The Raymer enterprise., 1912-02-22
LOOK FOR Definite RESULTS
Farmers Union Officials In Washing.
ton Expect to Secure Reforms
Long Sought.


Farmers Union:
The representatives Of the Farmers
union now In Washington looking aft.
er legislation in which every Ameri.
can farmer is interested. expect to Sc
cure definite results this session. We
Will probably get reforms for which
we have long been contending more
quickly than the most optimistic Of US
Imagine. Certainly. we will procure
them all. Just as soon as the average
congressman learns the farmer is In
earnest In demanding them, and that
he will not be put OF by evasions, the
glad hand. free seed or a little petty
JOB or two for the brethren.
But We are not going to advance
one inch farther along the road until
we learn to smash out Of existence
the old school, hypocritical politician,
with his little bag OF inherited, or &C.
quired tricks. and pin our faith to the
man who takes the large view, the sin
cere view. want to impress these
facts upon the farmer at what is
practically the outset Of what prom
ises to be one Of the most exciting ses.
sions Of recent years.
can illustrate what | mean very
easily with two little stories. The
first Is a personal experience. ap'
preached well-known congressman
from the south during the recent SEES.
sion and asked him II he were going
to support the bill calling for q gen.
eral parcels post. Quickly as light.
ming he said: Barrett. I've got q nice
Job for kinsman Of yours" told
him l wasn't hunting Jobs for my rela.
tives, and asked him again II he we're
In favor OF a general parcels post
Certainly. you know I'm with you fel-
lows" he answered. But tell me yes
or no whether you favor general
parcels post" l demanded. 81 favor
some form Of general parcels post"
he finally replied. That was Us far as
! could make him commit himself.
and yet that man has the entire con.
fidence Of his district, thousands Of
his farmer constituents believe he
loses sleep devlsing ways to advance
their interest.
Another story: l received a few
days ago letter from an influential
farmer. thanking me for the efforts
we are putting forth In behalf Of Ger.
tain measures. Among them he also
specified a general parcels post Go
ahead" he wrote enthusiastically,
We're backing you up. The pollu.
clans are not going to fool US any
longer. We've let them do that long
enough. But l do wish you would con.
centrate your energies on getting the
recall. We want to be able to turn
the rascals out when they deceive U.s."
This brother proceeded to tell me
that his especial representative was a
simon.pure friend Of the farmer, who
could always be depended upon to
help whenever help was needed, and
whose sincerity was unchallengeable.
That same highly recommended con.
gressman. the farmers friend" the
paragon OF sincerity. told me In the
presence OF several witnesses that he
could not support general parcels
post bill. asked him II he we're not
satisfied that at least eighty per cent.
OF his constituents want such meas.
ure. He said he was.
| am In favor Of the recall. am In
favor Of the initiative and referendum.
| have voted for them rs long as had
the chance, and | will continue to
vote for them until we enact them
into law, and that VIII be at an earlier
date than the average man hopes.
But what earthly good will the re-
call do such farmers as those have
mentioned. the constituents OF these
two precious patriots? II they can
pull the wool over the eyes OF the
farmer In the absence OF the recall,
they can do It just.,as easily when
the recall is operative In every con.
gressional district
Only the leaders OF the farmers who
try TO get things done IN Washington.
know the buncombe and gold.bricts
handed out consistently to the man
Of the acres BY the politicians. There
are a few good. strong, upright, SIN
cere men in both branches. But the
majority proceed upon the theory that
the best way TO continue to hold ONCE
Is to trade. juggie. fiatter and mislead
the man whose vote is the frst neces.
sity for offlce-holding.
That is why I say that though I
heartily advocate the recall, initia.
tive and referendum. as aids to direct
government by the peoplet. that none
OF them are worth a whoop unless
the farmer learns to distinguish the
political fakir from the statesman.
We can't put OF our responsibilities
as intelligent thinkers and voters
upon any convenient legislative de-
vice. The American people thought
they had founded genuine Democracy
when they decreed they wouldn't have
a king. or hereditary nobility. They
are still in voluntary bondage to the
taking politician. The farmer Is an
especial offender. Until he learns to
separate the political sheep from the
goats, the recall, initiative, referen.
dunn. direct election OF senators. or