The state herald., 1907-02-08
THE COW IN POLITICS.

The recent election was the first In
our history in which the COW figured ss
the political emblem on q ballot. The
farmers of the thirty-fourth New York
district have long been dissatisfied with
their representative in congress. Hem
ry W. Wadsworth. wealthy land own
er and cattle dealer, has repeatedly
been elected to the house and for sew
eral sessions has been chairman Of the
agricultural committee, a position vital
ly affecting the interests of farmers
throughout the country. In the, great
battle between the dairymen and oleo,
Mr.. Wadsworth took the side of the
packing interests. In the fight last
spring for meat inspection law he used
all of his influence to soften the meas
ure for the packers and would have de-
feated it entirely but for the pressure
Of the farm organizations, the farm
press and President Roosevelt, who
wrote Wadsworth sharp letter, prac-
tically accusing him of treason to the
people in their efforts to secure meat
inspection. The conduct Of Mr.. Wads-
worth caused great dissatisfaction T.
mong the farmers Of his district and
they organized to defeat him. Tho dis
trict is largely republican and the farm
ers of that faith brought out an inde-
pendent candidate Of similar politics In
the person Of Mr.. Peter Porter, who
had his name placed on the ballot under
the picture Of COW. The machine.
backed by an enormous normal majori-
ty, laughed at Peter and his COW when
they heard Of the proceeding but the
event proved that "Old Brindle" has .
wonderful drawing power in politics a.
well as above the pail and she proved
equal to the task Of Kicking over" the
great Mr.. Wadsworth. with al his
wealth and long prestige. backed by .
powerful political machine.
The farmers walked up by the thous-
ands and mads thsir mark undse ths
cow. II is ths Arst siHp tAst . purely
agricultural issue has determined On .
lection to congress. 1t was . happy
thought to select this emblem, for Of
all farm animals the COW has had most
to do with prosperous farming. She il
the great farm mother. bringing pros
pcrity to millions Of homes, giving sta
bility to agriculture and restoring the
fertility OF entire sections. The hog, the
sheep and other farm animals have their
place in agriculture. but the good old
COW is the farm queen and any blow
struck at her is blow at the founda-
ton prosperity Of the farm. A farmer
may well make his political fight under
"the sign Of the COW" and Mr.. Wsds-
worth has found out that combination
under such leader is dangerous one
to buck against. "Old Brindle" knows
how to hook and kick her enemies and
she has for her friends everybody who
drinks milk. which takes In all the men
as well as the women and children.
When olco. made Of cheap animal fats
and cotton oil and runningly colored.
was sold in opposition to butter the COW
was dcfrauded Of her rights and all con-
sumers were cheated. This was head
cd OF by the law taxing eolored olco
ten cents n pound. but the purvsyors
Of the nasty limitations. through their
tools In congress. were laboring To de-
feat this law. One Of them. heretofore
very active and influential. won't be
there to help M the farmers Of the thir-
ty-fourth New York district have be-
headed him under ''thc sign Of the COW.
The victory Ia not local. but one that
effects agriculture In every state Of the
union. When men are sent TO congress
or the legislature TO make laws and
prove reercant to the greatest Of all the
industries. they should BE- displaced by
men who will do their duty. No law
can benefit agriculture without benefit
Ing NIL the people, NJ Il Ia not asking
for class legislation to..dcnand Of con.
grcss such cnactmcnts m will add To the
prosperity Of farmers. SO Peter Porter
and his cow will bc welcomed ~ a
wholesome manifestation In politics
and similar movements are needed In
other districts where representatives
prove false. The COW and her friends
are inyinciblc when they stand
together. neither the gates Of
hell" nor the political machines being
able To defeat their onward progresa.
When Mr.. Porter gets into congress he
will be able 10 sec the difference b.
tween genuine butter and = mixture Of
eolorcd grease. between meat frcsh
packed and the canned sbomInstion
that has grown gray In cold storage.
by this sign We conquer" ran the
words Of the old Roman maxim end
this We interpret 10 mean that victory
lies under "the sign Of the cow."-A-