The Washington herald., 1910-07-18
Need of the Times.

Editor The Washington Herald
Mr. Bernard N Baker of Baltimore.
has for long years been a hale fellow
well met in nearly all of the civilized
countries of the globe. He has been
most generous. jolly. and lucky private
citizen; but OF late he has come before
the public In many new roles. suggest
ing many schemes for improving things
and lettering mankind In all of these
schemes state or national help has been
demanded. This brings him into contact
with the taxpayers OF the country. who,
very naturally, have something TO say
on that which is their own.
Mr. Bakers latest proposal is for a
grand "Appian Way" between Baltimore
and Washington, costing at the start
something like $90.O0O.000. and involving
not only all the forty-six States Of the
Union, but foreign countries as we'll. This
scheme is analogous only TO the hun
dreds of Utopian schemes that have
been presented by artistic and magma
tive Socialists Of late years Il is total
ly out of keeping with the needs OF the
times. yet Mr.. Baker has been allowed
as liberal a ventilation OF it as If it
were something pressingly necessary for
the salvation of the country.
There is already IN process of con-
struction grand boulevard between Bal
timore and Washington, and yet, sad 10
say, as fast as one section is finished
another needs repairs This is the case
in most OF the good roads" that are
now being made throughout the State.
~
ton Of anything like an Appian Way.
which would be supposed, Ike its name
sake. TO last for centuries All the good
roads" OF the present day seem to be,
built In entire disregard of the heavy
stone foundation which should be their
base.
Mr.. Baker is not by experience and
temperament the man to be intrusted
with anything that demands conserva-
ton and economy. II Rockefeller and
Carnegie had wanted a man TO spend
their millions for them. Mr.. Baker would
have been Just the mamie would have
far exceeded the incumbents they now
have in the novelty of his selections and
in the scattering that would follow. But
to see Gov. Crothers appoint him on
anything broaching on conservation is
TO excite the laugh among those who
really know Mr.. Baker and his past The
Idea of the ornate boulevard" should
be sufficient to convince outsiders that
Mr.. Baker is not the proper man to 20
to the conservation congress" at ST
Paul in September TO represent the coun-
try on so important a subject
James J. Hill. OF st. Paul. is the proper
man 10 represent conservation in this
country Although ne may not be per-
feet, he has given better evidence OF his
fitness for that position than any man In
the country. He has called for conserva-
ton Of natural resources. and of indlvid-
ual resources as well. For the uplift of
the country both these must go together.
We want economy in the individual, in
the municipality, in the State, and in the
nation Boulevards and automobiles are
we'll enough for the millionalres-if they
pay for them-but they are beyond the
scope Of the average taxpayer. II the
public has not reused TO the Lincoln
memorial roadway 70 Gettysburg. how
much less viii it rouse in the case of the
"Appian way?"
I have alluded TO the Socialists being
very much OF Mr. Bakers mind in the
line Of Utopian schemes, and. sure
enough, some OF them are already found
on Mr.. Bakers committee of 100 for the
pushing of the boulevard scheme. The
very first name on the list is that of a
lady, very fine as such, but nevertheless
noted Socialistie worker-Aiiss Jane
Adams. OF Chicago Hull House. This
house has been branded by a leading
Chicago daily as "a poisoned we'll of
socialism. Then. running down the list,
we find other Soeialistic workers, until
we come to the pronounced Morris Hill
quit. of New York, one OF the executive
committee of the intercollegiate Socialist
Society," society that is seeking the
conversion OF all college students TO
socialism, and with great success
Great public works. with an eight or
four-hour day, at double the present
wage. are the demands of the Socialists.
Whether the works are fanciful OF par
tally useful makes no difference 10 them.
They say the works give employment to
the poor at short hours and high wages.
and that is enough. But these works
relating to our municipalities are not the
needs OF the hour. The needs are the
encouragement OF men TO get work away
from the cities on the land. Forty miles
OF country road opened up somewhere,