The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-06-20
GOOD ROADS.
A Very Important Question.
I have received the following lette

question, in this state, when you were
at Minneapolis last Saturday; but was
little disappointed in the result, due
I think, to the fact that you were too
busy to understand the purpose of my
interview.
columns Of the REPRESENTATIVE, but
asI said then, word from you is
worth more than whole column from
me; and in saying this, do not mean
to ask you to commit yourself to any
particular plan or detail for improv-
ing the roads. All that had hoped
or expected from you at the present
time was, an Endorsement of the move
ment in favor of better roads; the de-
tails of which are to be worked out by
the discussions in the newspapers and
at the convention.
You are aware that the farmers are
suspicious of any movement Endorsed
or started by the city people, and al
though | was raised on farm in this
state, and appreciate the situation of
of city men, probably, yet l have the
misfortune to be a city man at pres
ent, a misfortune so far as accomplish
ing as much as | would like with the
farmers in this movement, owing to
the suspicion above mentioned; so that
no matter how we'll intentioned my
efforts are, my purposes are defeated
by lack of confidence and cooperation
among the ones | wish to reach and
work with.
What methods shall be adopted for
the Improvement of the wagon roads
is a question which am perfectly will
ing should be left to the judgment of
the interested parties after thorough
discussion u nd
while | personally have ideas upon the
subject, which are the result of con-
siderable study, there is no scheme nor
undermined purpose on foot for car
rying out the particular ideas of my
self or any other person; but by means
of conventions and newspaper discus
sions | hope to bring out the best ideas
of all, and | have hoped to have your
cooperation and sanction of the gen
eral movement, in order that the farm
ers who have confidence in you, but do
not know me, may be induced to take
an interest in the subject, and by SO
doing, assist those of us who do not
understand their situation as well as
some practicable, feasible plan for the
improvement of the roads.
/ hope you will believe me when |
state that | have never been one of
your traducers in this state, but have
often defended you when others IN my
presence have fallen in line with, and
repeated the abuse which politicians
have heaped upon you in this state;
and do not now expect to ask any
thing of you but what meets with your
best judgment, and which you will be
able to conscientiously recommend to
the farmers.
1t was with this idea in view. and no
other, that | approached you, but l
feel as if you did not take me to be
acting in that spirit. do not wish.
by anything have said in this letter
as declaring myself as a Populist, or a
der to gain favor with you or other
wise, for | make no such claim.
l was raised a Republican, but be-
cause am not sufficiently partisan to
support them in all their schemes,
am called a mugwump. l simply men
tion this to present myself fairly and
squarely to you.
My immediate pupose is, to have the
matter presented to the farmers at
their convention soon to be held, and
their minds disabused of any wrong
impressions they have received, and
thereby prepare the way for more
fair, and general discussion of the sub
ject hereafter.
If | can have your cooperation in
any way further than you intima ted
last Saturday, l would be pleased to
hear from you. A. B. CHOATE.
CCMMENTs-It may be that was not
sufficiently courteous in my converse
tion with Mr. .Choate. If so | apologize
I did not intend to be rude, but was
much hurried at the time.
told him that the farmers were very
suspicious of the Good Roads Move
ment: that, they regarded it as a
scheme of the manufacturers of bicy-
Giles; reinforced by capitalists, who
wanted to bond the counties, towns.
etc, and live on the toll of others, in
the shape of interest on the bonds. /
said that in many parts of the state
the farmers had all they could do to
simply Suryive,-to keep their heads
above water; and that it would be a
crime to ask them to pay dollar, or
contract to pay dollar of debt; that
bad roads were bad enough, but bank
ruptcy was still worse. | further said
to him in much of the state there was
not the material to make macadam-
lied roads, unless it was hauled from a
great distance: but that our present
system of building and repairing roads
was very defective one; there were
but small returns for the alleged
amount of labor. 1 said to him that
if he would discuss the question in the
REPRESENTATIVE it. would provoke
replies: the Alliances would take it uI
and debate the matter; and so the
next legislature, which will be largely
Populst, could pass laws to correct
any evils in the present statues.
/ renew this invitation. Mr.. Choate
is an honorable man; and believe his
statement when he says he has no per-
sonal interest in the subject: but is
acting simply as president of the Good
Roads Commission. We would be
glad to have him present his views
fully, and then let some of our farmer
friends take up the matter, and so,
out of the conflict of ideas. we will
probably arrive at correct conclusions.
No man favors good roads, or apreci-
ates their Importance, more than I do.
But we must be reasonable in all
things.
The matter might be called up at