The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-12-23

The second and last session of tn
seventh annual meeting Of the Mary
land Turnpike Association was hell
in the grand jury room at the court
house, Frederick, Md, Thursday af
ternOOn.
The association elected the follow
ing officers for the ensuing year
President, Arthur L. ToWson, Wash
ington county; vice-presfdent, r
Claud Dutrow, Frederick county; sec
retary-treasurer, O. G. Warehime
Frederick county, and counsel, Geo
r. Dennis, Frederick county.
Upon motion, the executive com
mittee of the past year was reelected
for the ensuing year. 1t is made III
as follows:
Carroll county, DIR. J. III. Billings
lea and A. P. Snader; Washington
county, w. H. Armstrong and A. L
Towson; Howard county, H. c. Selby
Frederick county, r. Claude DutroV
and Daniel Wolfe.
The next meeting place will be Ha.
gerstown and the meeting will be
held in December.
Address by Mr.. Murray.
The annual address was delivered
by Thomas A. Murray, Of Baltimore
who said
"In view of recent events in which
our friends of the Frederick Pike
and others have figured, and the
frequent public declarations of late
that all turnpikes are doomed to an
early death, we do not know wheth-
er the speaker is expected to hold a
post norton over those that have al
ready departed, or to pronounce a
panegyric over their remains.
"As to those which still linger,
having received what in some quar-
tiers is claimed and hoped to be a
mortal wound, we may be expected
on this occasion to administer the
last sad rites i'm preparation for what
would seem to us an untimely death.
"If it be true that the dagger which
strikes this fatal blow is in the hands
of the State, which called us into be-
ing with assurance of perpetual fos-
tering care and friendship, well may
we exclaim 'Et tn Brute
1T is said that the swan sings but
one song, and then only when death
claims it for it's own, it scars to-
wards the Heavens and with its ex-
piring breath utterS note of pecul-
lar sweetness. If swan song" is
desired, it is to be regretted that you
had not selected sweeter singer, or
one whose mood would inspire to a
not of sweeter resignation.
For ourselves, we must confess
that when we contemplate the treach-
erous blow already inflicted, or the
threatening sword in the strong arm
suspended over us, we feel constrain-
ed to roar out our remonstrance
against such injustice with the deep
est dispassion note that we can COM
mand. Perhaps, by some, it may
be deemed futile groan.
Certainly, as to those that have de-
parted or must soon depart, some
having reached the venerable the
venerable age Of over a century, it
is but fitting that their friends should
speak some word of eulogy, unmoved
by the damnation which now seems
so popular, IL only to prove that
there are some still left to do them
reverence
Some still survive, and undaunted
by the popular cutlery, not in boast
full spirit, but in their appeal for
justice, are prepared to defend their
existence and their right to be until
another and perhaps better takes
their place with a just recognition of
their merits and consequent deserts.
Pioneers i'm Good Roads Movement.
In view OF the ardent claims of
the advocates Of the present Good
Roads movement, that through them
communities will be built up, prop
erty values enormously enhanced
and i'm fact that thereby will be pro-
vided a panacea for all the ills OF
the body polite, it was to be expect
ed that the previous efforts of those
who were, indeed, pioneers in the
Good Roads movement, and who die
more than promise, but actually &C
cOmplished, would commend them to
most favorable consideration, and we
would be regarded as comrades In
this good work and admitted tt
friendship. Indeed, when seekins
the necessary legislation to provide
themselves with ample funds fol
their experimental use the word ad
visedly-it was announced that the.
we're not hostile to us, but ou
friends, but alas we seem now t,
be slain i'm the house of our so-callet
friends.
ut is proverbial that Republic
are ungrateful; certain it is tina
those composing them are often sc
The present tone of the public press
and those who are ever ready /,
join i'm q seeming popular outcry
most OF whom have never contributes
n he frll IN he so4o
ance of the present turnpikes, shows al
entire forgetfulness, or rather wantol
oversight, OF the incalculable bene
fits conferred by the old turnpike
roads, which, to quote Judge Lowrie
have always had their origin in
commendable and meritorious pub
lie spirit
In utter disregard or Ill this W.
now hear from all quarters the out
cry Down with the Toll-Gates,' an,
any means to accomplish this en-,
is declared to be justifiable and com
mendable
I'VE do not complain OF the desir
that the citizens OF our State shout,
be afforded means or communication
over reasonably good roads withou
cost, indeed we think 1T high tim
that the State should undertake TO
itself what AZ had previously Gale,
on and commissioned others to per
form for II, but we do protest tina
there should with this demand b
manifested some disposition to rec
ognize that the owners OF the presen
turnpike roads have rights whicI
must also b. considered: that thei
roads represent property In whicl
uaany of ifs citizeng have inyesfet