The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-07-13
PROMISES OF OFFICE SEEKER
When Temptation seizes One to Get
over-Heated About Some Favo-
rite, Just Keep Cool.

- 55F 7}2
To the Officers and Members of the
Farmers Union:
The current presidential year win
| probably see more glittering promises
peddled to the farmers than upon
similar occasions In many decades. On
both sides. and the factions on both
sides, the contest is hot and close.t
They are playing to every element to
boost their stock. And the farmers
vote will be coaxed and cajoled and
hypnotized by every device known to-
ancient and modern politics.
have made It no secret that have
been able to be of service to the
farmers of this country because took
the promises they made at every hall
lulejah meeting to overturn the uni
verse with several grains of salt.
II you want to get the most results
out of the politicians who will be APP
pealing for your votes from this time
forward, recommend similar
course to you.
There is, however. difference be-
tween the politician glibly Offering all
sorts of promises and the farmer VOL
unfairly offering to do anything under
high heaven to further the common
cause
Ninetenths of the promises the poli-
clans make with smiling face are
spoken simply for the purpose Of
catching votes. There is no desire or
intention to redeem them.
Work a farmer up to a boiler-burst-
lag lag Fl Pit ehh ef enthusiasm at a local or
county, or state convention. and he Isl
prodigal with his promtses-but, at
the time, he honestly believes he will
keep them.
Later, when he reaches home and
the feeling has died away, and he
gets busy patching the fences, or re-
pairing the roof or keeping the grass
out Of the cotton, the promise oozes
out of his mind like water out Of a
leaky barrel Sometimes, too, he gets
suspicious Of his officials, jealous OF
other members, dissatisfied because
the Union hasn't reformed the uni
| verse over night and considers him
self absolyed from his pledge. 1t all
amounts to the same thing In the long
run.
Because the two parties, with all
their. factions, are on their toes, po-
litically speaking, this year, fighting
for life and public favor, it is one Of
the best opportunities recently pre-
sented for the farmer to secure those
things, in legislative sense, for
which he has long been contending.
When the situation crystallizs2 lat
er on, I may have something to say
touching what the politicians offer the
farmers, and how much reliance can
be placed upon specific pledges.
1t is as yet too early to gauge the
lineup, and it is the part Of wisdom
to see what Congress is going to do
4 before we jump to conclusions, or
] adopt hastY action.
do not look for the present session.
4 to accomplish wonders in the way of
a legislation of any sort. since both par
, ties in house and senate are Juggling
for advantage, and have an eye more
to catching popular favor than to en-
acting measures genuinely construc-
!, tive.
But first, last and all the time, bear
t in mind that when the temptation
! seizes you to get overheateds about
, some particular political favorite--
] keep your vest down, your head cool
J and treat the candidate bidding for
! favor with just as much suspicion az
: you do the other fellow in borss
trade.
y CHARLES s. BARRETT.
> Spokane, Wash.