The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1891-01-10
THE FARMER AS A LEGISLATOR.

1t is too early in the session of the
thirty-sixth general assembly of Mis-
souri, to predict the exact result OF the
efforts of the farmers to correct existing
evils by legislation. They are III al
overwhelming majority in the house OF
representatives and can do as they
please. In fact, there Is not enough o.
opposition If all other classes were
combined to be even respectable IL
point of numbers. Having everything
their own way, their responsibility can
not be evaded. There have been
granger legislatures before. but they
assembled under different conditions,
and the most influential men in those
bodies were only grangers in name,and
were the demagogues of our social con
dition who were quick to avail them
selves of an opportunity to obtain place
and power by making use of the grange
organization as All instrument.
But now more caution has been ex-
ercised. The blatant ~dsmsgogue who
is the most violent and extreme in his
| county alliance has not been chosen to
represent the organization in matters
of legislation. On the contrary, men
OF extreme conservatism have been
selected, those who are the wisest aud
most moderate; men who recognize
that legislation to best benefit the
agricultural interests of the state need
not be at the expense and to the detri-
ment of other and equally deserving
v%ocations. That this is the cas- is
evident from the most casual glance at
the personnel of the present Legislature.
A little closer contact and a more
intimate personal acquaintance With
the members make it evident that the
intelligence and substantial worth of
the farming community are at the
helm. In this remarkable body OF men
there is scarcely an illiterate one. They
are all intelligent, well posted, not only
in all that concerns their business, but
in all current affairs, and are of CORES.
pondingIy broad guage ideas, the
result of reading. study and reflection.
Ii there are those who anticipate
chimerical and revolutionary legisla-
ton, they will be greatly deceived. The
practical 10 what will be aimed at, and
In many respects it is to be hoped that
their purpose will he attained. Nearly
every man in the present general as
sembly is a representative man OF his
community. He Is interested In pre-
serving the quiet and peaceful condi-
tions of the commonwealth. He does
not wish to revolutionize or hazard
the bringing about OF a possible state OF
anarchy by innovations that have in
them no substantial merit. He will
move with extreme caution and will
no doubt manage the affairs of state
with the same prudence and economy
that he brings to the manag ement of
his farm and his herds. He KNOWS the
defects of the laws where they touch
him with discriminating hardship, and
these they will correct. He will Ger.
tairly insist upon economy in admins
tration, for he pays a large proportion
of the revenues, and this is but the SIM
pie application OF fundamental business
principles. He will be just and not
parsimonious in voting needed sp-
preparations for our public institutions,
and when the session shall have ended
we predict that the entire state will be
willing to say that it was good that our
democratic farmers controlled the
legislation of the thirty.sixth general
assembly.