The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-09-09
SENATOR LODGES PATRIOTISM

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massa-
chusetts, which he emphasizes by
saying that it is in his opinion most
patriotic and sensible view of the
situation" and concludes by express
ing the wish that more of our citi-
zens in both sections of our country
were as patriotic and sensible.
We know that this friend is sincere
in his belief, so we hope that he will
think us just as sincere in saying
that Senator Lodges speech does not
strike us that way at all.
! What is the purport of his speech?
1t is in opposition to the national
government making an appropriation
for the building of good roads.
He would, like famous Biblical
character, wait for a more convenient
season.
Acknowledging that the New Eng
land states are criss-crossed and grid
ironed with good roads already, and
that good roads would &c most help
full to the South and West, but those
sections, he claims, can wait without
injury, but that the appropriations for
the army and navy are imperative
an can not wait because they are
an insurance of our safety and a Sc
curity of our peace.
Why?
What nation is threatening us with
war?
The great world war has left the
nations PROSTATE and they are think
ing about everything else rather than
war, so why should we at this juncture
spend millions for material-principal
ly steel-for building ships and yet
other millions for the maintenance of
a moderately large standing army
while the whole world is worn weary
with the very thought of war, and no
nation is in position to conduct a
war while the populations Of the earth
are crying loudly for disarmament.
Good roads mean something, they
cheaper and may solve the transport
tation problem and will largely add to
the productive resources of the coun-
try which can not be said of the army
and navy.
Mr.. Lodge himself says that he rea-
Lies that good roads are, perhaps,
1.-THE perhaps could have been wise
ly omitted) in the open spaces and
over the long distances of the South
and the far West, are more needed
than they are in the more density popu-
lated regions of the North and East,
but he argues that they can wait.
Why wait?
Suppose our revolutionary fathers
had turned their backs on the fiery
utterances of Patrick Henry and had
waited, what would have been the re-
suit?
1t may well be said that the Massa-
chusetts senator would not today be
occupying a seat in the greatest de-
Lucrative body in the world
Suppose that Felix had not put off
an important matter for a more CON
venient season. what a difference it
would have made in his career.
Why wait, may we again ask?
We are not bankrupt nation On
the contrary we are the creditor ma
ton of the world mo nation on earth
is so rich.
Other nations owe us billions.
Good roads are. an ever increasing
necessity and the money employed in
their construction. will not be wasted.
Every dollar will enter into the
channels of circulation, and, like the
flow of rich, red blood, the arteries
through which these dollars flow will
be enriched.
The dollars employed in the build
ing of these roads will be helpful to
trade, traffic and travel, and will grad
ually find their way back into the ma
tional treasury ready to be paid out
again, and will again make their
rounds enriching in a greater or less
degree all the channels through which
they flow like the fluxable overflow
Of the river Nile leaving in its wake
its rich alluyial deposits.
A measley. penurious governmental
system does not add to the wealth
Of nation any more than the miser
the ''slothful servant" as he is called
in the Bible-adds to the prosperity
Of community.
AS we view it Senator Lodges
speech was anything else than patri-
otto.
On the contrary it appears to US
that it was somewhat sectional.
Massachusetts abounds in good
roads other sections may wait.