The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-11


we avoid it? I say associate with us
other interests. Organize good roads
clubs, good roads county associations; :;
and from the county associations Or
eanize State associations. Then I say
include other interests: that is, [
mean interest the farming class Of peo-
pie first. Interest tthe merchant, inter-
est the banker. interest the railroad
man, and the manufacturer, and when
all these men join hands with you,
the people en- masse will not know
who to blame for the kicking. They
will be absorbed finally and with one,
grand and mighty array we will march
on to victory and to better roads.
Now as to the kind Of roads. We
are not contending for macadam
roads; we do not say to the people,
build us macadam roads. or even hard
gravel roads We will be satisfied,
gentlemen, if we can get good hard
dirt roads. and it does seem to me that
as much dirt as there is in this old
world, we could afford to have good
dirt roads.
Now when we have worked up the
sentiment. the next thing is to drive
the nail and clinch it; that is, get the
funds. Well, there are great many
peorie that Will readily agree with You
when you say to them, ''We want
good roads" 'Oh, yes, we do too"
you say, but there are mighty few
people willing to pay for what they
get. "Oh, yes" you say, awe want
good roads too," but how much will
YOU pay? That is quite different:
then YOU have to talk with them
awhile. There is but one way by
which we can build roads. We must
go down into our pockets and pay for
them. A thing that isn't worth pay
ing for isn't worth having, and when
we pay for it We want it to be worth
something. Now, you say taxation to
people and they will turn up their
noses at you. It doesn't set we'll on
their stomachs, and especially is that
true with regard to direct taxation.
If a farmer or anyone else should 60
to a merchant and ask the price Of
hat, and that merchant says, "Well,
that hat is worth $780," he puts it
down over his head and walks out and
never says word; but if that deal
er says. 'My dear sir, this hat is
worth $500. but there is tax levy Of
dollar YOU will have to pay before
you can wear that hat"-if that were
our method Of raising taxes. there
would be a howl raised all over this
country and involve it in a period Of
strife that we would never get over
in many Years to come.
But now are we paving indirect
taxes? We are not paving direct tax
es today in many places for good
roads, but are paying an enormous
tax indirectly. For what? For good
roads? No: for bad roads: an indi-
rect tax for bad road Who are We
paying this tax to? Are we paving it
to the proper county and State off,
cials. getting a receipt for it? No,
sir: but we are paving it 10 the mule
dealer, and to the wagon maker, the
harness maker and the blacksmith.
They are receiving our taxes and Civ
ing us no receipt for them. If we
should lew direct tax and DAY it to
these officials. and they should sQuan-
der that morev upon their families,
we would raise howl and turn them
ont of Office. Bnt the blacksmith and
the mule dealer. and the harness. MAX
er and all these fellows are receiving
vonr taxes and snuandering them on
their families and Won can't say
word.
Now. my eloquent friend who pre-
ceded me, took the words ont Of my
mouth. and T hated for him to do It
because T vented the credit for sa
ing that thing myself about this road
tax we are paving of seven cents "A
voice. "You are giving them back and
doing it @ood'l. 7 don't like to
handle secondhand goods. bnt If j;
will do him anv GOOD. 7 Will give them
back when T get through with the bal
once Of this. One ton can be hauled
over good roads for : cents 2 mile.
and it costs 23 cents t. haul ton
over bad roads: 7 from . leaves how
mnch A1S cents Then Is cents per
mile is the amount that we are throw
intr oUa1- annually Of all the vast