The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-02-03
iyIfllkIN iBs ICE GIVES AN Ex.
aAJsTIvE DISCOURSE UPON
ONE Or THE MOST IMPORTANT
ogEsTto FoR SOLUTION.
, FAjRsIoNT,oW. VA,
M il1an.p az. 1872.


Al iihYe been approached by a
humble 6f persona; and also received
letters tnqdiring about what was done
a the iii citing Of the American Auto
mobile Association" which resolved
.,itseiE Into d body; and named them.
eels III The First National Good Roads
Federal Aid convention, and what the
Legislative committee did that was
appointed at the Good Roads Con.
gfess held At Richmond November 90
s28. 1911, OF which l was made the
member from West Virginia, and the
! time then set for the committee to
meet III Washington, D. c., January
1911, 1881 10 organiEe and go before
the committee Of the Housce and SEN
III, and urge them I pass o bill Az
proprlating money from the National
Treasury, to assist the several States
IN building permanent good roads 1t
being Impossible for me to write or
teli each individual separately, there
fore i ask space In your paper, to an.
swer ali. and also to explain the posi-
ton I took on the resolutions offered
and passed blythe convention. In or
DER Lhat you may all' understand why
] opposed the RESOLUTIONS offered by
tins convention I VIII here insert the
resolution that unsurpassed at the
Richmond congress without'a dissent
Ing vote although opposed by some OF
the otficeholders, and national admin.
slstratioh forces yet did not have
the nerve to vote against the resolu.
ton. which reads as follows:
Whereas. Il has been the policy OF
our central government to aid In the
development Of OH national resources,
and Is this end II has appropriated,
and Is approprIatlng public funds to
meet the needs Of the hostal service,
Of agriculture, and commerce. and Of
public defense, Therefore, be 1t re-
solved, that this Congress hereby re-
specially memnrlalises the Congress
Of tie United States to extend nation.
az Sid to- the several States Of the Un.
i5h9lfof the purpose Of aiding, and en-;
S6ufagipg them 10 Ihpilds and maintain.
Fo6a Fosdsi and that the chairman Of
tfiis Congress appoInt5l committee
on national NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO tbe
6ohp6sed OF oHelnemher.7 and 6alter-
fafe for each State and Territory;
said members 10 le named by the
Allegation from that State at the con-
gress; and that said committee re;
dHest5the t6.operation of8similafl Gom-
ifftteesSef sallliother organizations to
SEslBt them III, yAarnlonlzel theEd iYersE
ssd oplhionsaof the various Interests
nov working for national add. and en-
tfea96f to- establish ;anpia agreement
tpoit d unified nlan that! may 1reFelye
the endorsement and support OF this
association and all others working for
the establishment OF the principle OF
national aid in the policies OF our gov
eminent,
The convention at Washington was
premature In offering their resolu'
lions as their programme was print
ed and in the hands Of all, and the res
olutions were the last thing on the
programme before adjournment sine
die, but they called for the report of
the committee or resolutions just as
soon. as the convention opened in the
morning Of the fourth session. The
committee Immediately reported set
OF resolutions, and asked for their
adoption, and was proceeding With
haste to- do SO, l believing their resp
l,st;6hs 4ailbe simply disannulling the
action oi the Richmond Congress, and
practically putting the committee
there appointed out Of business
arose and asked recognition, and was
recognized By MIR. Diehl, the chair
man. / then asked i'll had a right to
sneak In their convention. Mr.. D.ehi
assured me that5l had perfect right
TO speak, j then went forward, ana
proceeded to speag extemporaneously
without a COPY Of the resolutions OF
either Richmond or those in my pos
session, and spoke about as follows:
Mr.. Chairman aud gentlemen OF the
convention, r am opposed to this set
Of resolutions you offer which ap'
points q commission composed of If
/ Teen members to investigate whether
Z We neew roads or not and If we do to
feport to Congress in the year 1913
and then ask congress to give US ma
tional aid to assist in building them
anybody that! would raise any ques'
ton about us needing good roads in
this country ought to be bored for the
sfnpIes, or at once taken to an asylum
for the insane. Your resolutions are
Intended to retard aud practically de-
stfoyptke work given. the legislative
committee sent here at this very time
to secure aid, and ~ Contend 1t Is our
business to fptncasd to do the work
allotted us, and asset forth In that
Congress by the resolutions adopted
and / question whether we should De
amensble to you or not. with the
other members Of that committee
we're made by tho Richmond Congress
for purpose coming direct from the
people as It were being selected by
Che delegation from the several States
there assembled, and the time then