The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1903-06-26
SPEAKS FOR GOOD ROADS.
Col. William Jennings bryan De-
mnnds Just Treatment for the
Country's Farmcrs.

One after another the prominent
men Of the nation fail into line with the
good roads movement. one Of the
notable features Of the recent conVen-
ten at st. Louis was the bringing to-
! gether Of President Roosevelt and Col.
/ Bryan "a speakers from the same plat
/ form. Widely a. the two may offer On
other questions. both are enthusiast &c
| advocates Of better highways. The
colonel has been studying the good
roads question recently and has taken
favorable view Of the national aid
/ plan. In a recent speech reported in
the Commoner he gave utjerance to
the following sentiments:
II have become exceedingly inter
ested in this subject. as have studied
/ it. In fact. | have been thinking how
many questions there are that enlist
the thought and arouse the interest of
those who seek to co something for
their fellowmen. Nothing have
turned my attention To in the last few
years has seemed to me to come near
er to the people than this question Of
good country roads. find that there
is new field there. nd have already
advanced 50 far that have MADE up
my mind to build a little read cut near
ny farm. but o Go what can o get my
county ana my state to Go something
| Il the matter Of roads.
The expenditure Of money for the
permanent improvement Of the COM
I -, =. l.
matter of justice 10 the people who
i've In the country; second. as mat
ter Of advantage to the people who do
not 1--we in the country, and, third. on
the ground that the welfare of the ma
ton demands that the comforts of
country life shall. as far as possible.
keep pace with the comforts of city
life
1T is well-known fact, or fact
easily ascertained. that the people in
the country, while paying their full
snare of county. state and federal
taxes. receive as Il rule only the general
benehts Of government. while the peo-
pie in the cities have, in addition to the
protection afforded by the govern
ment, the advantages arising from the
expenditure of public moneys in their
midst. The farmer not only paws his
snare of the taxes. but more than his
snare, yet very little Of what he nays
gets PACK 10 the farmer. People in
the cHy pay not only less than their
share, as a rule, bat get back practical
" all of the benefits thar come from
the expenditure Of the peoples money.
Let me show You what | mean when
say that the farmer paws more than
MS snare: The farmer has visible
property, and in every form of direct
taxation visible property paws more
than lis share. Why? Because the
man with visible property always paws.
II he has an acre Of land the assessor
can find IL; if he has horses. they can
be counted; his cattle can be euumer.
ated. If he has pigs. they begin to
squeal when the assessor approaches;
he cannot hide them. The farmer has
! nothing that escapes taxation.
The Improvement of the country
roads can be justified also on the
ground that the farmer, the first and
most important of the producers Of
wealth, ought to be in position TO hold
his crop and market it at the most
| favorable opportunity, whereas at
present he is virtually under compul-
/ sfon to sell it as soon IS il is matured,
because the roads may become impass-
able at any time during the fall, win
/ ter or spring.
The farmer has Il right TO insist
upon roads that viii enable him TO 90
/ to town. to church, 10 the school house.
and to the homes Of his neighbors, as
occasion may require, aud with tho
extension of rural delivery he has an
additional need for good roads in order
that he may be kept in communication
With the outside world.
"Just To what extent action should
be taken by the feGeral government,
the state government. the county and
the precinct. or in What proportion the
burden should be borne is question
! for discussion. but that country roads
should be constructed with a view 10
/ permanent and continuous use is
scarcely open TO debate.
81 have such confidence in the patriot
ism and intelligence Of the American
people that | believe hat in the clash
of ideas and conflict Of views. the best
VIII always he triumphant, the peo-
pie having the benefit of the combined
wisdom Of all the people"
uNyYy Tn nryrr DD~-1