New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
Business Men
Back Miller's
Transit Plan
Hundreds of Firms and
individuals Urge Him
Not TO Allow Politi-
clans to Halt Move
All Oppose Confiscation
Democratic Legislators
Meet Here TO Organize
Opposition to- Governor

While Democratic Senators and AS
semblymen were meeting at the City
Hall yesterday to organize their oppo-
sition TO Governor Miller's proposal
for solving the local traction problem,
on the ground that it would deprive
the city of home rule, prominent New
York business firms and individuals
made it known that they were heartily
IN support of the Governor.
The legislators, headed by Senator
James j. Walker and Assemblyman
Charles D. Donohue, leaders of the
Democratic minority. after repeating
Gheir denunciation or the Governors
plan, voiced week ago, decided to call
another conference next Monday. 1t
was announced that an effort would
be made to induce Republican members
of the Legislature TO join in what they
called an attempt to give the city an
Scent fare.
Meantime the support of many New
York merchants toy the Governors
rlan to settle the traction muddle was
announced through w. Ward Smith,
secretary to the Governor. Mr.. Smith
made public digest of hundreds of
messages which had been sent to AL
bany urging the Governor to act.
Forty-two Sign One Message
Forty-two firms connected with the
dry goods trade signed this message:
I'VE the undersigned, merchants in
New York City in the dry goods COM
mission and wholesale dry goods trade,
do herehv collectively and individual
iy desire to express our confidence in
your proposal to establish q commits
intn
surrounding the transit system of the
City of New York and to assure you
of our desire to wholeheartedly sup
port you in your endeavors to that
end"
Samuel w. Reyburn, president of
Lord & Taylor, wrote: "Permit me to
say that l thipk your position is a
sound one and that it should be sup
ported by those who desire to have
the control of our public utilities re-
moved from the status of football in
a political game"
Frederick A. Stokes, publisher, wrote:
From what l have already read l can
sincerely congratulate the Governor on
his stand and wish him complete sue
cess in having it indorsed."
Lawler Approves
Alfred M. Schaffer, an attorney, said:
after thoroughly reading your mes
sage on the traction situation, I~agree
with your stand, although from the
meagre newspaper accounts my first
impression had been that it could be
used as propaganda in aid of higher
fares. ! think no fair minded citizen
can object to having non-partisan
commission go into the subject fully
TO bring order out of the present
chaos.'
Olin J. Stephens, of the Stephens
Fuel Company, said: "Your message
to the Legislature on the transit sub
ject is, in my opinion, along proper
lines, and l want you to feel that the
publicity campaign of the politicians
of both the Republicans and Democrats
and the exaggerated statements by the
press will not cause you to feel that
the people of New York City think the
same way they do"
Frederick H. Allen, an attorney,
wrote: "May | express my high ap-
probation for the stand you have taken
in such important measures as economy
of administration and the relief of the
traction situation here in New York
and add my best wishes for your sue
cess 2"
Socialist Joins Democrat
Robert Montgomery, lawyer, wrote:
'T hope the Governor will continue the
good work which he has1 started and
will not be unduly annoyed at the
Hearst-inspired propaganda. l think
very small part of the population of
New York City sympathizes with the
confscation theory. Politicians who
are looking forward to the next cleo
tion think they have everything to gain
and nothing to lose by promising trans
portation at less than cost, but in the
long run the majority of the people
will repudiate those who stand for con-
fiscation.3
The Democratic legislators met ir
the chamber of the Board of Aldermen
Senator Walker announced that Sen
ator Edmund Seidel, Socialist, hac
Joined with the Democrats in opposing
the Governor. On the suggestion Of
Senator Martin McCue that Republi
cans could not be expected to attend
meeting called by Democrats, +. H. LII
Guardia, president of the Board of AL
dermen, was authorized to invite the
Republicans.