Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-12-27
The Agitator.
CLIO, ARK, Dec. II, 1906

tor. The agitator is primarially
supposed to be fellow who goes
into an otherwise peaceful and
happy community and stirs up
strife; a thing to be dreaded, de-
pissed and discouraged. A sower
of discomfort. And strange to say
some people never see him from
any other standpoint. But there
is another standpoint, and to that
standpoint / want to call attention.
Many people tell me, when 1
point out the fact to them that our
nation is fast becoming a nation
of millionaires and paupers, that
few men control our government
and dictate its policies. They tell
me, "Oh, it is bound to end in a
bloody revolution" and that is as
far as they will allow themselves
to think upon the subject.
Now thesbusiness Of the agitator
is to awaken the people to sense
of their danger before they be-
come desperate-while they are
yet able to reason. i often illus
trate the case this way: A dozen
men are in a boat; each has an
oar by his side and all are sleeping
soundly while the boat drifts with
the tide. They have been having
a good time; they have "looked
upon the wine when it was red"
Slowly they drift with the current.
By-and-by one awakens; the wa
ter is as smooth as glass; there is
not a ripple as the boat drifts slow
ly over the silyery surface; sud-
denly he becomes conscious of a
dull roaring sound; the boat drifts
on; the current becomes swifter
and the roar grows louder. Sud-
denly the one waking occupant Of
that boat becomes aware that he is
approaching cataract, a great
fall in the stream, where his boat
will be dashed to pieces on the
rocks below, and he and his COM
panions destroyed. He looks to-
ward the shore; he grasps his oar
and tries to row the boat to safety;
he makes little or no headway; he
thinks of throwing himself into the
stream to swim ashore and leave
his sleeping companions to perish;
but no, he has waited too long;
the current would surely carry him
over the falls before he can reach
the shore. Then he becomes an
"agitator"; he tries to awaken his
companions, for with their COM
bined strength they can save the
boat and their own lives. But his
companions are not easily awak-
ened; their brains are dull from
overindulgence. The agitator be-
comes frenzied with fear; he
shouts to his sleeping companions,
he throws himself upon them and
shakes them like a wild beast.
He is an agitator in the true
sense of the word. His compan-
ions, SO rudely awakened from
their peaceful slumbers, are filled
with wrath at the rude disturbance;
they seize the agitator and throw
him overheard, and then, when
the waves have stilled his cries,
they too hear the mighty roar.
They are awake now; they row
the boat ashore, and their children
build monument to the dead
agitator and all the world sings
his praises.
K Another illustration, and a true
story: It was at a State fair, and
the strength Of a great steam boiler
y ~ -
was being exhibited, when an old
fellow came up and glanced at the
steam gauge and the people stand
ing near, and then he shouted with
all his might, my God! people,
get away from here,' and then the
old fellow-the old crank, the old
agitator- turned and ran with all
his might, and had scarcely
reached a safe distance when, with
a deafening detonation, the great
boiler let 60 and scores were killed
or MANNED for life. And while the
old crank was running, the people
fairly yelled with mirth at. his
fright. Another agitator. True,
his agitation was Of short dura-
ton; but there was little time.
All thinkers recognize the fact
that we are fast approaching an
abyss Of anarchy, death and de-
struction. But some will laugh
and scoff until the crash comes.
let us hope, however, that we may,
be able to awaken enough people
to row the boat ashore before It be