The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-09-11
HIGHWAY PLANK
OF c. 0. P.RAPPED
EOn-P Partisan Organizations Pro-
test Platform
WILL ASK FOR REPUTATION

Which Would Preclude Ohio From
Securing National Aid and MllItate
Against Good Roads.
Non-partisan organizations inter
ested in the better highways move
ment are said to be planning formal
protest against the G.. o p. platform
plank to abolish the state highway
department. This is being done, not
only because OF the demonstrated efh-
cheney Of work under the central head
working with definite system, but
because It would take away all hope
OF Ohlo's sharing In the funds that
will be given by the national govern
ment under the terms Of the Shackle-
ford bill. now pending in congress-.
with Its passage practically assured.
The spirit of protest has developed
in preliminary discussion of this par.
ticular plank in the Republican plat
form. which proposes that funds for
construction of modern highways be
turned over to county commissioners
OF the various counties, and that the
highway commission be done away
with. II Is declared to be not improb-
able that tho Republican candidates
may be asked to repudlate the decla-
rations of the platform in this regard,
for those who have followed the work
ing out of the highway plans assert
tho proposed change would undo
much of the work that has been done.
setting the state back many years.
Auto Body Protests.
Organizations which are now merg-
cd In the Ohio Good Roads Federation
brought about the creation OF the
state highway department, and the de-
partment since has been supported
generally In its progressive work BY
chambers OF commerce, boards OF
trade. civic societies and by the Ohio
State Automobile association. 1t Is
declared that none of these bodies ap-
prove the suggestion to turn from the
state-aid policy and will voice strong
| iy their protests. Even Republican
leaders, 1t appears, do not sanction
| the abolition of the state highway de-
| Iartment. Editorial utterGnces of the
| Marion Star, which is owned and ed
tied by Warren G. Harding, are cited.
In regard to the projects under way,
Tho Star editorially speaks OF them
| as "simply amazing" and calls the
| work that has been done "a remark
sble showing" General Il. B. Brown,
Republican gubernatorial candidate
two years ago, In q letter calls the
highway bureau "a great depart
ment." and wishes 1t success "in the
plans for model highways in dear old
Ohio"
Because of the platforms proposal
State Highway Commissioner James
Il. Marker has Issued statement. II
which he asserts that hackers OF the
proposal appear to have overlooked
the fact that the department was ere
ated under the administration of for
mer Governor Myron Il. Herrick, ant
that the first appropriation for II
maintenance was made by Republl
can legislature" He further points ou
that, while partisan body In the be
ginning, the bureau has been made
non-partlsan organization.
Sees 25-Year Setback.
1.-THE suggestion that all Ohio's pull
lie roads shall be constructed, mair
| S.l ntxF a 4
thorlties instead OF by regularly cor
stituted state highway department
] means that Ohio's road program wi
be set back twenty-five years" and
continuing, MIR. Marker says: "Unde
+ such a plan roads will be built 'tha
begin nowhere and end nowhere an
, will result In system costly, In
, practicable, meaningless and futile.
No other state that has gone
state control, Mr.. Marker says. ha
returned to the local system. and th
ranks of states with highway depar
G ments constantly are being swelle'
e especially since the federal govern
Il ment has gone on record as favorin
the Capitalization plan.
$4,000 This Year.
Under an act that appropriate
n t5O0,00 for the benefit of post road
throughout the country, Ohio recei
Y ed 100000. or nearly one-fourth {
the total. This large share for OH
was In aid of the restoration OF tn
cid National pike. which became
= state project rather than local on
Ohio, this year. will ACTUALl'
{ IMPROVE $50 miles of public road
: II will contract for total of 900
20 1000 miles The cost OF the work wi
10 compare favorably with the cost
r. similar work in other states-and
IL considerably lower than the cost
% the same kind OF work in many stat'
and the general plan of operate
has met with the endorsement OF n
merous automobile associations.
OF the National Highway association
W many OF the states civic bodies, mai
rt local chambers of commerce and hu
10 dreds OF the states best known bu