The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-11
THE ONE WAY TO REACH THE
IDEAL AGE OF THE WORLD
Address of Mr. T. E. Wicker Good Roads at National
Convention R. F. D. Carriers-A Strong Plea
For Improved Highways

to speak on this subject before you,
following, as I Go, two such excellent
addresses as you have just listened to.
But, my friends, Mr.. Adams
has let the cat ont of the bag, when he
told YOU awhile ago that the roads
were just as bad now as they were
when he and the balance Of the Old
folks we're courting. It occurred to
me that he and the balance OF the OLD
folks wore out the roads when they
were courting, and now he wants US
young folks to come along and fix
them. If he was married last week
I am wondering Why his feelings
seemed to be so blue today over the
roads. But this is taking up your
time. I hope that I have something
more important. Now, I never sing
without notes. and if you can stand
nv music little while, will try to
stand it myself.
The serious question before this
convention. and one Of the great ques-
tions before the people Of the United
States, is the questions of roads. We
have advanced along every line
in industrialism. We have
built factroies. We have built
railroads. Our mercantile interests
and all other interests have advanced.
Industrialism has been revolutloniz-
ed. but there is one instance in which
we have not progressed. I refer to
the public highways. We are today
where we we're seventy-five or a hun:
dred wears ago (when Brother Adams
was courting).
Now, gentlemen, we are told that
in the United States there are no e2-
cellent roads; that nine per cent OF
our roads are good; ten per cent FAIR
" GOOD, and the other eighty-one per
cent simply indescribable. Eighty
one per cent Of the millions OF miles
in this great country simply indescrlo-
able! And no person in this round
world knows that to be a fact better
than the rural carrier. Now l can't
take up YOUR time by discussing the
manner in which to improve the roads:
I can't tell you possibly what little l
know about road building. how it
should be done. You have heard 1t
discussed already how to build roads.
That is a very important feature. Bu*'
gentlemen, the one supreme question:
overshadowing question for US to con-
slider. is not how to build good roads,
but how to get good roads built. There
are two things necessary. One IS sem
timent in favor Of better roads. That
IS the first thing. The next thtlng IS
funds. We have got to have the sentl-
ment first, and when We have got the
sentiment we will get the funds, but
not before. Now, how shall we pro-
eeed to get the sentiment? Every
carrier in the United States must get
50 enthused as to become good roads
missionary, if he has not already BE-
come 50. and 90 all over this broad
land preaching the gospel of good
roads.
Nv idea is this: I will tell you l
don't like to refer to localities be-
cause that doesr' interest us all; and
RIGHT here T want to say that it is very
difficult to speak to this audience be-,
cause we must deal in terms that Will
interest everybody. and that is dlt-
ficult thing to do. But here is my ldea'
as to the dissemination Of knowledge
! among the nations. The press OF this
country. which has already been re-
ferred to, is the great medium by
which the people are to be educated
on this particular subject. In m!
county we had a meeting on LABOR
EDay:swe invited several speakers t"
come and address us on tile sooJeot
of roads. They came. They addressed
us and at the end Of that meeting
we organized a good roads ASSOCIATION
for Newberrv county.
Then to carry the good work furth-
ar alono,. 7 went to the editor OF one
of ~, local papers and I asked him
to set aside portion of his paper 1of
Ia good roads department: I told nm
q wanted to insert in that department
kclippin9s from newspapers and en-
tracts from speeches from noted men
on the subject Of good roads: short.
terse paragraphs on the subject OF
roads. He granted it. We are r'.l-
ming that department, and the people
In. The community don't know who Is
L., +ho1- oro rpa01OO II,