Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-25
"FARMER FOOTS NATIONS BILLS;
LET NATION HELP BUILD ROADS,

The following address before the
National Editorial association in con-
vention at New Orleans, WAS delivered
on last Friday by Henry B. Warner,
editor OF the Lexington IN. CO Dis
patch.
Mr.. Warner is known as one of the
most enthusiastic supporters of the
good roads movement in the country.
and is as well one of the most sue
eessIul workers for improved high.
gays. Within the past two months he
has begun the publication at Licking
ton of the Southern Good Roads, a
monthly journal devoted exclusively to
better roads in general and In the south
particularly The splendid support thas
ne has received is an augury for vast
~ improved conditions within the next
Iew years.
Mr. Warmers address was received
~ith the warmest approval by the edi-
torial writer's at the New Orleans con-
vention. An abstract of the ADDRESS Is
given here:
MR.. WARMERS ADDRESS.
."Thc ideal newspaper is not only a
surveyor OF news, a RECORDER or events,
cut is also an evangel of better things
han the present offers, an exhorter, a
rader. and its place rs I'm the van
GUARD of progress. Its relationship to
any great and good movement that
makes for the material and moral wei
fare of the whole people, rs that of in
terpreter, expounder, preacher and
prophet The ideal newspaper leaos.
Such rs its duty.
And so in this great movement for
improved highways. the press of the
nation ought to take Atne foremost
place; and IL has. No other question
Is so vitality connected with the wei
fare OF the American people as the
good roads question Hence II becomes
the high duty OF every newspaper In
the United states to enter vigorously
into the movement for good roads, pub
fishing good roads news, explaining
plans. urging developments. That the
press IN large measure is doing all
this. is apparent to every newspaper
reader Few newspapers in all this
country today are hanging back from
the fight, and a newspaper that hesl-
tates isn't much of a newspaper ano
will not be missed from the firing line
Building good roads is the paramount
Issue before the people OF this country
Nothing hampers development, material
moral or spiritual, so much as mud' ana
nothing could possibly speed development
more than good roads. 1t is idle for me
to attempt an enumeration of the bene-
fits good roads confer on peopief
Every man, no matter how unlettered, in-
stinctively knows that a good road Is
a far better thing to have than a bad
road. We naturally have II in us to
know the value of and to construct an
easy pathway. but unfortunately the
devil of tax steps in and tempts us to
bear the ills we have rather than fly to
blessings we know of and greatly desire.
Our people all believe in good roads but
there are some who are unwilling 10 pay
the cost. ~
Mr.. Roosevelt has we'll said that the
difference between semi-barbarism and
civilization is the difference between good
and poor means of communication. Far
back in history good bodybuilding was
recognised as a leading factor In ad-
lvancing civilization. The Roman ROADS
are still the marvel of modern world
and are still used. Nothing contributed
more to Rome's prosperity and prowess
than these imperial highways straight
as an eagles flight. reaching to all parts
of the world-empire. This great country
OF ours. with its illimitable resources and
it's teeming millions, is fettered by muo,
and our people are just awakening to the
absolute necessity of good roads II we
are to progress and become what we
should be.
WHAT GOOD ROADS MEAN.
Good roads mean progress and pros
perity and are a benefit to the people
who live In cities. and an advantage to
those who live in the country.