The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-03-08

SSCEN RILN we can say nSrlcul-
u - Y ture is the great monarch,
9 6 ana its interests should be
4 N y fostered in every possible
nacsr way.
If any tax upon this important In
dustry can he lifted without an impair
ment Of governmental revenues 1t GER
talnly should be done, and If contn-
uous lines of improved interstate high
ways, ms alleged, will reduce the mud
tax" and the cost Of transportation of
farm products from the farm to the
market One-halr or One-third, then
surely such improved roads ought to
be given the agricultural interest with
out argument or delay.
We have no fault to find with vast
appropriations for pensions, irrigation
schemes, waterways and railroads. but
II Is n crying shame that agriculture,
the monarch industry, has scarcely
been noticed, and when II demands OF
the National Government what the in
dividual communities are not able to
give-continuous lines Of improved
hlghways-lts request should be an
swered by large appropriations for
such continuous lines of improved in
terstate roads.
This Nation claims to lead in every
thing, and I think 1t does, for we have
the biggest rivers, the biggest trusts
and the poorest roads on earth.
Surely the National Government
should always do those things that
make for the National welfare, and
how could the National welfare be bet
ter promoted than by the National aid
for continuous lines Of improved inter
state highways?
BY such highways not only will trans
portation of farm products be greatly
facilitated, but such roads will make
for better education, more social and
religious privileges, and in every way
tend to elevate the character of our
rural population, on whom we, as a
Nation, so largely depend
How absurd it seems when we are
told that the National Government can
spend S25O,000,O0O to build one canal
in Panama, and New York State an
other S1OO,OOO,OOO for canal purposes,
but that no money can he appropriated
to aid the great industry ry-agriculture-
upon which the prosperity of the en-
tire country and these special interests
rests!
Were It not for the agricultural in
terests, canals, rivers. harbOrs and rail.
roads would be practically useless, for
without the products of agriculture
there would be little or nothing for
them to transport.
The National Government has ok.
pended Si00OO0,000 in improving
waterways, while in capital and inter.
est it has aided railways to the extent
of S13S 100000, and in addition to en-.
courage railroad building, has given
19G, 100000 acres of the public land,
making n grand total value given for
these objects of not less than S1,5OO,'
100000, besides appropriating for irrl'
CATION schemes that the desert may
blossom ms the rose.
All these appropriations were made
from the peoples money. We find no
fault because such appropriations have
| been made, for we approve of them
all, but we do find fault because the
common road, the most important fac
| tor among them all, which makes for
! National prosperity, has been utterly
| neglected.
Now abideth waterways, railways
and highways, but the greatest Of
these is highways.
Some vould-be bright minds assume
| to say that Congress has not the power
to authorize outlays for road improve
ment, because the Constitution does
not allow such appropriations.
In answer to that statement all we
have to say is that Congress and the
Constitution were created by the people
and for the people, and that both Con
gress and the Constitution are simply
| instruments TO do the work and bidding
of the people.
All the money held or received by
| the National Government is the peo'
pies money, and do we not insist that
| man shall do what lie wills with his
own when free from membranes?
Has the great sovereign people less
rights than the individual?
History tells us that Moses sent spies
to spy out the promised land, and be.
cause the people listened to the advice
of timid and heartless leaders, they
were doomed to suffer the privatons,
hardships and wanderings of the desert
for forty long years.
But as the brave, farseeing Joshua
and Caleb affirmed that they were then
able to go forward and possess the
land promised to them and theit
fathers, Il land flowing with milk and
honey, so we affirm that our great
Government, with the granary of the
world in its possession, and with
wealth of the ages in its grasp, is now
| fully capable of inauguratinS meas
ures and providing the necessary money