The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1914-09-18
HIGHWAY PLANK
nE q n p PADDED
NOn- Partisan Organizations Pro.
test Platform
WILL ASK FOR REPUTATION


Republican Convention Resolution
Against State Highway Department
Which Would Preclude Ohio From
Securing National Aid and initiate
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 eff
cheney of work under the central head
working with . definite system, but
because 1t would take away all hope
Of Ohio'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 fol-
construction of modern highways be
turned over to county commissioners
of the various counties, and that the
highway commission be done away
with. 1t Is declared to be not improb-
able that the Republican candidates
may be asked to repudiate the decla-
rations of the platform in this regard,
for those who have followed the work
ing out of the highway plans assert
the 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-
ed 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
ly their protests. Even Republican
leaders, it appears, do not sanction
the abolition of the state highway de-
partment. Editorial utterances of the
Marion Star, which is owned and ed
tied by Warren G.. Harding, are cited.
In regard to the projects under way,
The Star editorially speaks Of them
as simply amazing" and calls the
work that has been done q remark
sble showing" General R. B. Brown,
Republican gubernatorial candidate
two years ago, in letter calls the
highway bureau "a great depart
ment," and wishes it success "in the
plans for model highways in dear old
Ohio"
Because of the platforms proposal,
State Highway Commissioner James
R. Marker has issued a statement, in
which he asserts that hackers of the
proposal appear to have overlooked
the fact that the department was Gre
ated under the administration of for
mer Governor Myron T. Herrick, and
that "the first appropriation for its
maintenance was made by Republi-
can legislature" He further points out
that, while a partisan body in the be-
ginning, the bureau has been made a
non-partisan organization.
Sees 25-Year Setback.
THE suggestion that all Ohio's pub
lie roads shall be constructed, main
tanned or repaired by the county au-
thorities instead of by regularly con-
stituted state highway department,
means that Ohio's road program will
be set back twenty-five years." and,
continuing, Mr.. Marker says: Under
such a plan roads will be built That
begin nowhere and end nowhere, and
will result in system costly, i'm
practicable, meaningless and futile. "
No other state that has gone to
state control, Mr.. Marker says, has
returned to the local system, and the
ranks of states with highway depart
ments constantly are being swelled.
especially since the federal govern
ment has gone ON record as favorins
the Capitalization plan.
$4,000 This Year.
Under an act that appropriated
$500, 900 for the benefit Of post roads
throughout the country, Ohio receiv'
ed $4,000, or nearly one-fourth Of
the total. This large share for Ohio
Twas in aid Of the restoration Of the
old National pike, which became 9
state project rather than a local one
Ohio, this year. will ACTUALLY
IMPROVE $50 miles of public roads
LIT will contract for total Of 900 t
| 900 miles. The cost of the work will
compare faverably with the cost O.
similar work in other states-and Il
considerably lower than the cost o
the same kind Df work in many states
-and the general plan Of operation
lbas met with the endorsement Of nu
/ meraus automobile associations, u
Of the NatichSf Tfigbway associations
many Of the states civic bodies, mah1
local chambers Of commerce and hun
dreds Of the states best known bust