early this week and has grown
daily until now II is in full force
Nothing like II has been witnessed
here in years.
Most of the letters are from New
York, with fair sprinkling from up
State cities which are involved as Is
the metropolis in traction muddles.
which have grown worse year by year
while politicians and city officials
talked loosely" and settled nothing.
Brooklyn, where conditions are the
worst in New York city, leads in ex-'
pressing it's gratitude to the Governor.
Civic associations, religious organi-
cations, citizens from every walk OF
life. have taken time in the last few
days to let the Governor know what
they think of his position. Mr.. Miller's
secretary was persuaded to-day to
make public few samples of the let
ters.
The Governor remained at the Execu-
tive Mansion. where. quietly in his study
he was pursuing the big task OF putting
the transit bills into shape. He is as
little moved by this tremendous express
sion of public approval as he was
alarmed last week by the first burst OF
criticism when the false impression was
created by the Tammany-Hylan politi-
clans that his plan meant an eight cent
fare grab"
Governor working on Bills.
Heeding little the excitement about
him. the Governor is going ahead
calmly perfectlrg the great project
which he believes will Justify itself by
/ its results. II Is bdlt W soy AN N"
not seen the masses OF letters Every
ounce Of his strength Is going into the
bills, which should be finished some time
next week.
Party lines have broken in this pub
lis Endorsement Herman a. Metz. once
Democratic Comptroller of New York
city. who formerly struggled for years
with the transit problem; William Bar
clay Parsons. chief engineer OF the
commission which built the first sub
way system Lewis II. Pounds. formerly
Borough President Of Brooklyn, who
knows the transit problem from tho
inside out and hundreds Of others have
written their views. One thing on
which they all agree is that the aues-
ton must be lifted out OF politics, as the
Governor demands, II the solution Is ever
to be found.
Here are a few extracts picheu OUT
from one heap of letters
The Rev. d. r. sprague. vice-chair
man religious education committee OF
the Baptist Ministry Convention OF the
state OF New York: Your proposition
has the strongest appeal to the masses
Ralph NJ. Easley. chairman executive
council National Civic Federation
Personally am heartily with you
Samuel strassburger, Manhattan;
'T have talked with many persons who
agree that the state is fortunate In AZ
last having a man who dares TO ignore
politicians and stand up and fight for
what he believes TO be right"
T. II. Roberts. Brooklyn; Your re-
marks 70 our city officials about loose
talk and loose thinking strike the key
note Of the situation. II matters can be
settled along the lines indicated by your
suggestions IL will bring relief TO millions
canno, understand why our so-called
Renubllcan leaders should oppose In any
4 form a reasonable settlement OF our
transit difficulties Common sehse
ought TO prevail in all these matters
regardless of politics"
N. Y. ueraId'.' Editorial Praised
! strong praise for Mr. Munscy's recent
! editorial IN THE NEW YORK HERALD
strikinR 70 the very root and heart OF
1 the METROPOLITAN transit problem was
/ voiced In some OF the letters TO the Gov
/ ernor.
Mortimer j. Butler of Brooklyn. said
! "AS a lifelong resident Of the city OF
/ New York I take this opportunity 70 ex-
| tend my heartiest congratulations upon
vour noble and undaunted stand In the
untangling Of the traction problem In
/ this city. You can be assured that the
people will stand back OF your message
7 10 the Legislature, even though II has
been tgnorantly opposed by a few poll
Z tlciaus who are desirous personally TO
control the railways OF this city. These
I few opposing politicians have been doing
great deal Of mud singing. but not
I one OF them Ia intelligent enough TO offer
solution Of this problem. their argu-
ments being home rule. the COMING elsc-
/ tion and 8 cent fare