The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-08-02
PRACTICAL MATTERS.

The Herald never complains Al
farmers or any other class Of citizens
interesting themselves in politics
our complaint IS that they usually dc
not wake up early and take interest
enough. And yet there is still this
just comparison TO make: II they
would take as much interest In their
private affairs as they sometimes do
in politics. they would advance their
business interests marvellously.
Congressman Padgett. at a great
deal of pains and trouble to himself
and expense to the government, is &C
complaining "a party OF experts on a
lecturing tour through this congress
sional district. to make public talks
about matters Of especial interest TO
! the farmers; matters the farmers
ought to know but do not know; mat
! tiers that would teach them how to
make money and to save money; mat
tiers that would inform them how to
make two blades Of grass or corn
grow. where only one grows now;
matters that would tell the road build
ers of the country how to build and
to take care of roads. But the people
for whom these lectures are intend
ed; the people to be most profited by
them, won't come out to hear them,
and of course they cannot be bene-
fitted by them. 1t is their loss, but it
is a pity.
1t is a great pity for the country
at large that the farmers will not do
more for themselves by united effort
and agreement than they do; because
they are the wealth producers of the
country they are the real bread win
ners of the country they are the bone
and sinew of the country; and what |
every they might do to bring pros
perity to themselves would inevitably |
bring prosperity to others. Private
and public corporations may make
laws and have agreements between
each other, and do have them, which
are inimical to the best interest of
all other classes of business and citi-
zens; but it is not so with the farm
er. Whatever benefits the farmer,
benefits mankind.
But in some important matters the
farmers will neither help themselves
nor allow anybody to help them.
Take the sheep and dog question for
Instance: The manufacturers, and
he fresh meat Dealers and the con-
sumers, and the press Of the state,
the sane. conservative
business sentiment of the state, have
)een trying all these years to obtain
he consent of the farmers for a dog
aw that will protect the sheep in
lustry; a law that would rid the coun-
ry of lot of hungry, prowling, wolf
sh dogs, and promote the growth OF
n industry which would be second to p
one in profit to the farmer and to the
ountry at large; but the farmer just
1on't have it. In order to protect Is
ne little measley pup for his boy to Il
lay with, or one old yelping hound Il
, run after fox through other peo- u
les fields, or one bird dog that he o.
light chain If he cannot keep at home d
ny other way, he will give his infiu- e.
nee and his vote to the dog side ci
very time, and black list any legis- ST
tor who votes for the sheep. If we Up
ID not know few intelligent men pi
no do that thing, and who cannot ca
, reasoned out of it, we would say OF
was all born of downright ignor- III
ice. GU
The present law is mere make de
lift. 1t may do some good after a NJ
ne; but it will be after long time, M
d not much good then, 1t is weak, as
cause it's author was afraid to make pc
strong; he said so himself to the tio
liter of this article. But there is
1T ~