The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-01
GOOD ROADS NOT GAN IssuE.v
Washington Post.


1t is the opinion of the New York Press
that good roads must ome." The Post
heartily concurS in that sentiment or be-
lief, but does not, as does the Press, see
anything very significant in the good-roads
plank of the Philadelphia platform. Good
roads will come in time-probabl bly, a long
time-in all parts of the United States.
They have already come in many localities
and are about to show UP in others. But,
although the great work will go on by rea-
son of its transcendent Importance, IL will
require centuries for Its completion be-
cause of its almost incalculable magnitude
and costliness. All the capital represented
by our railways would not suffice to make
good macadamized roads or their equivalent
out of all the country highways. There are
large sections of country in which an the
real estate and improvements thereon would
not sell for money enough to reconstruct
their roads on any approved model.
Ever since the bicycle came into some
thing like general use there has been an
organized effort to get the national govern
ment into some sort of scheme of road
building for the Nation. The automobile
interest has materially strengthened that
movement. This year powerful pressure
was brought 10 bear on the Republican
platform builders In the hope of getting the
G.. o. p. committed TO the NATURALIZATION
Of highway construction. But, as the Post
was glad TO note in it's review of the minor
planks of that declaration of faith and pol
icy, the gave the exploiters Of
the project scant comfort The platform
simply says or this subject that public
movements looking to a permanent i'm
provement Of the roads and highways of
the ountry meet with our cordial approval,
and We this subject to the earn
est consideration OF the people and OF the
legislatures OF the several States"
In plain terms, the q. .. p. declines to
shoulder the offered load. and leaves the
matter where il always has been and where
Ii ought TO remain, with the people and
their local legislatures. But the New York
Press annot or will not see the point of
that plank, and grossly misrepresents IL.
men vote is, that is not the only fact that
makes the good roads plank in the Re-
publican platform significant. There is a
far greater social Importance attaching to
the appearance OF such an issue in a ma
tional platform than the wheelmen them
selves dream of"
IAN issue?" What nonsense. Where Is
the party, the faction. or the man who
is capable of making IAN issue" OF that
simple. harmless little chunk of taffy? Is
ments looking to permanent improvements
OF the roads and highways VIII any
party reprove the States and municipali-
ties engaged in such works? The only in
terests or persons disappointed by that
plank are the few who hoped for an en-
tering wedge, or first step, I'm the grandIy
paternal scheme Of Matchmaking this mat
ter, and they are not going to organize
a separate party and make IAN issue"
The Post is quite as much an advocate
OF good roads as its New York contempo-
rary, but IL decidedly objects to the injec-
ton of the movement into politics. And
the Post cannot begin TO understand how
that tiny plank. which says nothing that
anybody will contradict. has raised IAN
issue" There is no more politics in Il
than there Is in any one OF the ten COM
mandments, a geometrical axiom or a
chemical analysis OF soap.