The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-09-28

azine. 1t has occurred
to ne to say to the
friend Of national aid to good roads
that / am in receipt of information
from all parts of the country of the
most encouraging character, and car
rying assurance that the subject has
firmly fixed itself in the minds Of the
people. The sentiment in its favor is
growing stronger all the time, ard I
feel more to-day than ever before that
the movement will ultimately be sue
ccSSful.
National aid to good roads, as q
plain. practical business proposition,
has more meat in it for the general
welfare than hundred river and har-
Dor bills or the requirement of any or
ali new territory to be found between
the rivers and the ends of the earth.
The entire constitutionality Of the
proposition is now almost universally
admitted. and the necessity for it in all
parts of the country is so urgent that
Congress cannot long refuse to recoS-
hiZe it as a national obligation.
IL The continued and continuing force
of the movement, however, must de-
pend upon the people themselves. The
people are sovereign under our sys-
TEN. Here they make and unmake
men. 1t is occurring every day. The
popular will is the commanding force
in a republic like this. The right Of
petition is a recognized principle Of
our government. If the people de-
mand national aid to good roads, ma
tional aid to good roads will come. The
man and the hour will arrive together.
There can be no two opinions about
that.
The commercial bodies favorable 10
some such legislation as is proposed in
the Brownlow and Latimer bills
should strongly address themselves to
the work. 1t is more important to
them than any other probable public
measure could be. Every trade union,
local board OF trade, farmers organ
Mation, and other defined body in the
country should take like action. In
counties throughout tie Union public
meeting should be held and the popu-
lar will expressed in formal memorials
to Congress. 1t is, too, perfectly ie-
gitimate subject for church and school
authorities to be heard upon. because
church and school Interests cannot
thrive as they should thrive in land
of impossible roads.
Railroads are interested. and should
be heard, because good wagon roads
increase the tonnage to be handled by
railroads. Manufacturers of all sorts
of road vehicles, whether horse or
motor. and of every kind and charac-
ter OF farm and other machinery have
much at stake in the success OF the
movement. The stock raiSerS, fruit
growers and dairy interests are all III
VOWED. because the wagon roads are
their means OF communications.
Lawyers and doctors and the clients of
both need to speak for attention.
Town and city people who get their
all 10 eat from the farms have money
rs we'll rs 4 social interest in good
roads. The subject is important TO
every calling and condition, and when
ever Il voice can be raised in its favor
il should be done. Whenever q news
paper is published its columns should
be invoked in arousing pubic senti-
ment. No means OF method of reach
jn- Congressional attention should be
neglected. Let us have Il reawaken-
inS and thorough shaking up. Con-
Gress will rot go ahead of the people.
as has been wisely said, but Congress
will hear and heed the people. Send
petitions and memorials to each lndi-
vidual Senator and Representative in
Congress. Write personal letters to
them. Make the demand as right
belonging to the people. Herald 1t
from the hOusetops and in the streets,
in the highways and the byways.
Make it strong. Make it pointed.
Make it earnest. This is movement
of the people; it belongs to the peo-
pie; the people have q right to be
heard. Their voice is, as it always
has been. Omnipotent.
l know of 10 surer way to success
of the movement for national aid to
good roads than through agitation. l
know OF mere effective way to agitate
the subject than that suggested. Those
who favor national aid can do much
TO strengthen it in Congress If they
will. and have cruedly outlined what
consider tie best method OF reach
ing the desired end. Let every friend
OF the good roads national aid move
mcnt get busy-from the centre clear
'round to tie sca. ;
W --
IIf.hvay Engineering.