The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-09-11
The Farmer and Politics.
Correspondence in the Pacific Farmer,

Correspondence in the Pacific Famerl
Ever remember have been constantly reminded by
the newspapers how disastrous it is for farmer TO medde pol
tics And of the agricultural papers which
sauty posing the friend of the farmer has fallen into line and
cautioned the farmer against the pencous habit of meddng in
political matters We have been told that should attend strict
N to business of farming and study economy of living
of production etc., and we did not get enough out of
crop expenses production Why all would have to do
simply to study how produce for less COST cut down
ses stay home closer work harder live more economically and
keep of politics. leave all those matters the politicians and
just this political party that political party came into
power everything would goa booming again.
We Mr. Editor the farmers of the United States have been
taking the advice Of politicians and for the last twenty they
have been staying at home mndng their business working
hard Is to 6 hours day. learning how as cheap
possible conomng in every way until to
econome farther without going naked and taking the woods and
live as did the aborginese
"And what have We have the lawyers the doc
tors the manufactures the bankers the railroads. and all other
classes of people unite and pull together for their interests
We have Legislatures made almost exclusively of law
yers politicians while the farmer has been left at ONE to fol-
low the pow and study economy We have the railroads.
which should be carriers organized and pooled to ex
act from the farmer for hauling his product market all that the
traffic would bear without regard what left for the producer
We the elevator organized take from the farmer
what little pro6- any leftaf the railroad tolls paid,
from the farmers grain. We have the
sheriff selling farms to the highest bidder for cash. at time
when all the cash in the country locked in the vaults of the
banks fact while the farmer has been staying home mind
ing his business have values Of all farm products
shrink and the medium exchange raise in value until the
people Of this land reduced poverty and sedom the
rich becoming richer and the poor poorer.
Mr Editor the farmers Of these great United States have fol-
lowed the advice of the politicians oil but too long, it high time
they the wealth should have something say
its distributions it high time that the farmer begin to study
ca we'll household economy it high time that the farm
ewho if organized sody the bankers could sweep all
before them the ballot boxassers his rights and politely invite
the lawyer and politician to take back seat at least divide
seats with him for time Brother farmers awaken to
deaf to the tongued orator. must
study interests and the polls next fall and cast bal
of humanity if we do not shall
millions of owmen reduced to abe slavery than
our black brothers in 1866.
ask you leave your old party and join this that
party ask you above party and in 1896 let the farmers
of United States walk up the polls solid phaanx and
their ballots the interest of the struggling of human
y whose very lives being ground out of them by the
kings Europe and America too long have submitted shyock
and given Of the pound of flesh"