The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1916-01-21
JEFFERSON HIGHWAY, ALIAS
ALEXANDER ROAD LAW

and is the menion that paper gave
OF one of the most important meet
ings ever held in that county One
that Will mean more to Benton com-
", than all the hard knocks that
might be given the Alexander road
law; and will bring Benton County
to the front more than the un-
pleasant, Improbable, and uncalled
for advertising that county has re-
ceived over the state on account of
the opposition developed against
the Alexander road law, and deyel-
oped as a goat, to be rode by some
candidates of Benton County, who are
seeking prestige at the hands of
the voters.
The writer attended the meeting
at Bentonville Tuesday, for the ex-
press purpose of getting an idea of
the opposition to the Alexander road
law. He found that a large amount
of the opposition existed only through
improper newspaper advocacy, and a
false understanding of the law. He
found that it developed largely ON
account of the peculiar workings of
some of the judges with which Ben
ton County has been so damnably
b eSSed; and he also found that the
citizenship of Benton county. and es-
pecially those present at the meet
ing, have very little faith in the in
tegrity or ability of county judges to
perform their portions of the law
without prejudice. With such a
feeling, there can be nothing but OPP
position to the law; but the vicious
hess mentioned would be more APPLY
placed at the hands of the defunct
county judges of Benton county.
There were two men voted against
the Alexander road law at the meet
ing at Bentonville, We have been
told who they were, but are not per-
sonally acquainted with them. VIII
the Bentonyille Democrat kindly give
us the names of these two gentle
men?
There were men who attacked the
Declaration of Independence; there
are men who object TO every law;
there are men who object to the BIZ
BILE; and they have all tried TO use
their objections in the same way as
is being done in Benton county; use
ii as political prize pole.
The Alexander road law has been
investigated, pro and coli. in court an
out of court, under all conditions,
and by competent men. all of whom
say it is the best road law on the
statute books of any state in the
union. Many states have inferior
laws, but they are building good
roads; many counties in Arkansas
are today building good roads. UNI
der the provisions Of the Alexander
law, and why Benton county should
have developed such an opposition
is a question bother'ng the minds
of all those, who desire advance
ment aud progress; and who are
hampered by seemingly unsurmount-
able obstacles
Here's the clipping:
The jefferson highway meeting in
B ntonville last Tuesday was at
nded by a big crowd of good roads
enthusiasts. They are in pursuit of
a laudable object and we are with
them in the enterprise. with one
exception. And that exception is
til introduction of the. Alexander
road law into the problem.
committee had been appointed
to devise ways and means of build
ing roads 10 meet the requirements
.of he Jefferson highway commission
bat always they reported that they
could think of no satisfactory meth
Cd of raising the money or of seeur-
ing the building of the necessary
roads.
We are sorry they saw fl to fan
back on this Objectionable law II
will not be received with favor by
tho people of the county, and the
project, we fear, will get a backset.
Ii looks very much like the enthus-
iasm has been purposely worked UP
with the end in view Of releasing
again, like a "Jack-in-the-boX,' this
dangerous road law and surprising
the people into adopting It, 1t is
suggested that ii viii be all right
with a few minor alterations and
changes. What changes and how
are they going to change 1t. except
by legislative amendment? If that
be the case. why not junk" the
whole thing and pass a new and good
road law while at it?
A vote was taken at the road meet
ing Tuesday on the adoption of the
Alexander road law after it had been
changed The farmers OF the county,
tho Land owners, We're not present in
that meeting.