The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-04-08
MUST TOE MARK
Advises Farmers 10 Watch Their Can-
gress,nsn and sensters.s
MAKE THEM VOTE RIGHT


President charles s. Barrett, Of the
National Farmers Union, Says the tlr
Farmers Must Not Allow Them.
selves t4i,,be Fooled by the Gift Of
Bn1setins and Garden Seed.
Having failed to secure bill to
prohibit cotton speculation, /. to get
parcels post. tariff legislation. bsne-
Rcial to the farmer and other laws
through Republican congress, Pres
ident Charles S. Barrett. of the Ma
tional Fafiners' UnionI IS going to
Washington at the opening Of the ex-
ira session to see Il the farmer can
expect ANYTHING more at the hands
OF the Delnoerats.ss.''eas'e'---.' .'-'1.s,r7 go
The national legislative bureau OF
the union will be maintained
throu ghor. the ssssion, and Presi-
dent Barrett will personally spend
rs mitch time there as possible.
In statement just out to the
organ ization he is frankly skeptical
OF re suits, unless. the farmer wakes
up to his opportunity and forces ae-
tion. He declares he would not be
surprised to "see g semblance @.
tariff REFORM" or "no tariff reform
at ais iHa makes. it rather plain
that he hasn't much more confidence
in the Democratic organization than
the Republican, unless pressure Is
brought to bear.
In many ways Presidents Barrett's
latest communication Is his most In
terestingt because he speaks out
frankly and unafraid about things.
Here is what he says: =
To the Officers and Members OF
the Farmers Union:
At moment when politics is in a
rarely formative condition, congress
meets in extra session.
/ am aware that at the present
time the plans of the leaders who
will control the majority in the next
house are as yet uncertain. The
platform and the immemorial prece-
dents of their party pledge them to a
tariff. reform. At the same time the
past attitude and performances OF
the "insurgent" contingent In the
Republican party commit them in the
same general direction.
Meanwhile, the so-called "stand-
pat" Republicans are to be remem-
bered. They have seen the drift OF
the country and with characteristic
political astuteness may be expected
to Keep reasonably near the band
wagon.
Back Of these varied elements,
each of them striving to promote
their little individual cause, lies the
presidential election, in LELAND
you can rest assured none Of them
are looszng sight Of this great event.
In fact, much Of what is done in
the extra. session and in the next reg
ular session will be largely directed
toward gaining good strategic posi-
tion for the presidential election.
II you want tariff reform, now or
in the regular session, it is up to
you to watch each individual mem
ber Of congress, especially the new
member who went to congress on
tidal wave of promise, not forgetting
either the senators, since 1t IS only a
question. of time before we elect SEN
ators directly by the people.
/ would not be surprised to see
semblaIce of tariff reform enacted at
the app preaching session, nor would l
be surprised to see no tariff reform
enacted We can tell more, and I
can more accurately advise members
how to bring pressure on their indi-
vidual representatives, when con-
gress meets and we get a look at the
lineup.
You will be kept posted from time
to time.
IN the meantime, remember that
unselfishness is not the predominant
inC note of politics, and that to get
results we must follow closely the
records of all lawmakers, not ex-
cepting those we know are our
friends Remember that they, too,
are only human.
This is as good a moment as any
other to tell you what the average,
not the exceptional, politician thinks
of the farmers.
He .egards the American farmer
as a sleeping elephant-with the pol
itician as his official keeper, who
must exercise carefully the sacred
function of his Office.
He knows that may happen again
in the past the elephant has awak-
cred snd writes his impress on ma
ti0nal legislation.
He knows that my happen again
any time!
But he also knows how to keep the
elephant quiet with few furious
sreeches about nothing, by playing
OH his prejudices, by getting the man
with q little "fluence" in the "dis-
trict" little job that will keep votes
corral-ed. He also handshakes, asks
after the wife and children, sends
government bulletins (for which
+I,aro ie cca-ce room AZ WASHINGTON J