The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-01-31
NATIONAL
Good Roads Meeting To Oc.
cur ID Washington
To Be Most Significant
Gathering Ever Held

will be the most significant gathering |
ever held In the country OF the organ. |
ICED forces favoring the systematic |
construction of great national high. |
ways. The campaign of education, In |
favor Of participation by the national
government and of the several states |
In this work of road building, has been
going on for number Of years and II
is believed that the time has about
arrived. when 1t will be possible to
secure some kind Of definite and af-
6rmative action at the hands Of Con.
gress.
The March convention will come
shortly before the meeting Of Con.
gress in special session, at the call Of
the new President, and It will be ex.
peoted to plan an active campaign to
be waged before Congress in support
OF a federal appropriation that will
mark the actual beginning Of nation.
al good roads movement.
It IL the belief of the good roads
advocates that this new Congress will
take action along the line indicated
during the two years Of its existence
and the purpose of push matters dur
Ing the special session Is believed to
be wise. because there will be ample
time for the full consideration OF
general legislation at that time.
With a view to helping the good
work along there is very soon to be
opened In this city permanent head.
quarters for the American Automobile
Association. the campaign Of the or
ganized motorists of the United States
for national highways thus centering,
as Ia proper. in the national capital.
The main headquarters will remain In
New York. but the Washington head.
quarters will be the place from which
the legislative campaign will be con
tinued.
In addition to keeping In touch with
Congress the new headquarters will
work at close range with the various
federal roads movement, such ns the
Office OF public roads In the depart
ment OF agriculture, the engineering
corps of the army and the department,
OF the interior.
Chairman George c. Diehl OF the
good roads board OF the American Au
tOInObile Association. says In annOunc
tional participation In highway con
vention IN this city that an encOurag
Ing feature OF the convention Is fount
In the remarkable interest that Is be
Ing displayed IA the national goOt
roads proposition by the great bodiei
of organized business men of the coun
try, who are now more actively inter
ested than ever before in the develop
ment of all sections OF the country an,
: desirous of helping In that work.
"In the IL months that have elapse,
since the first federal aid convention
was held In Washington says MI
Diehl. "the sentiment In favor OF ms
tlonal participation in highway cor
|. structlon has developed to poin
where there is no longer any appal
u ent opposition, The only question a
lssue IL as to the form which federa
aid shall take The gospel OF goo
% roads has become as definite a
American policy as the right to vOt,
or trial By jury, No arguments ar
= needed anywhere to convince farm
or. a business man, u manufacturer,
y merchant. or anyone else. OF the 81
sential Importance of good roads. Th
~ point to which attention must now b
:" given II how 10 get good roads, an
the quickest AMI hest way to ~
y them 10 for, thea sedsral goyernmer
$ TO fay out ana construct q system q
national roads CONNECTING all tn
states, providing a medium, for inte
Y ststs traiilc and furnishing an objet
lesson "a, the states. aslwe,l o. relic,
= ips them 'of the burden Of lInprovin
y. the maif travelled routes"
y II Is said by Mr. piehi thar the higl
4 way Improvement WIN be Teadiu
Y subject Tor consideration IN airn,aabe
|. AZ tliss state lexislsturesl which are
meet next month. The proposals ia
:, a model highway law and the ''uniforI
I, automohile law prepared BY, tn
:, American Automobile Association
!. good roads and Legislative boards, ar
being studied In "a number OF tn