The Neshoba Democrat. (Philadelphia, Miss.) 1881-current, 1922-01-26
ROADS AGAIN FOR NESH0BA
COUNTY
Editor Democrat:

talned
While the other counties are forg-
Ing ahead and building good roads
old Neshoba is fioundering along in
mud and ruts while her people are
struggling and groaning under the
crushing burden Of taxation. There
is d reason for this state OF things.
1t has become u habit OF every Good
Roads enthusiast to attribute the
lack OF roads In Neshoba County to
Ignorance and the abuse of q pro-
gressive spirit on the part of the peo-
pie at large. This is not the case.
We have just as intelligent, and just
as progressive people In Neshoba as
any adjoining counties. We have just
as much wealth in the way OF taxa
Bile property, butstill the other coun-
ties can have better roads than we.
There is reason for this, and wish
your correspondent had gone farth-
er and explained the reason, and
suggested the remedy. am sure he
knows both.
Early in the year 1919 In q special
election the voters OF Neshoba went
on record as favoring the construc-
tion OF two roads across the county,
one north and south, and one, east
and west, and voted Bonds with
which to do the work. That election
was perfectly legal and regular in
every way, and still we did not get
the roads. / wish your correspond
ent had told you why the roads were
never built.
That special election was held un-
der a Section OF the Code which pro-
vided for the appointment of CON-
missioners whose duty it would be
to let contracts, employ Engineers,
have charge OF the funds, in fact,
have full supervision OF the construc-
tion and financing the project. The
Board OF Supervisors did not know
this until after the election, and
when they found that the Board
would net be 1rllowed to handle the
funds, then the Skeleton walked out
OF the closet" and they "got busy
and had the election declared illegal,
and another election called to be held
under another Section" which pro-
vided that the Board of Supervisors
have charge of the construction of
the roads, and the voters turned it
down.
1t is not a pleasant task to criti
size the actions OF u body OF good
men, chosen by intelligent electors,
to take care OF their interests for
four years, but In order to get at
the remedy, am forced to poiut out
the disease.
We must have the best men In
charge OF our public offices. Men oil
high integrity and unquestioned
business ability, men who hold the
public good above their own pecuni.
ary interests, men whose aspirations
and ideals are too lofty to permit
the public welfare to be sacrificed fol
graft and greed, men who have
made q success In the management
OF their own affairs, men of aggres.
sion, Judgment, and unquestioned
intelligence. We have plenty of such
men and when we decide to put such
men In the public harness old Nesho
ba will step up and take her place In
the line OF progress, so noticeable In
other parts Of the country.
The voters Of Neshoba County
must soon choose men to fill the
places Of public trust for four more
years. What kind Of men shall we
choose.
This is question of much more
vital Importance than the question
Of who will be our next Governor.
l have described the kind OF meI
that every voter must agree that we
need to fill the places OF trust. Now
how shall we get them? Don't
wait for a good man to offer himself
as candidate. II you do a hal
dozen third rate men who have al
ways been failures In every thing
they ever tried will announce for The
lob and one Of them will get It
and the result win be ''unfortunats
and regretable" for four more years
Select the man whose qualification
are best suited for the place In mind
and petition him to announce hi
candidacy, and bear In mind thai
our best men, men whom have de-
scribed all have jobs at home. and
are not seeking public places, with
their worries and disappointments
and to get them, strong pressur'
must be nsed, and q sense Of duty
aroused. that will prompt him *