The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-06-11
GREAT ENIHUSI.
ASh At WILSON
toONTUlUED FROM PAGE oNEj

by to so to the polls and cast their
ballot for him as their next repre-
sentative from this county, promising
if they did so, to see that some ad-
eQuate road laws were enacted and
placed upon the statute books as
the ones there at present were not
even good advice, much less laws.
Mr.. Taliaferro then introduced Col
Sidney Suggs, state highway commits
sioner, who was the last speaker Of
the night
Col. Suggs thanked the people of
Wilson for their invitation to be pres
ent, and paid a special compliment
to the ladies', stating that whenever
the good women of any county began
to take an interest in public affairs
that country was going to progress
along higher lines of civilization.
The keynote of Col. Suggs' remarks
was organization, determination, and
spirit of get-together With this
as a motto the rest will be easy
Col. Suggs stated that he was with
the people of Wilson in their struggle
for more and better roads, and was
willing at any time to assist in any
way possible, and to lend the aid of
the state department of highways to
any good roads movement they might
contemplate
Col Suggs said in part:
Life, liberty and the peaceful pur-
suit of happiness is guaranteed to
the people of America, from its most
exalted to its most humble citizen and
to my mind the doctrine of good roads
will bring this about more effectively
and more permanently than any other
issue which is now confronting her
people. We have already waited 700
long. For the past 40 years our coun-
try has been furnishing its most IL
W lillNt VI ans W lh' plNlhJ VI IAD'A
saving machinery of all descriptions,
ard especially to the invention OF
farm and harvesting machinery
whereby one man can do the worH
of many. This means large farms and
tenant farmers rather than small
farms and home owners.
We have lost, as has been Of
fcially shown, some y per cent Of
our farmers, to the cities, who forty
years ago were creators and produc-
ers OF the products of the soil. If
this system is permitted to continue
it will not be many years before ours
is a country of landlords and tenants.
] trust that | will not live to see this
condition prevailing in America.
81, for this reason as well as for
many others, believe that it is the
duty of the government now to begin
making provisions for the plain pCo-
pie. The doctrine of good roads is
one of liberty and not of slavery, it is
one that prolongs life, assures peace
full pursuits and contentment. 1t IS
one Of peace and not of war; it is
one of intelligence and not of isnor-
ance; industry and not Of idleness;
not of dependents, but of independ-
ence; it is one all religious creeds
can endorse, one that all political par
lies can agree upon, one that all
nationalities can understand and On
joy: it means homes, gardens, books,
flowers, music, and the study Of the
greatness of self development. Il is
blessing that comes to the farmer
first, the study of plant and animal
life are two of the most natural aud
instructive to the greatest minds of
cur country.
"Will this generation take an &C
tive part in bringing about these con-
ditiOns, or shall we wait for another?
AlItduN III MANY VI lll' oNdI'o " 10
iority of the people are tenants aE1
renters, the rich are growing richer
ard fewer in numbers, while the plain
people are growing poorer and great
er in numbers.
1T is the duty of congress to ere
ate at as early a date as possible a
national department of highways,
with sufficient power and appropria.
tions to build a system of highways
throughout the nation along the lines
of least resistance on a permanent
foundation, using such material as is
available and convenient. The slogan
should be Safety, economy and per
manency." This highway department
should set the example for the less
informed, and should begin by build
Ing roads touching the capital Of
each state in the union. These nigh.
ways would naturally be gre tly ben
efted. The highways should be built
owned and maintained by the govern