The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-01-08

could tell muley COW from horse,
but even that lack of agricultural
knowledge would not indicate hope
less unftness for commissioner of agri-
culture of Tennessee, a position that
has come to be but a high place to be
used for political manipulation.
Let us suppose that Mr.. Lyle is APP
pointed, also that he does not know
any one Of the many things that the
commissioner of agriculture ought to
know by experience. If Mr.. Lyle does
not know enough Of the world to travel
alone he might get some friend to send |
him by express to Nashville, where he
could get policeman to show him to
the capitol. After climbing to the sum-
NIT of Capitol Hill he could locate the
janitor, fireman or some other mental
in the employ of the state and take the
oath of Office, after which he could
hang his hat on the peg reserved for the
commissioner, take charge Of the Office
and announce that he is ready to have
Old Hickory's monument moved to the
cellar and replaced on the lawn by an
onion patch.
However, it is more than likely that
before the new commissioner had made
all of this progress he would have in
some way made the acquaintance of
some Of the oily gentlemen who act as
" immigrant agents for the L. &. N.
and N, @. & st. l.. railroads. And
having made the Acquaintance of one or
more of these gentlemen he would be
told of how greatly the railroads are in
sympathy with the upbuilding of the
agricultural resources of Tennessee;
told of the splendid work of his prede-
cessor in office and told of the great
part the railroads had taken the work;
tell in an enthusiastic way of the last
ing and benefcent good accomplished
through the farmers institutes" and
pledged the continued cooperation OF
the roads in that particular branch of
the work of the commissioners Office.
Ii Editor Lyle is sure enough "Reu-
ben" he would fall all over himself
other commissioners have done-to &C.
cept the assistance and friendly CD in
terest of the railroads. And, having
done this, the new commissioner would
have at once become an eminently fit
and proper man for commissioner of
agriculture-that is, judged from re-
cent standards.
But Mr.. Lyle or and other conscien-
tious newspaper man would be too
shrewd to fall into such clutches.
The whole truth, briefly stated, is
that the L. & N. railroad has been u.s.
ing this high Office to carry on its in
famous work of pulling the wool over
the eyes of the agricultural classes
Not that it has secured the appointment
of or bought up officials in this office,
but that it has edged in here and there
l until the principal work of the Office
has become the principal means of the
railroads for carrying on the work that
was formerly done through their lob
byists about the legislature. Is there
evidence needed of this? If so, we
would ask what does the widespread
Y distribution of free passes mean? Who
q does not know that not only can every
man who will attend one of these insti-
tutes gets free pass, but that for weeks
s crowd is drummed from this and the
Q other counties? And who does moi
know that at the institutes the slickesl
and shrewdest of the railroad lobbyists
are the most conspicuous participants!
: And who does not know that every time
there is any discussion touching the
farmer and the railroads that q paid
s employe of the railroads is selected tc
y make the talk? Will somebody tell us
n why Col. Robert E. Gates, employed
and paid by the L. & N, is down Oh
the program at nearly every institute fol
paper on Railroads and the People?
If Mr.. Lyle is that kind of hairpin,
n having SO little care for his real duties
a and obligations and for the purpose fol-
which this Office was established, W.
dare say he could take up the work anG
0 continue it without the slightest inter
e ruption. But, as has been said, not
o many newspaper men are to be found
who would be so green and unsophisti
Gated as to fall prey to the railroads
= therefore Editor Lyle would be vas
81 improvement over the present commits
is sioner.
10 The News believes that we'll man
- aged and directed department of agri
culture can be made to accomplish
great good for the state, and it also be
lieves that the same department, if useC
W as tool by corporations, can and will
"a prove harmful. -Gallatip News.
Editor Reaves is of the opinion tina