The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-09-21
II Lost Federal Aid On Roads
For Year
And Gave A Big Set Back To
The Work

from letters received by state good
roads leaders, the people of Ohio are
beginning to awaken to realization
of what the good roads" plank in the
Republican state platform last year
meant. The roads constructed by state
aid under the Cox administration
stand in striking comparison with the
harmful desuetude or the Willis ad-
ministration. Ohio last yer rising to
the plane of good hard roads that gave
the children entrance to schools and
modern life and the parents lead to
better markets and better living, is
this year slipping back into the mud.
Given codifying report on which to
work, as the inheritance from the far
seeing Cox administration, and treas
ury of more than seven million dollars
from which to appropriate, what has
the Willis administration accomplish
ed in road building?
1t has not even completed the work
that was well under way when the
present administration came into be-
ing. Instead of making appropriations
and going ahead with the work on
roads, it provided offices for incompe-
tents and multiplied commissions. 1t
lost the federal aid on state roads for
the year by failure to keep work con-
tracts, and would have permanently
lost all chance to regain this aid had it
not been for the influence of prominent
men connected with the previous ad-
ministration who went to Washing
ton at their own expense to intervene.
the passage of the new highway law
the Cass bill-it so involved the de-
partment as in all likelihood to tie
up work for the next two years.
Thus we have an incompetent high
way department and an incomplete and
involved law. The levy for good roads
itself is endangered and will be in
validated when the first city taxpayer
refuses to pay on the grounds that
the money raised will be expended for
other than state function.
Verify the good roads work of the
state has been "decentralized." 1t has
been ripped" asunder. And every
body loses-workman, material man,
road user and tax payer.
What will the people have to say
about it, who would have been on i'm
proved main market roads and inter
county highways if Cox had been con.
tinued as governor? What will the au'
tomobile owners who now pay in ex.
cess of million and quarter dollars
yearly as a special tax, have to say
What will the city dweller, who should
have cheaper markets If farmer access
to them is given, have to say?
We may be glad some one else is to
blame for the "decentralizer."
The Willis administration is point
ing to increased state fair attendance
this year. The newspaper owners
know that they are not being paid fol
Un6 uOpe uduutu tuehi Wy oCSiCloiy
Dunlap. The official report shows tina
cash receipts for tickets to the fail
fell more than $4,000 short Of las
year. At daytime attendants rates thi'
amount represents just $4,000 free pas
ses, restored under the partisan board
which were no doubt issued to Repub
lican politicians and Willis Ada ap
pointees. On the same basis and rati'
next year the board ought to blk thu
newspapers twice as much, eXpen'
$4,000 on billboard advertising Civ
away $4,000 free passes and go $500
in the hole. Then If they keep u
the good work for while we will hav
genuine Republican success of tn
state fair, and everything will be free
if the dear rural editor and the dea