The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-08-26
Tuesday, August 26, 1913.
HATS OFF TO MISSOURI.


by the famed executives Of the Caro-
linas, the Western statesmen ordered
a brace of shovels and went to work.
There is a breezy, healthy, cheerful
note to the news that the people OF
Missouri pitched in to forward the
good roads" movement inaugurated
by Governor Major. In setting aside
two days for improving the roads OF
the State and requesting every able
bodied citizen to don overalls and
work on the highways, Governor Ma
jor made an appeal and found re-
sponse which makes the country
proud of Missouri.
When the call came business men
deserted their Offices and clerks drop
ped their pens. Bankers shed their
dignity with their coats and day Ia
borers rose above the necessity OF
nav. Politicians and statesmen stop
ped figuring on their prospects TO
WELD a pick, and conviets from the
State penitentiary worked side by
side with clergymen.
AT least 250,000 men worked during
the two appointed days. Implements
and road mending machines were
freely loaned to the State, and clt1-
zens. of the various counties contrib
uetd more than 100000 to defray the
necessary expenses. Governor Major
estimates that the work accomplished
was worth at least $1,500,0O0 to Mis-
souri,.
This in itself is noteworthy, but
the effect of this exhibition Of civic
zeal is worth more than the money
saved in taxes or the improvement
in the condition of Missouri's roads.
For it shows that the spirit of the
pioneers who first brought civiliza-
ton into the American wilderness is
still alive.
What Missouri has done with its
roads it can do with other and great
er things. The willingness TO forget
private affairs for public good to
rally at the appeal of the State and
work shoulder to shoulder for COM
men object is a possession more pre-
cious to Missouri than good roads.
America has become the power that
it is today because of this very will
ing1ess.
Governor Hodge, of Kansas, swung
a pick beside Governor Major, until
the hands of the two executives be-
came hEstered and they undertood to
steer road grading machines. There
may be a disposition to smile at gov
ernors in overalls blistering their
hands at the head of a road mending
gang; but the comolwealths that are
at present praying for lockjaw or
writer's cramp to attack their execu-
tives would be willing to run the
chance of overalls and blisters.-N.
Y Evening Sun.
The Herald and News called atten-
ton to this matter in the last issue
and suggested that it would be good
thing for Gov. Blease to issue a good
roads proclamation and set apart
two or three days for everybody, to
20 out and work the roads,; .;Itwould not
only give some good roads in South
Carolina but it would help create the
good roads spirit and that is the first
thing we need.
Just think what a great thing it
would be, though, if every man, old
and young, would just give three
days good honest work on the roads
in South Carolina. Suppose we try
it.
What say you, governor? 1t would
help to settle a good many questions,
if all the people, able to work, in
South Carolina, could be induced to
give three days on the public roads
at the same time.
1t is a fact we'll known to every
one that it is short time between
bumps on most all the roads in South
Carolina Let US all make the dis
tance longer.
81 irinz at home in D11tch Enrk-