The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-28
A DIVISION OF orINrns.

The Sioux City Tribune thinks that
'if John Randolph of Roanoke. bril-
liant, erratic and half-insane apostle
of States rights, sleeping now in a
Virginia cemetery, knew what hap
pened at the National Good Roads Con-
gress in historic Richmond Wednesday,
he would rise In his graveclothes to
utter in shrill falsetto his solemn pro-
test Press dispatches say that the
good roads passed hy an overwhelming
majority, and that the Southern yell
led the affirmative chorus"
An old dogma, thinks the Tribune,
Gied with such an action-"thus per
ishes an outworn theory of antiquated
statecraft" 1t Is pointed out by our
contemporary that in the early days OF
the nation internal improvements con-
stiiuted q burning national issue. The
Southern school. led by Randolph and
Federal government to make approprt-
ations for such purposes. This school
prevailed largely, and Madison. Monroe
and Jackson, all less attached TO State
sovereignty than Calhoun and Ran
dolph, vetoed bills for internal improve
nen,a. Even jefferson denied the con-
stitutionality of such measures. De-
spite the South's traditional position on
internal improvements, the Tribune
thinks that the South has come TO the
point where it considers such national
policy wise and practical. saying that
the descendants OF the men who de-
nounced him (John Quincy Adams), in
the brighter and clearer light of the
present, have departed from tho pro-
vincial teachings OF Randolph and Cal
houn and have accepted the doctrine OF
the younger Adams"
We are not SO sure that the South
ot to-day has departed from the faith
OF the fathers. Certainly the action OF
the Good Roads Congress or of it's
Southern contingent cannot be accept
support in the South OF Federal aid
for highways, There Is still q wide
and unhcaled division as 10 the policy
OF Federal aid for roads. On this
point the Good Roads Congress was By
no means harmonious.
The Dallas News. in our opinion, pre-
senia the true attitude OF the Roads
Congress when 1t says editorially:
The National Guod Roads Congress
seems almost TO have split into two fac
tons over the proposition to petition
Congress for an annual appropria ton
Tor Il comprehensive plan OF highway
| Improvement This resolution was
] adopted III committee by Il vote of to
| 3. and members of the American High
] way Improvement Association threat
| cncd to end their affiliution with the
| National Good Roads Congress IL this
tnort to engage the national govern
rncnt In roadnaking is persisted in.
| whatever chance there may have been
| and II was Il poor one--that Congress
would appropriate Federal funds for
road building In the States must be
(! pretty well destroyed by this lack OF
! harmony. Tic resolution Is deprived
! OF the prestige that II must have IL
there is TO be any hope that 1t will
| exert an influence on Congress"
The News. which is second TO no
newspaper in expressing the sentiment
] of the people Of the larges. Southern
state thinks that the improbability OF
any action ny Congress toward Federal
aid ought 70 be Gratifying" to those
VINO are impatient for the disappear
ance of bad roads. Once the govern
fntnt undertakes the work, our con-
I temporary believes. the States and the
several communities In them, while ella
! moring vociferously for their ghare OF
The money available. will themselves
quit building good roads. ."rhc energy
now Hpent In making roads Will then
he spent IN lobbying before commit
tees OF cnercas." congrcss cannot
"lth any 81 itg present rcsources, spend