The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-06-09
WILES OF OUR POLITICIANS
President Barrett Directs Attention to
Men That Set City Against
Country-Trick Is Old.

| To the Officers and Members OF inc
Farmers Union: Upon my several Wis
Its to Washington during the sessions
Of congress l have more than evel
been impressed with the demagogy
that keeps country and city apart in
sentiment and that is foe to true
progress.
I could call by name several con
gressmen who rode into Office by ar
raging country against city.
The procedure is simple and is one
OF the Oldest tricks In the bag OF the
politician.
He will 90 into the country districts
during a campaign and lash sentiment
against the city to frenzy.
When the returns are all in you
will find that he has been elected by
a country majority.
When he gets to Washington, what
does he do? Continue to fay the
residents Of the city, and to take the
farmer to his loving breast?
Net so.
He starts upon one Of the cunning
est straddles he can devise.
For instance, take the parcels post.
He probably went through the dis.
trtct before election. promising all
the farmers that one Of the first things
he would do when he reached Office
would be to get them q general par.
GELS post.
Does he fulfill that promise to the
letter?
Not SO you could notice it.
He studies the election returns faith.
fully.
He finds that a large part Of the
vote against him came from the cities.
His object. therefore, is to rub the
city mans back. and at the same time
not to make an enemy of the farmer.
So he frames up q parcels post that
lets the farmer ship into the city, but
that protects the little city merchant
from far.off competition by making no
provision for return shipments.
Thus he has given the man in the
country a shadow of redemption Of
bis promise. And he has made grand
stand play to the man in the city.
This is only given for an illustration.
There are many others.
have seen congressman after con-
gresham get into Office by appealing
10 the class prejudice of the farmer.
and then turn straight around and
work might and main to get things for
he city, that he might melt the oppo.
'ition against him.
IT Is this sort Of thing, the constant
lining up of country against city, that
S one Of the greatest bars to progress.
The city man is often led to be.
ieve that the country man regards
lin with suspicion and hostility. and |
ice versa.
What is the result?
They both suffer in the long run.
They hesitate upon uniting In meas.
res in which they are both interested.
When good government is at stake
4 the state. the county or nation, they
re sometimes as far apart as the
oles, when they should be fighting
nder the same banner.
! cannot too frequently warn you
gninst thia hypncritical TINE, of .pQIt
clans who get your votes under false
retenses, and who incites you to pre-
ldice against people in the cities,
hen, as matter of fact, the city and
le country have great deal in com.
on.
l caution you to watch him in action,
nd to mark him for close attention
hen he next offers for Office.
Men who use these sort of wiles to
eep In power are worthy of the sup
'rt neither of the city or the coun-
y. Where they should be represent
g both, they really represent
either. They only represent them.
lives.
CHARLES & JARRETT