Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-04-02
CORRESPONDENCE.
Observation-Disclosures Highway.


To the Editor of The American:
In last weeks issue l asked the
question: who is the most impor-
tant individual with us, the farmer
or the auto tourist?"
If we could not have both, and
were brought to the point where we
must choose one and drop the other,
which could we get along without the
longer?
To every person of ordinary intelli-
gence, these questions, if intended to
be taken seriously as debatable ones,
of nearly equal merit, must appear to
be little foolish. We all know that
they cannot be compared as having
anywhere near equal merit. From
the earliest history of man upon this
earth, the farmer has been uni
versally acknowledged, and many
times proven, to be the most neces
sary person for the maintenance of
the so-called civilized life of man
upon this earth, while the auto tour
list is such a newcomer that it is very
doubtful that the term can be found
in the latest edition of our enclyclo-
pedia
linus Is must lOIlOW Iudl luo
Maine State highway commission, in
giving first consideration to the auto
tourist, is making a great mistake,
doing a great wrong, taking a step
backward from civilization.
And this is not the only great
wrong on the part of this commission
that | wish to call your attention to.
We were called, all who were inter
'ested in that proposed road as laid
out by the State highway commits
sion, to meet the commission at
Ellsworth on February 6, 1924,
ostensibly for the purpose of seeing if
their plan of said proposed highway
was satisfactory to the local inhabi-
tants who would be mostly affected
by it, and consequently most deeply
interested in it. The commissioner
and chief engineer were met there at
the appointed date and time, and the
question was presented to them by
the chairman.
Up to this time, everything, to the
casual observer, appeared to be per-
fectly democratic and all above
board, but when not friend could be
found among the local inhabitants
present who would stand up and
show himself in favor of their pro-
posed new route, while it was unani-
mously advised that the commits
sion consider the old route by
way of Washington Junction, with
changes near that point, it quickly
become apparent, more by their at
titude than by words, that the will of
the people was not agreeable to
theirs. With them it seemed to be:
Our will and not thine be done"
Democracy quickly vanished, and in
its place came rank despotism. The
peoples will must be changed so as
to agree with ours, and must be so
expressed. They must become apos-
tates to their own rights, to their
own interests and to their cOnstitu-
tional liberties.
So the agents of that invisible in
! fluence, which for over two years
had been suspected and marked by
those who had been close observers
of their secret movements, were sent
out to spread propaganda at the
most opportune moment to deceive
the credulous and whip them into
line to become victims of their own
credulity, When, later, they can
see clearly how they had been de-
ceived and hoodwinked, too late for
them to undeceive themselves and
turn to the right, great will be their
Indignation and chagrin.
There is one thing that | wish to
warn the public against, and that is
being deceived by the propaganda
that's trying to confound auto tour
lists with non-residents (more ap-
propriate, summer residents). The
latter are unquestionably an asset,
and represent the goose that lays
the golden egg, while the former, the
way the State highway commission
handles the funds, are of very doubt
full value. 1t may be only a
coincidence, but upon their advent in
Maine the farmers trouble began and
grew apace as their numbers in
creased
One thing now seems sure. If the
will of the commissioners prevails,
the legislature will be asked to take
off the'lid from the teapot used in
this affair and see if it can locate
this invisible influence spoken of that
is playing such havoc with our local
interest, and, incidentally, why, ETC.. ?
Oh! The high cost of official I'M
faithfulness.
IL