The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-01-30
PRESIDENT bARRETT'SlETER
Recall Initiative and Referendum Not Worth W|oop Says
Barrett, Unless The Farmer Learns to Distinguish
Between the Political Fakir and the Genuine
Statesman.

70 the Officers and Members Of the
Farmers Union:
The representatives. of the Farm
ers Union now in Washington looking
after legislation in which every Amer
ican farmer is interested, expect to
secure definite results this session We
will probably get reforms for which
Wc have long been cOntendinS more
quickly than the most optimistic Of
us imagine. Certainly. We Will pro-
cure them all. Just as soon as the
average Congressman learns the
farmer is in earnest in demanding
thctn, and that he Will not be put off
by cllsiCns, the Glad hand. free seed
or a little petty job OF two for the
bret thgen.
. 'ut We are not going TO advance
one incl, farther along he road until
sc Learn to smash out OF existence
the old school, hypocritical politician,
with his little bag Of inherited or ac-
uriircl tricks, and pin our faith to
the man who takes the large view,
The sincere view. | want to impress
these facts upon the farmer at What
is practically the outset OF what
premises to be one Of the most cx-
citing sessions OF recent years
/ can illustrate what | mean Very
easily with Two little stories. The
iirst is 4 personal experience. ! ap-
preached q we'll Known congressman
from the South during the recent
session. and asked him ii he were go
ing to support the bill calling for {:
general parcels post. Quickly as
lightning he said Barrett, I've
got q nice job for q Nnsman Of
yours" j told him wasn't hunting
jobs Tor my relativrs. and asked him
again i? he were in favor OF Il general
parcels post. Certainly YOU know
I'm with you fellows he answered
But tell me yes or mo- whether
you favor Il general parcels post
demanded. II favor some form Of g
general parcels post" he finally re-
Piled. That was as far as l coulc
make him commit himself, and yet
that man has the entire confidence
of his district, thousands Of his farm
or constituents believe he loses S!eeI
,icysnS ways 10 advance their in.
tercst
Another story: I received q few
days ago Il letter from an inhucntia
FARMER. thanking me for the cffort
we are putting forth in behalf OF Ger
tain measures. Among them he alst
specified u general parcels post. "G'
ahead" he wrote enthusia iastically
were backing you up. The poll
tlcians ere not going to fool us an.
longer We've let them do that lon:
enough. But | 60 wish YOU woul,
concentrate your energies on gettin:
the recall. We want to be able t
turn the raSca,s out when they de
cevc us This brother proceeded t
tell me that his especial representa-
tive was q simOn-pure friend OF tn
farmer, who could always be depend
ed upon to help whenever help Wa
needed. and whose sincerity was un
challengcable.
II hi 10
congressman, the Farmers Friend.
the paragon OF sincerity. told me i
tic presence OF several witnesses tina
he could not support general par
rct- pos. bill l asked him if he We1
not satisfied that at least eighty pc
cent OF his constituents want such
nlrasurc- He said he was.
| ann in favor Of the recall. ! Al
in favor of the initiative aud refer
endum ! have voted for them 2
long as ] had the chance. and ] wi
continue to vote for them until "
enact them into law, and that Wi
ho ut an earlier date than the az
cragc man hopes.
But what earthly good will the II
call do such farmers as those ] han
mentioned, the constituents of thes
Two precious patriots? II they ca
pun the wool over tho eyes of tl
farmer in the absence OF the fecal
thcy can DO il just easily when tt
recall is operative in every congrc
Sional district.
only the leaders Of the farme,
who try to get thinGs done in Nasi
lngton, know the buncoinbe and s,ol,
bricks handed out consistently to II
man OF The acres by the politician
There are q few good, strong. upricf1
sincere men IN both branches 81
/ The majority proceed upon the tneol
th"t me best way to continue to ho
o!iirr is 70 trade jugcle. Halter ~