The Russellville Democrat., 1879-09-04
FARMERS AS LAWMAKERS.

making arc plain, palpable facts. We have always believed that the main reason why the average lcgisla- ture did so little of real importance or benefit to the people was because there is such S total ignorance of the science ot Government and law making on the part of large major ity.of the members. Even those few in the large body which usually constitutes q legislature, who are sufficiently versed in parliamentary usages, to be efficient members, are unable to accomplish anything on account of the delay and confusion caused by those who are always get ting out of order, wanting something explained, or clogging the progress oe business in some other way.
 The suggestion of the Rural World
 the idea of creating department in our institutions of learning for teaching the science of law making, l is q good one; and it would be fine thing If every State had at least one school where this could be learned. The very highest official position Q citizen can occupy is that of a law maker. To be iaw-maker, one should know what the laws of q State or nation are, and if there are defects in the laws, how they may be remedied. If additional laws are needed, he should know how to frame them so their meaning may be clear and unquivocal If laws are burden some or oppressive to any class, he should be sufficiently enlightened to see it, and apply the proper reme- l. dy. His intelligence should be broad enough to sec that burdens of the government fall upon all alike, in proportion to their ability to bear them. He should know what laws are needed, and have the ability to inform and impress others of their necessity.
 The method of making laws is also an important study. Those who are not familiar with the duty may think it very simple affair, but itis quite complicated art to introduce and pass laws after they are framed There are parliamentary rules to be followed, that have come down to us from the earliest organization ol parliamentary bodies. These must be studied and put into practice
 and no one who is not familiar with
 them will have much influence ol power in any legislative body
 There are large volumes of parlia mentary law which, ifstudied. would be of very great advantage to every 7 law maker.
 Nine tenths of those who go into
 our legislative bodies, are entirely
 unfamiliar with the duties of theil important positions. They would like to do good work for their consti tuencies, but they don't know exact
 ly what wants to be done, or how tc l do it. They arc working at great : disadvantage. It is not like law
 yer trying his first case, or preach
 CT uttcring his first sermon, or . doc
 tor setting the first broken limb
 for all of these gentlemen have beer
 studying their professions for years and preparing themselves for jus | such duties-but it is like trying {
 case or preaching sermon, or set , ting broken bone without any . privlous study or preparation.
 T. We have often thought that there
 should be, in our State University
 and in our Agricultural Colleges : departments for teaching student: , how to make laws. The parliamen n tary rules should be studied and pu { into practice. Moot legislature' should be established, and laws pass . ed, and the whole practice of legisla |, tion should be put into use. Th'
 science of government should b'
 studied, so that when our young
 men come to take part in making : the laws, they may do it wisely anc
 efficiently. We would be glad indeed
 to see the University of Missour
 establish such department. and w beheye it would be one of the mos popular features of the institution.
 We are led to make these remarks because the future outlook for far
 mers ever exercising leading in 5 fluenoe in legislation is very gloomy
 While half our population are far
 mers and more than half our wealtl e is centered in agriculture, there ar' Q not half dozon farmers in Congress and it is more on account of the lacl z of the proper qualifications, thai : anything else. This will always bt - the case unless some plan is adopted
 to qualify farmers to cope with thei : rivals in other professions. Th' z people want competent agents t : represent them in the halls of tn
 State, and more especially of the Ma
 tional Legislature, and they vii
 have such. Farmers would gladl,
 choose more men of their own clas l. if they were equally well qualified and we would afford to every farmer son, who IS getting m education
 the opportunity to become an expert wise legislator. Unless something