The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-09-22
TOO MUCH POLITICS.


them-has delivered an address al
a farmers meeting, a school open
ing, an annual picnic or other gather
ing of the people. The News believes
an entire change of programme with
reference to such occasions would be
of value to the whole state. Instead
of looking to politicians and Office
seekers for speakers let an effort be
made to bring to these gatherings
men who have no axes to grind and
who can impart some information of
real value. The agricultural depart
ment of both the state and nation
can be drawn on, our schools and
colleges can furnish speakers on diff
ferent topics, and practical pro-
grammes that would attract large
attendance can be arranged. 1t is
our opinion that most people are
tired of the wind-jamming that is
sions. We are having too much
of it, And, what is more, most of
it is purposely arranged by men who
want to keep themselves before the
people as means of grinding a po-
litical axe. 1t is appropriate that
men who hold high places of trust
and Importance shall from time to
time give the people an account of
their stewardship, when asked to do
so, but the deliberate plan to utilize
every public gathering as a means
for some politician of greater or less
degree to promote his fortunes is car
ried too far The people submit to
this because no move is made to
remedy the evil. They have become
so used to it that nobody seems to
think of a new departure that would
give relief.
How interesting, how profitable,
the public gatherings might be made
if only some one prominent COM
munity would lead off and furnish
an example. And how many topics
of Importance the people ought to
consider and hear elucidated-ad-
dresses on agricultural subjects by
men from the state and national de-
partments; the drainage of lands
the difficulties and needs of our edu-
cational system by educators COM
petent to discuss the question; good
roads and highways are essential to
human comfort and convenience, and
it would be worth money to hear
some practical, expert road builder
tell what he has done; public health
is always subject of prime i'm
portance, and there are scores of
medical men in Georgia who could
do the people service by explaining
dangers and advising as to SANTA
ton, hygiene and other preventive
measures. The people could hear
saeh experiences with profit The
range of discussion and instruction
is so large that one realizes that al
most every big public gathering could
be made chautauqua if the people
would only have it soft the people
would but relegate the politicians to
the rear until the logical time for
them to speak.
We mean no offense to the poll
ticians. They are with us, even as
are the poor, and with institutions
like ours the politician will always
be here. He is part and parcel OF
our system. But even the politician,
if he is the statesman and clear
headed man he claims to be, is aware
that over-much of politics is not
wholesome for the people.
There is no likelihood of an early
move for better things, but one can
not help thinking what is possible
how much of good there might be
done, if the sovereign people woul3
but make up their minds to have re.
lief
And the most depressing though
of all is: how the demagogue thrive'
and gets in his work when the PEG
pie are the passive subjects of hi
plans There are able and earnes
men in public life in Georgia wht
may be heard with interest ant
profit, but they do not contribute
majority of those who manage t.
keep themselves in the public eye
and ear