The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-13
KATHLEEN FARMERS
HEAR OF BENEFITS
OF BONDS
ASSURED THAT ISSUE is BEST
FOR THEM
Meeting Held Last Night
With Large Attendanee-oppon-
ents Create Amusement

is being aroused over the forthcoming
bond issue, one of the largest gather
ings in the history of the district was
held at Katheleen last night in the
interest of the good roads movement.
Hon. John s. Howard, Commission
ers for the district presided as chair
man and shared the honors with j.
&c. Swindell. Commissioner from the
Fifth District, which adjoins that of
Commissioner Howard, and both were
there for the purpose of answering
any questions regarding the action of
the Board, if desired.
DR.. ]. II. Ross and Secretary A. ].
Holworthy were the speakers Of the
evening for the Polk County Good
Roads Association and w. Y. Carter
and G. ]. Lewellyn, represented the
opposition. The auditorium of the
school house was comfortably filled
when the chairman arose and an
nounced the purpose of the meeting,
and explained its object.
Wants to Reason With the People.
I'VE are not here to dictate to the
people how they should VOTE" said
Mr.. Howard, "but here to reason with
them, particularly with those who may
differ in judgment with us and to
show them, if possible, where they may
be wrong"
I'VE know that the people want to
do what is right" he went on, "for
their best interest and the interest of
the whole county" He referred to
the charges and rumors of alleged
graft, increased taxes, and leaks that
had been recklessly made by some,
either maliciously, or through igno-
rance of the true intentions and pur-
pose of the Commissioners and the
Good Roads Association. He told that
the County Commissioners tried to
make the matter as plain as possible
so as to enable the people to vote in
diligently on the question, and that If
there was anything that had not been
/ understood that they were there to
give information and answer all ques-
tons. He then introduced Secretary
Holworthy as the first speaker. who
said:
"All that we ask is that you weigh
carefully the arguments of the speak
ers, against what may be said by the
opponents and if you do we are sure
that you will support the bond issue"
He believed that none were in favor
of bad roads and that all were in fav.
or of good roads and that all good
things in this world have to be paid
That, owing to the poor material, the
present roads cannot be made into
good roads. That If all would be sat
isfied with few miles of good roads
that they might be built under pres
ent system of financing but that ev'
cry district would insist that those
few miles should be built within its
territory, and let the other districts
wait. People would not stand for
this, not for minute, so it was impos
sible to build roads by this method
Borrowing Justified
Every business principle justifies the
borrowing of capital to enlarge bus
, mess. Farmers borrow money to buy
more fertilizer so that they can In
crease their crops and make more
money, enough to pay for the fertiliz
er and leave profit. Every mer-
chant borrows so that he may increase
his line of goods and thereby enlarge
the volume of trade which he can
handle to profit. Polk county is un
able to develop as she should on &C
count of her poor roads, she is un
able to develop her business poten
tialities properly an dthe time has
come when she should borrow that she
may enlarge those possibilities to her
greater profit.
County at Parting of Ways
How to get good roads and deal fair
ly with all the people, has been the
question that has puzzled men for
years, he said. He then spoke of the
Organization of the Polk County Good
Roads Association and their efforts
The final plan offered for the building
of the roads and financing is the re
suit of honest and sincere efforts on
their part. That Polk county is al
the parting of the ways. She will
either go backward or forward June
l, and the decision lies in a great part
in their hands as to which way she
will go.
Other Counties Progressing
Every county on all sides of Polk
has progressed, he stated, and has
when people come to the boundary
lines of Polk they must stop as
Iagainst Chinese wall mo thorough
fare" seems to be the slogan of Polk.
This must be changed and changed
now. AS secretary of the Chamber of
Commerce has received hundred of
letters declining to come to Polk