The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-06-12
BRYAN
ON GOOD
ROADS
Demands Just Treatment for
the Farmers

notable features Of the recent conven
tion at ST. Louis was the bringing to
gether OF President Roosevelt and Col
Bryan as speakers from the sam'
platform. Widely as the two maj
differ on other questions. both are en-
thusiastic advocates of better high
ways. The Colonel has been study
ing the good roads question recently
and has taken a favorable view Of the
National aid plan. In a recent speech
reported in the Commoner he gave ut
terance to the following sentiments
Il have become exceedingly inter
ested in this subject, as have studied
II. In fact, have been how many
questions there are that enlist the
thought and arouse the interest OF
those who seek to do 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 a new field there. and / have al
ready advanced so far that have
made up my mind 20 build a little
road out near my farm. but to do what
I can TO get my county and my state
to do something in the matter Of
roads.
The expenditure OF money for the
permanent improvement Of the com.
mon roads can be defended. first. as
a matter OF justice TO the people who
live In the country; second, as a mat.
ter Of advantage to the people who do
not live 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.
II is a well known fact, or a fact
easily ascertained. that the people OF
the country. while paying their full
share OF county. state and federal
taxes. receive as a rule only the gen
eral benefits OF government, while the
people in the cities have. in addition
TO the protection afforded by the gov.
ernment, the advantages arising from
the expenditure OF public moneys In
their midst The farmer not only pays
his share OF the taxes. but more than
his share. yet very little OF what he
pays gets back TO the farmer People
In the city pay not only less than their
share. as a rule, but get back practi.
cally all Of the benefits that come
from the expenditure Of the peoples
Let me show you what /
mean when ! say that the farmer pays
more than his share: The farmer has
visible property. and In every form Of
direct taxation visible property pays
more than It's share. Why? Because
the man with visible property always
pays. II he has an acre OF land the
assessor can find IL; II he has horses,
they can be counted; his cattle can be
II he has pigs. they be-
gin TO squeal when the assessor ap-
proaches; he cannot hide them. The
farmer has nothing that escapes tax.
alton
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 IL at the most
favorable opportunity, whereas at
present he Is virtually under compul.
sion to sell IL as soon as II Is matured
because the roads may become impas-
sable at any time during the fall, win
ter or spring.
The farmer has right TO insist up
on roads that will enable him to go
TO town, 70 church, to the school
house, and to the homes of his neigh.
bors. as occasion may require, and
with the 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 10 what extent action should
be taken by the federal 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 to
permanent and continuous use is
scarcely open to debate.
have such confidence In the pa
triOtsm and intelligence OF the Amer
lean people that believe that in the
clash of ideas and conflict OF views.
the best win always be triumphant,
the people having the benefit Of the
combined wisdom Of all the people.
AnNrnSn