The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-22
EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS.

The Free Press always is pleased
whenever it receives communica-
ton from that sturdy American
citizen, Hon. Mark l.. Wildes, no
matter whether he agrees with its
sentiments or lifts his big stick
and swats us one. Mr. Wildes po-
sesses the courage of his convic-
lions and that is one reason why
we have an unbounded admiration
for him. The following is another
communication from the old war
horse, and he deals with the sub
-ject of roads:
< Lake Vita Farm, March II, 1879
To The Free Press: In the article
headed Latter Day Road Making"
in The Free Press of March II,
in commenting ON my letter therein,
you say; 1T would be important il
true, were it fact, that the prest-
dent made the statement that the
people were not fitted for popular
government l did not hear him
make the statement; but saw this
in the papers. Taft says: There are
those who do not believe that all
people are fitted for popular govern
ment. The fact is we know they are
not. Some of us dare not say so,
but ! do ..-.s-... p -.. e.
Farmers have been and are path
masters. In March 5, you say, do
away with incompetent and neGli-
gent pathmasters and put in their
places men who know how to build
roads This led me to imagine that
you thought farmers were not COM
petent to make good roads. With
the immortal Lincoln, / believe this
country with its institutions belongs
to the people. AS there are so
many schemes, for creating new
officers, |, in common with other
farmers, think that the change would
create needless taxation for the
payment of officers, not needed. That
what is needed now, any ablebodied
man can do under the present sys-
TEN, without adding more offices to
the great army of officers main
tanned by the labors Of the people.
/. yield to no one in advocacy OF
good roads. Respectfully yours,
Mark l.. Wildes."
Mr.. Wildes agrees with The Free
Press that President Taft did not say
that the people were not fitted to
rule. 1t is admitted that he did
say: Cali the people are not fitted
to rule" and Mr. Wildes must furth-
er agree that the president stated
a truism. There is no man more
qualified to judge of the correctness
of the presidents statement than
Mr. Wildes himself, who has had a
world of experience, and he has made
pretty searching study Of people and
conditions. The presidents qualifying
word "all' relieves him of the charge
5that he had said the people were
not fitted to rule.
There are farmers who possess
the ability and the inclination to
build good roads, as recent events
have proven. The readiness with
which they have organized good
that they are interested in the move
nnent, realizing as they do that
they will reap benefit in the en-
HANGED value Of their lands, not to
mention the comforts to be derived
from first-class highways.
Il The fact that the farmers are or
&ganizing these associations and are
advocating the cash system OF pay
ing their road: tax, is sure. sign, of
progress. on their part. They are
beginning to understand that this is
the right system and the only one
that will eventually result in the
permanent Improvement of high
ways. Education along these lines
during the past few years is bear
ing fruit, and the oft repeated COM
plant made by Mr.. Wildes against
the badly constructed and ily-re'
paired roads will soon be swept
away as easily and as quickly as is
the mist under the bright rays of a