The Washington herald., 1909-05-23

Baltimore. Nay 22-"The extravagant
parade OF the army and navy and the
millions Of dollars that Congress IS ap-
propriating in preparing for war IS not
at all necessary declared United States
Senator Bankhead. OF Alabama, in ad-
dressing the second national good roads
congress.
IF The government would devote some
Of the useless tine and energy that it is
expending or the army and navy 10 the
building Up OF the American farm. home
ard roads. and 10 the education Of Amer
ican boys and girls. then the people Of
these great United States would rise up
and call Congress blessed
Speaks for Two Hours.
Senator Bankhead occupied the floor
yearly TWO hours, and Mccoy HaH was
almost filed with delegates TO the good
roads congress. Gov. Crothers presided
az the meeting. and among those on the
platform with him were: Senator Bank
head Representative Wallace, Of Arkan-
sas; Attorney General Isaac Lobe Straus,
State Senator Dodge. OF Cleveland; Dr.
u
University. and Arthur c. Jackson, pres
ident OF the national good roads con
gress. Many prominent lawyers and busi-
ness men OF this and other States were
In the audience
The whole subject Of good roads, ac-
cording 10 Senator Bankhead. has re
solved i,self into the question Of national
aid
Good Returns for Good Roads
We are told that the Constitution OF
the United States viii not permit Con-
gress 10 appropriate any money for the
building OF good roads" declared the
Senator vigorously, but I have studied
tLis question and anslyzed i, and there
are 10 constitutional barriers; no limita-
tons. This is not a question OF paternal-
ism II the government viii give an ap-
preparation for good roads, II viii get
something in return Il vas stated only
recently in the Senate that % per cent Of
the governments revenues for last year
were devoted TO the preparing for war
and that only S10O01,000 was set aside 1oT
agricultural Improvements
This $50. .0o0.0 600 appropriated by Con
e-ess is n urepare for q war that We
never z,iu have War viii make widows,
orphs0s- and create distress. but sgri-
culture viii feed and clothe the poor and
make comfort. This convention ought 10
rise I'D and frame resolutions and send
them TO the Senate and Congress 1nnle-
diatelv and tell them that they must have
an appropriation as soon as possible %
help IN building good roads IN this coun-
Try. This question Of good roads Is com
fne before Congress and We are going 20
vote on Il Fellow-citizens OF this con
gress. we need your help. and YOU can
render aid by framing resolutions and
forwarding them 20 washington
Dirt Roads Most Important.
the question before US IS pot new
one. The subject Of transportation IS one /
that has claimed the attention Of the 1
wisest and best statesmen Of this and 4
every country. Rapid and cheap distri- I
button OF products is the chief element Of I
produce. The system Of transportation 4
bv means Of dirt roads Is the most i'm
portant system-far more important than /
transportation by means Of railroads and
canals I am in favor Of national, State,
and county cooperation OF maintenance
CT the dirt roads or IniS country mat II 4
would be unconstitutional and pateTnal
for the government 10 contribute 20 State
roads is absurd and untrue Congress
has power to appropriate money TO build
canals. railroads. custOm-hoUses- Why
has it not the power 10 contribute to the
construction Of dirt and macadam roads,
which are by far the most important
modes OF transportation?
Not Unconstitutional or PaternsL.
IF such contribution 10 build State
roads IS unconstitutional and paternaI,
then we have been unconstitutional since
the organization Of this government As
soon as this government sprang into ex-
istence Il began 10 appropriate money for
roads and canals. and at that time It was
not unconstitutional and paternal. Why
should Il be unconstitutional and paternal
az the present timer
The people Of the towns and cities are
more interested pecunizTily in this sub
iect than the farmers, because the people
who live IN the cities depend on the coun-
ny for their supply Of products