The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-24
CONGRESS AND THE LINCOLN
WAY.


a few exceptions, are either TO IN
crease the pension" or for tile re-
lief" of some particular individual
There has also been some rivalry dis
played in who should first present
bill to prohibit THE White Slave
Trade" Mr.. Hitchcock, OF Nebraska
in addition, assailed Secretary Bal
1inger. on account of his attack upon
Mr.. CLAWS, and the Hon. Gustav
Kustermann, member from Wiscon-
sin, spoke of "his patriotism" This
is a brief summary of the work OF
Congress during three weeks. O1
course this inaction may have been
induced by the soothing and soporltic
character of the Presidents message
instead of a disregard for legisla-
ton which will benefit the farmer and
the people generally; and we hope
this is true, for then the effect OF the
anodyne will have passed OFF when
Congress meets after the Holidays,
and we may hope for the Government
being persuaded to do something to
aid us, in the building of good roads.
Good roads are no longer a hope,
they are becoming fact. The people
have at last realized that bad roads
are loss, and the various States are
trying to improve present conditions.
But they ought to be helped in this,
and every State that spends money on
roads should receive a return from
the National Government. A subsidy
for roads, should come before one for
ships, as roads are necessary to en-
able the farmer to get his produce to
the vessels. That our roads are a
national disgrace is we'll recognized; +;
we previously compared them with
Russia's, but Mr. Samuel Hill, son-in-
law of James j. Hill, who has been
inspecting the highways of Europe,
according to the New York Times,
likens them to the roads of Turkey,
and says we are in roads behind
every civilized country in the world.
Speaker Cannon told the National
Good Roads Congress, last May, that
he was opposed to the Government
aiding the States in building roads,
as such an act would be unconstitu
tional. Without arguing this ques-
tion, there is nevertheless one way
that Congress can help the cause with
out that question arising, and that is
by building "The Lincoln Way"
Last year at this time, there was
much talk of a great highway con-
Meeting Washington and Gettysburg,
being constructed by the United
States as a memorial to Abraham
Lincoln. On the first day of Con-
gress, bills were introduced by Sen
ator Knox, in the Senate, and Mr..
Lafean, in the House, to carry out
this project They have never been
heard of since. In January or Feb
ruary, Senator Knox succeeded i'm
having the Senate pass a resolution
appropriating $5O,OOO,OOO for survey
of this proposed road, but the Hon.
Joseph G. Cannon frowned, when it
reached the House, and of course it
was promptly defeated by his vas
sails.
On the 5th of August, the last day
of the special session, Mr.. Lafean in
troduced another bill which provides
an appropriation to make the neces-
sary surveys for this highway; it
was referred to the committee on the
Library where it still rests peaceful
ly. This is the story of one years
work for 1.-The Lincoln Way" and it
is sad illustration of Congressional
interest in project which appeals
primarily to the Grand Army of the
Republic and the admirers of Abra-
ham Lincoln, as well as to the farmer
and the advocates of good roads.
But Congress intends to erect a
memorial to this great man, of
this we are assured. We know mil
lions will be spent in so doing, but
for what, is the question. Some men
wish to beautify the land along the
Potomac; this is the Park Commits
sion scheme Another plan is, the
Improvement of the vacant space be-
tween the Capitol and Union Station;
and the Little Father" of the House
is said to favor it. Real estate men
will be benefited by either the. Park
Commission plan or that favored by
the Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, but the
whole nation will be benefited by the
building of 1.-THE Lincoln Way" II
is surprising that the House of Rep
resentatiyes, the heretofore supposed
representative of the masses, should
turn down aplan beneficial to the pub
lie, while the austere and heartless
Senate favors it. The people ought
Ito know why their own has forsaker
them, and the cause thereof.
| 1t would be a step in the right di-
rection, for Congress to build Lin
coin, Way Not only would it serve
! to pefbetuate the name and fame o.
that great American, and be the mos
: fitting tribute to his memory tha
could be rendered by grateful nation