Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-01-23


generous pension for the Confederate
soldiers. More than half century
ago they went In youth and strength
to meet the invading host Some fell
amid the fierce tumult Of historic
daye beneath the advancing flag, en-
shrined in eternal youth many have
passed since the war; the remnant
OF the heroic army is with us yet.
Most OF them are poor, all are dis
abled by age and the wounds and
hardshfps of war. Our privilege to
help them is closing, for the captains
and the soldiers are departing. Soon
it will be written what we did for the
last Of the battle-scarred men OF
Dixie.
We should encourage all of our In
dustries, but especially should we
stimulate the growth of agriculture.
It's wonderful Improvement is already
| an inspiration. Our fathers are be-
| ginning to reap the harvests OF the
intelligent utilization of the soil We
should provide every feasible method
for their protection and for their OBJ
! tanning the credits and resources, that
{ increasing prosperity may come.
Good Roads.
Improved highways are the arteries
| of the country. They create organized
communities or isolated families and
make these communities a part of
the life of the great world. Dynamite
and the steam shovel are making
through the hills and through the
| granite of the mountains pathways
of the locomotive. The improved road
would give the farmers access to the
railroad, to the church, and to the
school during all the seasons of the
year. Good roads stimulate improve
ment. They enrich the soil. They
| build anew the school house, the
| church and the home. They arouse
ambition and generally emulation.
They increase the value of every acre
of land, that they touch and the value
Of every man, woman and child whose
house they pass. No community can
hope for progress without the good
road. We cannot have the benefits OF
modern civilization without it. It is
not an expense; it is an investment
that pays 100 per cent dividend every
year. And more, 1t brings culture
and contentment and better social
life. Every community in the state
must have it. The cost is much less
than it was a few years ago.
think that general statute should
be enacted comforting upon the town
ships the power to levy taxes and is
sue bonds for road construction and
providing administrative machinery,
The counties can continne what they
have been doing. The townships can
complete it. The state should super
wise and encourage this great work
by lending it's credit and by all prac
ticable, feasible means. ALI avail
able convicts should be worked upon
the public roads. In this way they
can be used more appropriately and
more to the advantage of the public
than in the cultivation of the field OF
in the mechanical arts.
1t is not strange that thousands OF
young men and young women, yearn
ing for a larger life, have left the
loneliness and poverty of the farm
with it's denial of culture and social
enjoyment These conditions are pass
+ ing away; the telephone now. puts the
home Of the farmer in connection
with his neighbors and with the men
and the markets Of the world. The
mail carrier brings the daily paper
pulsing with the thoughts that shake
mankind" The home on the farm
with its freedom and purity, with all
the opportunities Of civilization, is
the hope Of our finest development.
Primary Elections.
The legislation Of North Carelina
has heretofore been considerate OF
the welfare Of the people and fairly
responsive to their demands. This
state has not suffered as other states
have suffered from corrupt and SIMS.
ter influence, but those evils will
come to us unless we provide against
them.
The primary election Is already a
recognized institution in our politics
1t is a logical evolution of our De
mocracy. We have it and let US have
it in the best possible form. Let Us
provide for it by law and let US pro
tect it by law. To the limit of. the
law let us guarantee purity and fair
ness in all elections. The Democratic
party has set its face steadfastly
against all manner Of corruption. This
general assembly in accordance with
the declaration in the platform, will
enact statute for the conviction and
punishment of all persons that would
by any method of corruption whatso-
ever attempt to influence elections or
the making Of the administration or
the law.
i Taxation and Revenue.
The most difficult question for this
1 l. q