The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-04

before the counties that have better facilities for marketing their crops be- gin, to De disastrous competitors7 The question Is, How can we best serve our 5tate?" No way win help it's people. especially the, farming class, more than the proposition of engaging in crusade for the betterment of our neglected roads.
 The proposition for good roads Is not partisan, but is an economic ques- ton and a social problem of vast in> terest. It is of more benefit to you and me than any platform put forth by any political party of today. Every body should be interested In the ques- ton. Nor is there any way you can contribute more to the happiness of the people than the matter of how to get them interested in the building up of our roads.
 The good Lord intended we should do something to better the condition of those taxed so heavily because of bad roads We should remember and feel interested In their isolated condi- ton. They have no social intercourse with their neighbors, and are often deprived of the privilege of educating their children. just for the lack of passable roads.
 No wonder our boys and girls are AN&Nth8 thS A1ttAe 4A0 SEOWofn8 tO tEG cities, where many are struggling for c scant livelihood. These conditions are wrong, with God giving a rich soil, superb climate, wonderful natural re- sources. abundant minerals, magnid- cent forests and streams of salt and fresh waters that contain the finest fish and oysters, all of which make our state unequal for happiness and com fort
 Indeed. Alabama is . favored spot,
 The fairest of all earth's plot"
 We have one of the best States in the union for agricultural, farming and for manufacturing industries, and our commercial possibilities are un- limited.
 think it is our duty to put our shoulder to the good roads wheel and improve our roads SO our children will not have to leave their homes, but will remain and dwell amidst their childhood surroundings. content and prosperous and helping to develop and populate our grand State.
 No spot on earth equals Alabama if we will no longer neglect our high ways. The question how to get good roads means agitation. organization, legislation whereby laws can be anact- ed so that construction of roads will be on . practical basis.
 Tho way of building roads as now h vogue. with very few exceptions. is not 90 such as you and l should like If we were building them, if 1t was our | individual money. or would we contrf- bute our labor; yet we allow theee temporary naIEsshift methods to pre- vail.
 We will never have permanent roads until we have the entire system
 changed and provide practical road legislation with q road engineer or some one who has been educated tc | the scientific, practical principle ot | road building. For example, the rail.
 road method. They spend their money and have competent men to build theil l roads. with geod results.
 The American people lead the world in everything except country roads, and | in that, am sorry to say, we are fai
 behind Europe. Even Cuba and Porte l Rico are ahead of Alabama on the | question of good roads.
 Why We Should Have Goo6 Roads. If any one class of our people ars l deserving Of special favor at the handi
 of the lawmakers and the oniceseekers 1t Is the agricultural element, or strictly speaking. the farmers. Nc class of people have done so much fo, our State as the farmers; they con. tribute about seventy per cent of al | our exports to foreign countries, whicl 1 materially adds to the prosperity an' 4 welfare Of our State and the nation
 We challenge those who are critic Il (oe the advocates of the overtol FameAdment) to name one man or votel l in Alabama, makes no difference which | Of the national parties he votes with
 or for what faction he belongs to, tt name one individual who would tak' | from the old eoldter or reduce his pen
 sion.
 We further challenge, to name member of the Legislature elected now 1 or hereafter to be elected, who would
 vote to deprive the old soldier or re- duce his pension. All such arguments made bx the opponents of the overtor amendment are pure denagoguerS
 and calculated to nislead and distori the facts. We again challenge those
 who are opposing the overton amend rnent to name single voter In the
 State of Alabama or a single member
 of the Legislature who would vote tc reduce the public school fund. The | very suggestion appeals to the prsju' | dice and effort to misiead the voteri | and people, as everyone knows. | Varv rAanacffiiily yourR