The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-20
REPLIES TO DRIVER
CONGRESSMAN HEFLIN SPEAKS ON
 BOND ISSUE.
Large Audience At Lafayette Listens to Argument Against It--Eiectton
 VIII Take Place
 Saturday.

lafayette. Sept. 1s-(Special. )-Hon. J. T. Hefin discussed the proposed bond issue for public road building In Chambers County here yesterday morn ing.
 The interview from Hon. A. J. Driver, published in The Advertiser of Septem- : ber IT served as an incentive to swell the audience almost to the capacity of the court room.
 Mir. Hefiin was in fine form for 8 stir ring speech. and measured to the eyid- ent expectations of his friends. Con- siderable ginger was put Into the spirit of the occasion because Of the state ments made by Judge Driver that MT Hefiin was ignorant and yet was nnv- ed by an assumed superiority
 The speaker went to the issue raised. without delay. He was before the peo- pie, he said, to discuss the most serious business proposition that had been he- fore them for years Touching the ia- suance of road bonds. he said; Us tt right? It is businaAs like?" lie had al- ready announced the convictions that it was not good business. The first hs had heard of the bond issues was Ia the effect that it was before the Commits sioners Court for passage. That court did not giyo the people the kind "f 's- sue they wanted to vote on. He con tended that because Montgomery or Jefferson County had seen fit to issue bonds for road building, it did not fol- low that 1t would be wise for Chambers to do the same.
 The Federal government. he said, has made appropriations to aid in the con- struetion of railroads and Improvement of waterways; 1t is expending millions upon road construction in the Philip . pine Islands. That shows the drift Of public sentiment on this point. If the government spends money there to build roads, why not do the same to aio the movement at home?
 "In the Senate. that matter will have an able champion in MT Bankhend," he said. and for the same cause, will be in the Houso. 1, am but an humble member, and it is said that I am also ignorant Tho difference between me and some who get interviewed in the papers is, that am ignorant and know 1t; he is ignorant and don't know 1t
 '"rhe judge wants to know if would tell the other counties ot this district that they could build roads without taxation or bond issue," continued MT. Hehin.- T suppose he means increas- ing the taxes. No. The other coun- ties are competent to run their own business and financial matters. just as we are in Chambers County; and the judge does not understand the character of nay constituents In the other eonB- LlfSs lI ne lIIldSlIttS bhdt h6 IefA7 RtGS0N dice them against me because I dare take a hand in the affairs of my homo county. Here, in Chambers County. is the place to settle this issue, and here 1t will be settled in the right way next Saturday. As a citizen of Chambers County, l would be Fecreant to my du- ties as a citizen, if I failed to lift my voice for what I conceive to he best for the county. And when 1t comes to that, there Is nobody big enough nor bully enough to shake me out of nay shoes.
 The judge's efFort to make state is- sue out of what will soon be sore per sonal disappointment, shows that he has his heart very much In this bon" issue movement"
 The speaker referred to the close TO- lations hitherto existing between Judge Driver and himself. saying the remarks of the judge reminded him forcibly of the exclamation, And thou, toos Bru- tusi''
 No man could have made me be- lieva that he'd do 1t! But he did It. added MT. Hefin.
 "Taking the judges figures. it looks like you can get the money for bufld- ing the roads, not only without q bond issue, but without increasing your taxes. Judges statement; and if am wrong. who is the wrongest man, he or IT
 T build my house on those figures which the Probate Judge gives over his own signature If we arc going to wait twenty-five years before the roads are finished. why be in such hurry to issue bonds; good business, 1t seems, would warrant collecting such taxes as the Probate Judge tells us will be available, and just simply hold these sums year by year till we have a sun suficient to pay for the roadsi and this can be done. by the Judges own figures, at least in the time he proposes to build by bond issue Ana when tbev are built, as I contend for wa will owe no bloated bondholders Q sngIe dollar"
 bond issue will be held saturday