The Harrison times., 1920-02-21

did not daunt these valiant knights
They laid seige TO the county court
and prayed the County Judge to levy
seven mills new taxes on the home
owners to pay their illegal claims
Judge McMahan had said these claim:
were wrong, that he couldn't render
judgment for. costs. Judge Coffmar
being a sworn officer, would not grant
the prayers Of these men, who wanted
money, by placing new and heavy bur
dens on the home-owners, These
mighty chieftains then damned Con
man as few men were ever damned
They knew Judge McMahan's decision
was both legal and just. They did
not appeal.
They have tried four judges in quick
succession. Judge Freezing refused
them nothing but fortunately Judge
McMahan held that Freezing was too
generous and denied Freeling's power
Then these mighty chieftains made
use of the legislature, to try TO cure
the defects of the old efforts. Then
they begged and prayed the County
Judge for relief They failed to get
the new County Judge, Bill Coffman,
to add new taxes TO the over-taxed
people. Like Judge McMahan. Bill
Coffman is an honest man and he
would not yield.
1t is now up to you. So far hon
ors are even. Snapp, Maggard and
Garvin plus Shouse, Rowland and
Crump have won out through County
Judge Freezing and Representative
Porter. They have lost out through
the Chancery Judge McMahan and
County Judge Bill Coffman. This is
the fifth and | believe the final effort
believe also the sGuawk you now
hear is the last song of the dying swan
Hoping you will not be bored | shall
briefly outline the history of this
Road Renaissance. All at once a
hysteria all over this state for good
roads apparently seized the people and
they have apparently consented to un
heard of burdens in the form of taxes
aggregating untold millions of dollars
The last still-born session of the les
islature of this state attempted to sad
die more than $50,O00,000O0 new bur
dens not on the banker, merchant
manufacturer, stock dealer or money
lender but exclusively on the land
owner and home owner. The crime
is so hideous that no punishment car
be found to fit the crime. They are
trying to add greater burdens ever
now at Little Rock.
Lord, o Lord, how long can such
villainy last? Why was it started
How is it possible that the people fail
ed to hang the first criminals? The
explanation is simple in the light Of
the facts. The great European wal
was gripping all minds except those
shrewd intellects bent on loot
The Alexander Road Law, the c.COk
eldest statute ever enacted, was thel
spread upon our statutes Bond,seiiini
companies are believed to have writ
ten it, Our people really needed bet
ter roads and they fondly imagined
they could now get them. The peopl,
did not know that their homes woul(
be mortgaged for twenty years anC
that under the most honest admins
tration not more than one dollar il
three would ever reach the road Owe
one half most go for interest and ther
on third of the balance must be pai(
to editors, assessors, commissioner
and lawyers. Remember that onl,
39 1,9 prcent under any circumstance
can reach actual road work. Wher,
there is dishonesty or even inefficienc!
five dollars out of every six, goes TO
interest, printing bills, officers, law
yers, favored employees and pet land
holders plus engineers and other graft
ers. Robbery of this sort is old. TIL,
carpetbaggers robbed the south afte