Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-31
BARRETT ADVISES
FARMERS To KEEP
EYES ON CONGRESS
eff You Want Tariff Reform"
He Says, at Is Up to You
to Watch Individual Mem.
berS"
fspeciai Dispatch to rhe Journal)


Especial Dispatch to The Journal)
UNION CITY, Ga. March 3O.-Calling
upon the farmer to keep his eye upon the
members OF congress SO as to secure
needed legislation, President Charles s.
Barrett, of the National Farmers union,
has issued a statement to the members
of the union. outlining the possibilities
of the coming session His statement
follows:
ITO the Officers and Members of thsl
Farmers Union: At moment when pol
itics is in a rarely formative condition,
congress meets IN extra session
81 am aware that at the present time
the plans Of the leaders who viii control
the majority IN the next house are as
yet uncertain. The platform and the i'm
memorial precedents Of their party pledge
them to tariff reform. at the same
time the past attitude and performances
OF the insurgents contingent in the Re-
publican party commit them In the sans
general direction.
Meanwhile, the so-calied 'standpat
Republicans are to be remembered. Thex-
have seen the drift OF the country anesa
with Characteristic political astutenessll
may be expected to keep reasonably near
the band wagon.
Back OF these varied elements. each of
them striving to promote their little fn-l
dividual cause, lies the presidential cleo.
ton In 1e12-and you can rest assured
none OF them are losing sight of thial
great event
extra session and IN the next regular
session will be largely directed toward
gaining good strategic position for the,
presidential election
WATCH THE MEMBERS.
IF YOU WANT TARIFF REFORM.
NOW OR IN THE REGULAR SESSION
IT is UP TO YOU TO WATCH EACH
INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF CON-
GRESS. ESPECIALLY THE NEW
MEMBER WHO WENT TO CONGRESS-
ON A TIDAL WAVE OF PROMISES
SENATORS, SINCE 1T is ONLY A
QUESTION OF TIME BEFORE WE
kELECT SENATOR'S DIRECTLY By
THE PEOPLE.
Il would not be surprised TO see ..
semblance of tariff reform enacted at the
approaching session, nor would Isbe SUR
prised to see no tariff reform enacted
We can tell more, and can more accu-
rately advise members how to bring
pressure on their individual representa-
tives, when congress meets and we get
4
You viii be kept posted from time to
time.
In the meantime, remember that unseIf.
ishness is not the predominating note Of
politics, and that to get results we must
follow closely the records of all law.
makers, not excepting those we know ara
our friends. Remember that they, too
are only human.
This Is as good a moment as any other
I - <o1I No Ra% 10
ceptional politician thinks OF the farm
ers.
He regards the American farmer as a
sleeping elephant-with the politician as
his official keeper, who must exercise.
carefully the sacred function of his Office.
He knows that on Few occasions in
the past the elephant has wakened and
written his impress on national Iegisla-
ton.
He knows that may happen again ann
timel
But he also knows how to keep thu
elephant quiet with q few furious
speeches about nothing, by playing on HIS
little 'huence'' in the district" a littI0
preJudices, by getting the man with a.
job that will keep votes corraled. Hel
also handshakes, asks after the wife and
children. sends government bulletins (for
which there is scarce room at Washing
lOHl anu BdEucH Secu (WHICH occasionally
wiz sprout).
RAISING DUST"
He seems to be raising dust for thu
farmers. In reality. the average members
IS bending every energy to get reelected
II would as soon work, for the farmers
as for himself, II the latter woke up and
made him do It. and let him understand
that he would not be paid OF in 'jollies. p
in handshakes, and in hot air.
In other words It is q game OF POLITICAL
poker, and you have got TO keep callingfl
Their stock-in-trade Is in knowing how
susceptible the average voter Is to These
little counterfeit favors
Demand work, and they WiH quickly
give It'll
There are many studious hard-workins~
members, who keep abreast OF public
questions, and really try to legfslate for
the general good. I give them the credit
But they need TO be increased. by the
farmer showing that ne win give hisI
vote only in exchange for service. not!
pretty words.
All OF this is said In the best OF humor,
but the sooner you know how the CON-
gresham regards you, the quicker you'll
get the results you are now surprised at
not getting from this most pleasant ami
smiling gentleman.