Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-20
RICHMOND r1MEsD1spATcH: SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 1918
ties. We can certainly agree that this
Is q condition which should not exist

ties. We can certainly agree that this
Is q condition which should not exist.
There Is ono important question
which I wish to bring to your at,eu-
ton. and l hopo that your resolutions
committee will give It careful con-
sideration: There are a number OF Ger
man war prisoners In this country at
this time. and ] know OF no moro use
full work on which they can De en-
ploycd than In constructing our high
ways. or in tho preparation Of road
materials. The American Association
OF State Highway officials has taken
this matter up with the Secretary OF
War. and ] would suggest that this
association would follow suit This
would go long way in furnishing the
much needed labor for this purpose.
These are the general chanEes which
we are .uEges:ing to make the work
OF the Highway Department more er
actent, and TO place US In y position to
make highway transportation effective.
ROADS NEEDED
AS WAR MEASURE
Since the declaration OF war with
Germany In April OF last year. have
consistently and regularly urged III.
construction Of roads in tint. couptrw
not only for our internal Improvement.
put as a war measure. az one OF inc
most important factors in CARRYING the
war to successful Issue, and am
more convinced to-day Of this neces-
sity tnan ever before
we know now that railway and
water transportation are inadeouate
sho. as matter OF fact, are breaking
DOWN under present TRANSPORTATION CON
ditions. We also know that the nv
eminent is calling on the various high
way departments to come to their as
sistance and provide relief. which, how
ever anxious we In Virginia arc to give.
mas been impossible by the lack of
system In our work.
l believe that we arc all agreed that
the most Important question which con-
fronts us to-day is the world war and
the part which we should take in aid
ing the government to carry II through
successfully. Some time ago. In an
ADDRESS before the American Associa-
ton OF State Highway Officials, COW
cred this same ground. and believe
that my answer now should be the same
as II was then: that Is, that the an
swer Is not An easy one. since practical
ly all the forces OF the world are being
used to carry on the present war, war
OF unparalleled horror. but also OF such
unparalleled Justice and right 30 far
as our own country 10 concerned, that
we cannot relax until the triumph of
our cause is complete.
MUST PREPARE For
COMING OF PEACE
All tho energies OF man to-day arc
given to the construction of engines
Of destruction, and our world seems,
In It's EFFORT to save civilization, to have
become possessed by the spirit Of war
that blinds 1t to the fact that this
strange era is an abnormal one; that
II must pass and the star OF peace
return" usherinE IN a day when the
problems OF normal life will assume
An even greater Importance than ever
before. There is no doubt that many
of the strange, new experiences through
which we are passing have affected
our mental processes for tho worse.
Cheap clap-trap and appeals. which a
short time ago we would have passed
by. or treated with derision. now stir
US with frenzy. Let US. then. as far
as possible at this time. prepare our
forces and organize our resources for
that peace which we know must come
in the end. reversing the saying, In
time OF peace prepare for war" and
make our motto in time OF war prepare
for peace. When that pence comes
each country Will have its own prob
lens to solve. and foremost among
these will DO highway transportation.
These conditions we must prepare TO
meet. since every interest OF the coun-
try is dependent on the Improvement
Of It's highways for proper expansion.
The State which grudges money for
highway work now and In years to
come will find itself called upon to pay
dearly for It's parsimony. therefore. Il
is our duty to concentrate our ener-
gies on carrying forward tho war by
providing highway transportation, and
in this way serve a double purpose.
for we viii! also be preparing for the
conditions which will confront US nj
the end of the war. when competition
will be sharp and the nations Of the
earth will be competing for the mar
kets OF the world. Our work. then.
Is to build such a State system as will
enable US TO do our part to carry the
war on successfully. and at the same
time prepare our country for peace, and
enable US to develop our resources,
protect our commerce. extend our in
terests and take our proper place IN
rebuilding world which has been
devastated by the forces OF war
COOPERATION OF ALL
CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA
To gain these ends in Virginia we
must have the cooperation and assist
ance OF nil OF the citizens OF the State:
must work together for the good
OF the nation In developing those re-
sources which are most needed for the
SucccsSiui prosecution OF the war, we
must develop our highway system TO
allow the transportation OF our pro-
duce to market, to develop our min
eral and agricultural resources. to re-
lieve the congested condition on our
railroads and steamboat lines-this is
what the nation is asking us to co:
this is the assistance they require OF
us to aid in bringing victory to our
cause. This. then is our work, a work