Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-18
ANSWERS ATTACK ON
 GOOD ROADS ASSOCIATION
ciaims Politicians Want to Drive lt
 Out of Existence.

ciaiws Politicians Want to Drive lt | Out of Existsnes-
 l Connecticut Good Roads association makes the following reply to the at | tackS that have recently been made on l the organizations: When men seek to accomplish an l evident the object is evil. No decent cause needs falsehood to aid it. ! Numerous attacks on the Connccti- cut Good Roads association have re- centiy originated in certain newspapers of the state. These articles are part Of a campaign by politicians who seek to drive the association out of existence. These politicians seek control of the state highway department. They can not obtain 1t without great and unde- sired publicity as long as the Connec- ticut Good Roads association exists. We will catalogue and answer some of the falsehoods that have recently been. circulated by these certain news- papers and by concerns affiliated with them
 lit has been stated. falsely. tfaa the reason Speaker Healy had "50 re- quests all told, from representatives who desired position on the roads. bridges and rivers committee, was s'perhaps'' because of "the secret cir cular sent out from New Haven asking for an acceleration' fund for high
 
 it was merely a. coincidence that 'ac- celeration' funds and desires to serve on the committee likely to be 'acce1- erated, should come to light at the same time"
 This suggestion that 50 members of our house. of representatives may be .grafters' is contemptible. The man making the accusation should be ar reigned before the house for contempt,
 2-It has been stated, falsely, that the Connecticut Good Roads associa- tion has attempted to raise a "slush fund" or "acceleration fund.- of three of four million dollars. This false hood is too absurd to notice.
 3-It has been stated. falsely, that money~collected by the Good Roads as- sociation was to be used for improp- erly influencing the legislature" This is made from whole cloth. The Good Hobby in Hartford, and never expects to have The letters, circulars and bulletins sent out by the association specify the purpose for which money is wanted. We intend to keep the highway question before the citizens of the state so they may, if they wish, ask their representatives to act. If the people of the state cannot with pro- for measure which they approve. we have no ta republican form of govern ment.
 fit has been stated, falsely, that
  excuses for the appeals it sent out for funds. Neither the association, nor any of it's officers. has yet seen cause for excuses. To argue that our appeal for funds was improper is to say: First, that money coming from a paw ing company, or from a road material man, is so tainted that it cannot be used in an honest cause Second. that the board of directors of the associa- ton, composed of leading manufac turers, bankers and business men of the state would connive in an attempt to purchase votes in the legislature. When the millennium arrives the tel An erance cause will undoubtedly re- cesve financial support from the brew CTS It has not arrived, and -ouh asso- citation, to keep its head above water, must solicit funds from anyone who may contribute.
 to ask for highway appropriation of three or four million dollars is an
 impudent, barefaced, scandalous at tempt to raid the state treasury" are as follows: 1907. $4,500O00; 1911. 3,5o0, 900, 1913. sS,5o0,oeo: 1915. s1.5oo.-
 6-It has been stated, falsely, that the Connecticut Good Roads associa- ton seth out a secret circular" and that our project of an appropriation of three or four million dollars for the highways had been discovered just in time. Tn the past TWO years we have sent out some 10000 secret circulars urging this appropriation. We have had two men canvassing for members from one end of the state to the other, stating we desired this appropriation. Officers of the association have made many public addresses during the past four years urging it. The officers of the state were invited to the last an nuaI meeting of the board of directors Of the Connecticut Good Roads asso- ciatfon on Jan. 2, 1917, to discuss con- certed action on the appropriation. We obtained all possible publicity for our manner in which we have kept our plot" secret Yhe only amazing" thing is that there is anyone in the l state who did not know it.
 Tt has been stated, falsely. in the public letter of The Warren Bros. Co that the Good Roads association s'has for some time past been an ardent ad- xocate of the K x XX's,' causing it l to appear by emitting the name and inserting TX x XX' that the associa- i ton has been promoting the interests | of some particular road building con- cern. This trick was wilful1y mislead- officers have ever commended. in any public manner, any payment or any | contractor
 The newspaper which originalIyt printed this letter of The Warren Bros. | Co. states editorially, in the same issue | and page, that it. omitted the name of | the concern mentioned in The War ren Bros. Co.'S letter because it did not gt'care to pay for law suit" If | this newspaper is printing the truth |