The Robesonian., 1917-05-10
RESULT OF BOND ELECTION


Nobody who was Informed at all
as to the situation is surprised at the
result of the election in Robson this
week for a bond issue for roads. 1t
we refer of course to the election
Tuesday under the Clark act, as the
election Monday does not count so
far as registering any verdict as to
bonds is concerned-was about as ex-
pected.
The RobeSonian sees no reason to
b. discouraged by the large vote cast
against the proposed bond issue. That
vote does not mean, we are quite sure,
that the intelligent people of Robe
son are opposed to bond issue for
good roads or that they do not want
good roads and are not willing to
pay for good roads. 1t was a sting
ing rebuke, rather, to those who have
wasted road money in the past in this
county and have used road funds as
a political football. It was a vote Of
lack of confidence. By that vote the
people said that they are not will.
ing now to vote larger sum OF
money for road work because they
are not satisfied that the road funds
have been wisely handled in the past.
And you can't blame the people
for taking that view of the matter.
The Robesonian believes that view
of the matter is wrong, that it would
have been wise to vote bonds now
and put it UP to the present road
board to build good roads; but we
are content with the verdict of the
people.
The matter is up to the present
road board. If road funds are spent
so wisely during the administration
of the present board as to disarm
criticism, the attitude of the people
toward bond issue will be entirely
different.
So settled was everybody in the
conviction that it would be impossi-
BILE to carry an election for bonds
just now that no organized campaign
was attempted, and even many who
are heart and soul in favor of bonds
took no interest in the matter and lei
things drift as they would. Under
conditions like that it would be i'm
possible to carry an election for bonds
at any time.
Ex-Judge T. A. McNeill says tha
the way bonds were showed under
Tuesday was not a circumstance tt
the way Robson county defeated pro
hibition the first time the people O.
That was back in 1881. Judge Nc
Neill says that he and about ten 9th
er people were about all who vote,
in favor of prohibition then. AM
yet two years from that time prohi
bition carried in the county by al
overwhelming majority.
And so Judge McNeill thinks
and The Robesonian has no doub
about the correctness of his view o
the matter-that the thinking peopl
of the county are sorry that condi
tions have been such that they re
1uctantly had to vote down such a
advantageous proposition for secul
ing money to build good roads as j
contained under the Clark act, an
that two years from now, maybe on
year from now, an election for bond
can be carried easily.
Judge McNeill thinks if you'll PC
the water out of Robson count
and build good roads it will be th
greatest and richest county in tn
world. If those who want good roac
will preach the doctrine right on,
season and out of season, it will M
take long to turn the tide and vol
bonds to do both.
Other things that helped to defes
road bonds were petty jealousies and
cropping in some sections after II
will-o'-the-wisp of new county. B,
that is another story, to use Kipling
classis phrase.