The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-17
BANKHEAD OBJECT
 0F KN(XS ATTACK
Says Good Roads Issue Is
 Cheap Politics
HAS LOST ALL PATIENCE
Says Good Roads Must He Built With Picks and Spades and Not With Wind and Cheap
 DemngOgy


 Barnett Knox of Anniston, who is a can oidate for election to Inc Senate of the United States, says that the good roads issue of John H. Bankhead of Jasper, who is senator and Mr. Knox's oppo- rent, is an 'ignis fatuus,' or willie -wisp, MT. Knox has lost patience with this is- sue of his opponent, because. he says, 1t is "cheap politics and has never brought forth fruit
 MT. Knox, when seen at his office and asked why he was not present to ad- gomery, dictated the following statement by way of reply:
 ''I was not invited to address this corr vention
 q notice that MT. Bankhead was in- vited to make the principal address On
 the subject of federal aid to good roads.
 I shall read with a great deal of in
 terest what he has to say to the people
 of Alabama on this subject.
 "It has always been a source of pride with me-a feeling which I hope by the
 placed-that I am a southern man, that
 have been born in the south among a
 people of courage and Of noble senti-
 nient- Especially has it been source of pride to me that l am an Alabamian--a native Alabamian-a etate which has pro- duced and furnished to our republic so many strong and capable thinkers to guide and influence the councils of this government.
 1T have never been an office-seeker. After 9 years experience at the bar I have never been an aspirant for political ofr1ce, except in one instance, and that | was in the case of alternate senator, | when I was defeated by MT Bankhead,
 because of his advocacy of good roads to | be constructed by the federal govern ment through every town and hamlet by | federal aid.
 Now. iSMr. Bankhead can make good. and build these roads with money secured | from the federal treasury, I concede at
 the outset of my opposition to him that he can do more than I can promise | to do.
 But. listenl Mir Serena Payne, who
 is chairman of the committee on ways and | means, which is the most important committee in the House of Representa- lives, has recently stated in the House l that such an attempt on the part of the federal government to build good roads in the several states, and in the sever al counties. of the several states, would
 bankrupt this government, and that no true and patriotic citizen who had the interest of his country at heart wheth-
 CT democrat or republican. could advo- cate any such movement.
 | MT Bankhead has been in. Congress Cor more than 20 years. He has never iis- ltroduceds any bill sloobine to this end, | He has been in the Senate, as successor to Senator Morgan since his death. and
 so far as know, he has never introduced in that body any general bill proposing
 such legislation. ''I do observe. however, that in view of his renewed 8cardidacy for reelection to tie Senate he has proposed an ap-
 rropriation of $oO0,O00 for the improvement of certain post roads of the country, which would furnish if equitably dis tributed to the several counties of our
 state a paltry sum- perhaps few dol lars; I nave not made the calculation and cannot therefore, speak with per- feet accuracy as to the exact amount each county would receive. But even this measure has not been adopted, nor even considered In the Senate; it has merely been considered in a commit | tee of the Senate Unless conditions change, however, it is safe to say the south will not receive it's just share. l  | do now charge him as a senator from | Alabama, that he has not dared to appear | before the Senate of tie. United States. | of which he Is member. with q propo- | sition to adopt q general system for the | improvement of our public roads hy | federal aid. At least. to speak more ac- curately, if he las introduced any such nea sure, 1t has rot come to my knowl- edge.
 "what is the matter with our southern people, and what influences are con- trolling. them nowadays which did not formerly exist, if they are to be guided in the selection of a United States sen ator In the pursuit of an ignis fatuus like this?
 '..rhe idea suggested by MT. BanlShead that he is going to construct, with the aid of the federal government, good roads through every town and hamlet, to state
 it mildly, is misleading. He cannot do it. and he must know he cannot do it, "But In the meantime a very bright and brilliant thought has occurred to MT.