The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-03-07
Lobby Against 1t Has
Shot Last Bolt
FARMERS MUST USE SPUR
Aiti-Cotfon GaHbiin. Bill Must
NIn-IictUrc Of Some C~OnoresSnfcn
Who Raises Louu Cries About Trivial
Matters, But Arc Very Quict Ahou1
Important Matters.

~ tS1S' Ri 01frtotfS.
To the Officers and Members Of the
Farmers Union:
Your national ana state officials Who
ave been working in Washington this
winter in Behalf of the Farmers,
Union have found that Congress is
growing more responsive to tae de-
Inands of the American farmer than at
any time in its history.
We have not written demands
Of the Farmers Union into legislation
is due, not to lack of Influence, but
to the congestion inevitable with a
short session and the decentralization
consequent upon pending political
changes.
So far as a parcels post is concerned,
l am convinced that thar measure, in
a national and not a rural. is nearer
than any of the members. or than any
Of the politicians, imagine.
The lobby against the parcels posi-
has shot its bolt. 1t has exhausted its
ammunition. II an extra session is
called, Congress will. in all probable
ity. enact a general parcels post. II
there is no extra session. the chance
are strong that q general parcels post
will be authorized at the regular SEES
sion next December.
If you will dig up the letters l pub
lished last winter from congressman,
you will find that in nearly every in
stance they gave non-committal re-
plies to the question regarding a par
GELS post.
But the situation has changed.
At any moment, you may expect a
be ttalion Of statesmen to proclaim
loudly hat they a all along been
in favor Of u parcels post. Next, you
may expect them to work for il with a
vim.
The explanation Of this singular
about-face is an easy one.
The Congressman has heard from
the farmer. Representatives and Sen
ators from nearly all the States have
been literally bombarded With letters
from their farmer-constituents-
h power of the farmer, long held
in cold storage has been brought
forth. The result was inevitable.
1 regard this spectacle. as a vindica-
ton Of my often repeated declaration
that the farmer has only TO make him
self heard to have his wants supplied
in q Congressional sense.
It takes the spur to make the Con
gresham live up to his campaign
promises. The farmer is finding out
how to use the pur
In this connection. YOU ought TO
know the strange effect hat office
holding and life in washington nad
upon Congressman.
We have particularly noticed during
his session, the mild and tame con-
duct of some of the Representatives
who were genuine fi~re-eaters on the
tuInp
While they were appealing for your
votes, they paved dust like a stallion.
promised to reform everything over
night, and to start something the
they Were sworn in.
But 10. the change the momen they
get in Congress. Then, with many Of
them, the principal object is TO pan
handle a few little jobs for constitu-
ents. sneak up on some little commit
tee assignment, keep free seed goinS.
glut the mails with agricultural bullc-
tins and free government publications.
and have Il good time themselves.
1t is true, occasionally they rear UP
on their hind-legs and below thunder.
But investigate closely, and you Will
generally find the subject is d trivial
one, that it won't hurt anybody. u
that all the s~and-raising is to make the
folks at home believe their faithful
servant isn't asleep at the switch.
There are some strong, energetic
and loyal Congressman, it is true l
believe their numbers are increasing.
But they need to be increased still
| more rapidly. if he farmer wants 70
get the service to which he is entitled
The Ounty gets no better or more
active C~ongreSslnen than it deserves.
If YOU are not satisfied With the brand
of craftsmanship being ladied out from
Washington, just search your own SOUL
as to how far you are personally re-
Spons+hle for electins an incompetent.
If they kill an anti-cotton-gambiins
},ill at the present session. we have
good prospects to, pass it at an extra