The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1916-02-17
MR., RAGSDALE
FOR GOOD ROADS
AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO BEN
Eft THE RURAL COMMUNITY
..HIS SPEECH IN CONGRESS.

..HIS SPEECH IN CONGRESS.
Washington, February 81 Though
himself a strong advocate of pre-
psredness, Representative j " Rags
dale of South Carolina does not rel
ish the attitude of some of the other
preparedness advocates towards the
bill for Federal aid in road-building.
MIR Ragsdale had his say on the
subject in the following speech in
the House during the debate which
preceded the passage of the roads
bill by that body few days ago:
Mr. Chairman. when l find the pro-
ponents of preparedness here oppos-
ing everything that goes to the pro-
lection of the people in the rural
communities am very much inter-
ested. | am interested in everything
that they say and print in the Rec
ord. | am also interested in some OF
the things that they do not say.
When the distinguished gentleman
from Ohio (Mr Longworth made his
remarks as to his interest in the pro-
lection of that which the farmer
raises.I am sure it was merely slip
of his mind that he forgot to state
that he was also in favor of the same
degree of protection for that which
the farmer buys; and that, as q mat
ter of fact, he knows that very little
of the protection that he would put
upon the country would be real pro-
lection to the farmer, and that the
system of protection which he pro-
poses would add enormously to the
burden of the farmers cnst ofliving.
Since | have been a member of
this house l do not think have ever
cast ballot against a reasonable de-
gree of expenditure or any expend-
itures for the army and navy, and in
common with others here, L feel that
the time has now come in the history
of this country when reasonable
preparedness ought to be brought
about in order that this country may
maintain the position which it is en-
titled to occupy in international af.
fairs. do not care how it is neces-
sary to raise the money, if we get
the results for the people to which
they are entitled. My own belief is
that, if it is necessary, we ought to
sell the bonds that are now in the
Treasury and issue new set of
bonds in order to protect the people
at home and in order to protect this
country against other nations.
But, Mr. Chairman. whenever we
take up discussion in favor of.good
roads, some gentlemen say there is
pork" in it. If We discuss anything
that increases transportation facili-
ties, either by way of good roads or
by river and harbor bills, some gen.
tlemen say there is pork" in it. Il
an effort is made here on the part of
this Government togive government
al aid to rural credit, some gentlemen
call it paternalism. but if it is for an
appropriation that goes anywhere
except in rural communities, then
the man who proposes it is a wise
and patriotic statesman. and it is
good form of government which car
ries it out.
l want to say to the gentleman
from Massachusetts and others along
the eastern coast who have been op-
posing this legislation that the peo-
pie of the South realize that practi-
cally every one of the munition fac
tories is located between Norfolk
and Maine. We realize that the pop
ulation and wealth of this country
are to be found there. We realize
that below Norfolk there will be no
attack on this country in all proba-
bilAy by any foreign power. We