The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-02-25
TIE GOOD ROADS BILL.
THE BENEFIT IT WILL PROVE TO THE
COUNTRY PEOPLE.


Text OF the Bronlow Good Roads Bill
Which 10 now Pending In Congress.
The AsheviIle Gazette writing of
the bill says:
eff this rich keg should be tap
ped, North Carolina, under pro-
vision Of the bill, would get $685.
900. The Gazette News would like
to De able to line up for this
measure, but it savors too much of
paternalism. AS the Washington
Post says: elf the Federal gov
eminent laid taxes on the real e.
tate whose value would be enhanc-
I'd by the good roads the movement
would be responsible enough" The
measure does not lack for friends,
and its circle of well wishers will
keep growing, but in the long run
it is likel, 10 suffer the fate Of the
Blair educational bill, at whose
legislative funeral many tears were
she'd"
To which the Times Mercury
adds:
Yes, like the Blair educational
bill of some years ago. They called
it paternalism. Anything is pater-
nalism that would help the masses
of the South. They admit now
that the Blair bill would have been
a good thing. When the legislature
of '97 provided for elections to vote
tax on the people for longer and
better schools in this State, these
same papers said the election would
cost the taxpayers too much. They
admitted it was good thing, but
didn't want it to come under " fu-
sion rule" 1t cost too much to
hold an election to educate the
poor children, but it didn't cost too
much to hold an election to change
constitution to disfranchise every
poor boy who does not know how
to read and write, and explain the
constitution, thing that many of
their magistrates and judges could
not now do if put to an honest test
of the law enacted,
tt en- whe Senator Butler wanted
the Federal government to pension
Southern soldiers who were unable
to labor, and who were worthy,
these same fellows opposed 1t and
called it paternalism, or something
lust as tar-fetched, simply to keep
those receiving the aid from find
ing out that the war was over, peace
had been restored and again this
was. united country. And when
Senator Butler brought up the ques-
ton Of an appropriation to give far
mers the advantage Of daily mails,
by the rural free delivery system
we now have, these same fellows
folded their arms and said the thing
wouldn't work. Yet when Butler
pressed it to a favorable report by
the committees, and these fellows
saw it was popular, then they chin.
ed in and said me too" And now
they actually claim the credit, and
say, 'see what me and Betsey did"
The Gazette and Post and other
papers don't want the government
to help the farmers to get better
roads, unless they tax the farmers
specially to get this money. They
forget that the farmers, miners,
fishermen and lumbermen produce
all the wealth, and that they and
the laborers pay all the taxes.
Does the government tax cities
for the money it expends in them
building fine houses Does it tax
other classes and individuals for the
aid it gives them? Is all this pater.
nalism? No. Why? Because
they benefit the classes, and not the
masses. But anything to benefit the
farmers and those out from under
the control of the town and city
rings, is paternalism. Farmers
how do you like it. Whittier art
you drifting? Don't go to town t.
have an answer crammed down you
but call your family together, dis
cuss it and decide, and you will b.
about correct.
We close by saying if the bill be
comes a law, then it will become
State issue-in part-in every State
And this fall in voting for you
Representative and Senator, be SUR
he is in fnll sympathy with it-no
for it just to get your vote-but 70
it because he be, ieves it is right
party or no party. And those Q
you who do not want good roads
that way, be sure and vote agains
it, and be prepared to shed tears a
its legislative funeral"