The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-10-28
AMENDMENT SHOULD CARRY

On Tuesday the people of Punta
! Gorda and Florida will vote upon and
decide a question which, in impor-
lance to them, transcends every
other-local, state or national.
1t is the question as to adoption or
rejection of the proposed constitu-
tional amendment, which if adopted
will empower the legislature to issue
bonds for construction of a system of
improved highways.
There is no doubt that there are
many sincere people who oppose
adoption of this proposed amend
ment upon what they conceive to be
the best grounds, but the only real,
organized opposition has come from
sources suspected or known to be
controlled or influenced by the rail-
roads. Some newspapers have, with
out regard for facts, endeavored to
mislead the people, and there is no
doubt that they have succeeded to
i some extent. Recently those oppos-
i ing adoption of the proposed amend
ment have, as the Ocala Banner
points out, grounded thci.' opposition
upon their asserted belief that the
Legislature cannot be trusted; that
the State Raod Department cannot be
trusted; that the incoming governor,
who is clothed with power of appoint
ment to and removals from office
cannot be trusted and the Banner
goes on to say that "the whole Oh
position rests almost entirely on the
want of confidence in our public SER
wants, and men are just rs honest,
just as efficient as at any time in our
history"
We hope that our people have not
been blinded to the real issue by the
studied efforts of the opposition to do
this very thing and that they will
vote for the amendment
Rejection of the amendment means
that Florida will have no money to
meet Federal aid unless the present
two-mill or higher tax is levied on
real estate; that unless this tax is
continued or some other source of
income is found the State Road De
partment will have 70 abandon the
work started; that this section will
get no aid on the Tamiami trail or
any other highway; that progress and
development will be retarded and
Florida will be several years behind
sister states in road building before
tie question can again be submitted
and acted upon by the people.
Adoption of the amendment means
that Florida will have funds to
match dollar for dollar with the Fed
eral government; that tax on real
estate will not be necessary; that the
State Road Department will be pro-
vided with sufficient funds to speed
up its program of road building: that
the department will be enabled to
take over for construction the Tam
iami trail, which has been designated
a state road as far as Punta Gorda;
that the State Road Department VIII
have funds to meet every other lecit.
innate demand for aid from this sec
ton, which must have state aid If we
are to have the roads we need to keen
us in the march of progress; that IN
the course of a few years Florida will
have system of connected highways
second to none in the United States.
which would bring to every section Of
the state unprecedented development
and prosperity.
II you vote on the proposed amend
ment you will vote for or against
good roads, progress and prosperity.
We have enough faith in the good
judgement and progressiveness of the
people of Punta Gorda and Florida
to believe that they will not be
blinded to the great opportunity that
is before them but will vote for adop-
ton of the proposed amendment by
a substantial majority.