The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-10
GOOD ROADS.
A Convert to- the Bond Issue.-That
Government Mile.-Objections
= Answered.

NJ. Editor:-At first We were op-
posed to a bond issue for roads. we
believed an annual tax the wiser plan.
We believe it is now conceded oE
nearly every body that either an an
nual tax on property. or bond Is
sue is necessary, if we are ever TO
have any roads worthy of the name.
Since giving the subject mature
thought and. since reading the argu-
ments on both sides as published IN
the papers we have changed our mind
and will vote for the bond issue. we
want it understood, however, tnat
we are not at all "crazy' over this
question. for we know very well that
the people are going to defeat this
measure on August 3lSt, but this
cannot and will not affect our duty
as a citizen and voter. Our consola-
1icn is this: That we are living IN an
ace that is demanding better high
wavs and is making this question
positive issue in county. state and ma
tional affairs; therefore. the battle
lost on the 31>t will not be the END
of the war-it will only have begun.
Every honest and fair thinking
man who in the beginning OF this agl-
tation set his mind in a receptive
mood to listen impartially to all ar
cunents for and against this question
must have long ago been Impressed
with the fair, straightforward, honest,
sound arguments for the bond issue,
while even the most prejudiced must
bv this time have become slckened
with disgust at some Of the childish
ARGUMENTS advanced against the
ouestion-argument to save the dear
people from taking a step that would
be acknowledgements that have
about as much sincerity in them as n
the grief Of Mark Twain weeping at
the tomb Of Adam.
Now. the undersigned wants to ask
question or two. Suppose the coun-
tv Of Newberry Ia mere speck on the
map) should vote $3C0,O0O in bonds
for building roads how much would
cotton goods advance in price IN the
worlds market or in the local mar
ket fo~ that matter? How much
would tie rate Of interest on money
Increase? How much would the price
OF meal and hulls advance? How
much would the rates on telephones
;rcrease9 What a pity these IN
creased rates and the poor people
wnc pay them, were not thought OF
and their wishes consulted before the
new court house was built! We sup
pose It is a good thing they were
eliminated from the proposition for
they might have voted, "No Cour>
House, Just as they are going to
vote t'No Bonds.'' Come to think Of
i Just at this eoment: If store rent
has gone up. and clerk hire raised.
and the price Of goods increased, per-
haps it is all because Of those blasted
court house bonds IF so, who is to
blanao
Now all Of these excesses must
cone ovj of tie pockets Of the poor.
HELPLESS farmers. It's a shame! And
the: we're not even given an oppor-
tvnitv to say whether they wanted a
new court houSc-no reference where
b. they might say whether they were
wi!1!Y~ % stint themselves and 60
hnncrv and half naked by paying
higher prizes for cotton goods, IN
creased rates Of interest on money,
increased prices on meal and hulls
to keep the ca COW from starving on
the spot Immediately. increased rates
on telephones, increased store rents,
clerk hire, etc., etc., in order to build
shining Temple Of Justice. where
terrible judges and shrewd lawyers
might hand ont morselS of justice
with strings tied to them. so that
when one of these poor farmers gets
jnztice Of the kind he wants he
doesn't know whether to take it o.
not. It is to be regretted that the
powerful rich and the humble poor
and the town VS.. county, had to be
injected into this discussion, but since
it was done by the opponents OF the
bond issue they must excuse the IN
dersigned for handing back an argu-
ment Of the same color, when We say
that the town of Newberry and the
LAWYERS got the new court house