Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-02-27

for in common with all thinking mel
it realizes that the crying need Of
Oregon today is permanent highways
The club has been represented il
practically all Of the good roads con
yentions held in Oregon since its or
ganization three years ago, and it has
taken an active part and interest ir
the recent agitation for better roads
in the Willamette Valley counties, es-
pecially those counties on the west
side of the river. Together with the
leOmmercial clubs Of Independence,
McMinnville, and other west side
towns, it is now engaged in helping
to perfect plans for securing better
roads in all of these counties. Let il
be said, however, that the character
of roads to be built, or the amount
of money to be spent in Polk County,
have received no official consideration
whatever. The minutes of the club
meetings will disclose the fact that
these subjects have not even been dis
cussed. The Observer has never ask
ed to see these records, a privilege
which would have been gladly grant
ed. Nor, since the change of owner
ship of the paper, has its editor at
tended a single meeting of the. club,
although his presence would be ap-
preciated and welcomed. We are
therefore bound to conclude that in
his totally unexpected attack on a
worthy institution of his own town,
he has been influenced entirely by
hearsay information, rather unreli-
able, even if an easy and inexpensive
way of gathering the news.
The Dallas Commercial Club is not
seeking to add to the burden of tax
alton of the people of Polk County.
1t was not organized for that pur-
pose. 1t is not seeking to embarrass
the farmers by heavy bond issue
for good roads. Rather, it is seeking
a way in which it may work with
them 10 secure modern highways at
the least possible cost, with the bur-
den of taxation equitably distributed
those who have to foot the bill
1t realizes that all wealth comes from
the ground, and that upon the pros
perity of the farmer depends the
of the country. This is
why the business men of Dallas go
down into their own pockets and dig
up thousands of dollars every year,
not to build up Dallas alone, but to
increase the prosperity Of every COM
in Polk County. These are
the men who secured a fruit packing
plant for Dallas, that the farmers
might be able to realize profitable
price for the product of their or
chards. They are the men who are
carrying the heavy end in financing
a county fair, where the farmer may
advertise to the world the superiority
Of his fruit and grain and vegetables
and livestock. They are the men who
are now working to secure cannery
that will furnish a profitable market
for every pound of fruit and vege-
tables that the farmers may produce.
The commercial club is not trying
to load the farmer with debts. It
is striving to help him reach that f.
nancial independence where tax for
the conveniences, even for the luxur-
les of life will not be felt by him,
for the reason that he will be able
and glad to pay this tax from the just
and righteous profits of his toll. Our
cannot prosper as it should
prosper until there is thorough and
intelligent cooperation between the
farmer and his town brother, and
his spirit of cooperation the Dallas
Commercial Club is seeking, to the
best of its ability, to encourage and
promote. 1t feels that in this work
t is entitled to the loyal support of
every friend of Dallas and Polk Coun-
", and that, while welcoming candid
it should never be hampered
md discredited by the publication of
and irresponsible rumors.
In the article referred to, the OBJ
server says The office-seeker who
advocates this 100000 bond issue
iad better put his ear to the ground
md take a hint from the rumblings. ;"
In all good nature, We would suggest
hat the editor follow his own advice.
Before making another groundless
and misleading attack on an organi-
.ation whose membership comprises
FULLY nine-tenths of the business and
men of the city in which
lis newspaper is published, he might
10 well to place his ear to the ground
md do a little listening himself. A
'ew moments spent in this particular
'orm of aurcular exercise have been
Known to prove profitable as well as