The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-01
SPOKE FOR GOOD ROADS
MRS.C. J. HOLMAN IN TALK
AT LAKE CRYSTAL
She Advised Women to Work and
Vote For the Babcock
Amendment

Women voters Of Lake Crystal met
on Saturday afternoon and Mrs. c.
J. Holman of Mankato gave them an
excellent address on some OF the po-
litical issues of the campaign. She
is well informed and has forceful
way in which to impart information
TO others. At the close Of her ad-
dress she effected temporary or
ganization Of republican women with
Mrs. c. ]. Graves as temporary
chairman and Mrs. Hugh o. Will
Jams, temporary secretary. A meet
ing was planned for Thursday even
ing, September 80. at 1880 p. M.
when a permanent organization will
be arranged for.
Spoke On Babcock Amendment.
Mrs. Holman spoke on good roads
saying that "if the Babcock road
amendment Is defeated next Novem,
Der, it will be through ignorance and
false propaganda. The people VINO
defeat il will be those OF each com.
munity, who are usually considered
an authority on every advanced is
sue, but who in this instance have
not taken the time to study this
measure. :. I'LL
Some seem to think that 1t will
be a burden on the farmers. The
farmers are really the ones who Will
profit most, because II they are not
owners Of automobiles. these roads
will cost them nothing, and still tney
will have all the advantages OF good
roads when the market prices are
most attractive.
Less than ten per cent Of the T.
600 miles of road in the trunk high,
way system, is within the city and
village limits. ard not one foot In :.
eide the limits of cities Of the trst
class. The large cities Will not
one good road.
NOW who pays for these good
roads? Automobile owners, and six
Nv per cent of all the automobiles In
the state are owned inside the incor..
porated city and village limits OF
the state, therefore, sixty per cen!
Of the people who pay for these s9SSo 900
peopie who pay for these good roads
40 not live on farms. and. the other
forty per cent of the people who
nav for them are people VINO nave
Automobiles and happen to live IN the
country. ,,
Automobile owners ana tru S,1
owners geuerally arc IA "a 49,
nan because they are satisfied that
sayInss on tire, gasoline and other
car expenses will more than REIN :
hurse them for the higher license
fees paid. There is a very importan!
nhase of this question, which is. thar
the federal government appropriates
large sums annually to assist states
in the construction OF ROADS.
'..In order to have this money aVaii
sble the state must meet 1t with an
eoual amount. our state constructor
does not provide for the appropri,
st.on of funds to meet federal ale
n,onev 80 Minnesota's share In this
money. which Is about $2.840,O0O. j.
unavailable, and unless provision II
made, will be re- allotted TO otnei
states. In voting tor TINS 81 aH 1Se Iasis.
isture to increase the automobile IL
oense fee and to place the receipts II
me road fund. II the amendmen,
does not carry, 1t Is quite certalI
that the legislature will increase tns
auto license fee.
How Money viii Be Diverted.
II the license fee is increased 81
that n becomes a tax. then the non
eys derived from such a tax WIN 9
TO the general revenue fand, lnsISa.
of the road and bridge iuno. In
amendment leaves IL mr go,
erection and power OF the ieglsiasuI'
,neoeram shall be carried out eaci
No year period, thereby safesuard
ing the state against changing condi
lions and leaving the entire contro
10th ss to bond issues and construc
ton, with the people, through tnei
representatives: ,,,,,a
for years the women OF MIME nSs
IA Al that good roads mean: health
faopiness. education, and lower cos
f{ying. Now that the ballot i
Se.iIy in their, hands, it Is to b.
HoSsd that they will see to 1t ina
fSey vote yes on the good roa'
sTnsndment which will appear nrs
"a order on the pink ballot.