The Mena weekly star., 1919-03-27

SoOh hV part TIT buS piOSSculHko SdNS to applaud.
 The remainder Of the audience that faced Mir. Lewis were farmers and opponents of the highway project. When call was made for funds with which to wage a legal battle, il of this latter class contributed a total of S46,a few giving soc each, several $2 each, but the majority being $1 do- nations. 1t was estimated that $100 will be needed to begin the legal bat tie against the highway, and when the last cash contribution was made, promises to make future payments were accepted.
 Chairman Lewis announced later he expects there will be plenty of contributors to increase the fund to S100, and stated that what was lack ing in contributions at Cove and Van dervoort would be made up by those who had given their promises at Hat field.
 In stating the object of the gath ering Chairman Lewis said that ex- animation had been made of the peti- tion filed in the county court asking for the creation of the Jefferson Highway project and that this exam ination had revealed the following facts:
 About 1900 names were recorded, of which 50 were signed twice, and about 10 three times. Some of the signers were dead, some owned no land, others lived outside the district, corporation signatures have no seals, some names are illegible, and none of the petitions show when, where or by whom the petitions were circulat- ed.'
 Mir. Lewis stated the number of property owners within the district was not known to a certainty, and be- cause of this he believed the petition lacked majority of signers. To find by examination of the records just who of the signers owned land in the district and how much, will be the first of the legal steps taken. It is for this work of examining property records that the money is asked.
 If, upon examination it is found the petitions carry a bonafide major ity of landowners, the protest will end, MT. Lewis stated. If not, he and his associates propose to continue the fight.
 In voicing a protest against the highway project the chairman, and other speakers all agreed that their main objection is that the land and not personal property will bear the burden of taxation. Much mention was made about the farmer paying for the road, but no mention was made of the fact that railroad prop erty will be equally assessed, that city lots will pay large share and that federal funds in large amount will be used in building the highway.
 In addition to the talks made by Chairman Lewis, who seemingly never lacked for something to say, remarks were made by J. E. Taylor, T. P. Davis, L. A. Cummings, and others. Mir. Taylor stated that in Eagle township but few farmers had signed the petition, that most of the signers lived in Potter. Mir. Davis stated he had figured up the cost of the improved road and estimated it will cost from $6000 to $10,000 a mile, which he thought was too much Mir. Cummings raised the question of wherein the highway will increase the productive power of the land.
 After more than an hour had been spent in discussion, it was decided to employ, if possible, w. N. Martin and A. E. Wear, both former county judges, to examine the records and ascertain if the highway petition really has majority of land owners and acreage.
 Tine promoters of the meeting were encouraged by the Hatfield gathering and announce meetings will be held at Cove and Vandervoort tonight for the purpose of raising additional funds. Mir Lewis will direct the meeting at Cove, while Justice Tay- Tor will be leader at vandervoort.
 It was stated that the first $1 giv- en to the fund wos contributed by Sam Powell of Hatfield.
 No effort was made to ascertain if those who contributed funds Friday night owned any land, or if they had, if it was located in the proposed highway district.
 Chairman Lewis stated that he had been called an I. W. W. and Bol- sheviki because he was taking the stand he has on the highway project, but he publicly denied the accusation.