Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-11-22
GREAT PROBLEM OF NATION
Not Tariff Nor Money Questions, But
Economic Distribution Of Neces-
saries of Life.


year as a national organization. Some
years we have had considerable more
noise and excitement at our conven-
tions than was manifested at Chatta-
nooga, but noise counts for very little
in this movement The men whose
leadership insures success for the or
ganization are the men who have
citation and extravagant promises and
have learned well the lesson of quiet
determination. Such we had at Chat
tanooga.
Could the individuals who have
kicked out the traces because of some
fancied grievance or because they
thought every dime invested as dues
should return a dollar in interest, re-
alize what a tremendous force this
union has been in the affairs of men
during the past decade, ! am sure
that every one of them would hurry
back to the fold. 1t Is safe to say that
at no time in the history of our great
country has there been a more wide
spread determination to diagnose the
disease of our body polite and apply
a specific. Men in all walks of life
know that something is radically
wrong. This can now be stated with
out the fear Of being called an alarm
list. 1t is so evident that the most
pronounced optimist recognizes its ex-
istence. and it is happy sign that
our great nation is getting right close
up to the real trouble.
Politicians used to feed the people
on the poetry of politics, but they
didn't fatten It takes hard work to
supply the beans and bacon to put on
flesh People found out that 1t took
effort to succeed and that the particu-
lar color of the political party in pow
er had little to do with the problem OF
existence They are willing to work,
and work hard. but are insistent in
the demand that their labors shall be
properly rewarded.
The great problem before the Amer
lean people is not the tariff. 1t is not
the money question, it is not the IA
vorite planks of the political parties,
but 1t is the economic distribution of
the necessaries Of life. Man is first of
all an animal. His higher intelligence
makes him desire to be a first-class
| animal. Proper food and clothing are
essentials, first essentials. In our de-
sire to conquer the wilderness and
make a great nation we have neglect
ed to study closely this all important
subject. Countless multitudes are suf-
fering and will continue to suffer until
we learn that every being must have
the opportunity to provide the crea-
ture comforts. Our responsibility
ends not with the present, but ex-
tends to generations yet unborn.
This problem has never been treat
ed as a national question The indi-
vsdual has been left to solve 1t as best
he might. Look at the awful condi-
lions that prevail as a result Of this
neglect. A few wax fat because they
can and do manipulate the products OF
the many, while the great body OF
producers must fight hard to get even
enough for an existence.
Why do say that our great think
ers are getting close up to the real
trouble? Because all of the efforts
now being made to find what is the
matter will eventually get around to
this problem. Soon all Of this crop
ing about and striking here and there
VIII stop, and, in common parlance,
we will get down to brass tacks.' =
The country life commission and the
agitation about the rural credit sys-
TENS of Europe are steps in the right
direction. 1t will not be long until
the leaders In these movements viii
be abreast OF the Farmers unioi IN
the effort to handle American prod
: ucts economically and equitably.
: Take all the help you can get in
working out this problem, but be sure
. that you do not depend entirely upon
! the help. Let us all work at 1t. Leg
islation will help some. Commercial
( bodies will lend assistance so long as
3 ii means dollars to them. Railroads
I are getting anxious about freight ship
{ ments and will help considerably t.
$ eliminate grafters in the fruit ant
I vegetable business, so that farmer
+ won't get discouraged and quit rails
: ing these things. But all of thes'
|, agencies combined will amount to bu
u little unless the farmer is in thu
n proper attitude. The whole thini
s hinges upon the determination Of tn
i farmer to be business man. II h
d really means business he will get int
g the union, the only organization tina
L has so far attempted to reach the roo
n OF the matter
X For the benefit OF the doubtln
L Thomas" let me say that consiC
'e cradle number of farmers belong Z
lie this organization. They have stuck.
al calamity howlers to the contrary no
withstanding. Let me make this mex
1e statement strong. the national unto
In is in better shaep financially and oil
as erwise than ever in its history. WIS
n does all this mean? Nothing less tina
OF that the American farmer has learne
H. that his own organization is his bes
ne friend. He does not expect to soly
40 the problem of economic productio
eo and distribution by tomorrow, but b
IL knows that we are travelling that wa,
Unorganized farmers do not seem |
On be making very rapid strides in an
ne direction Let US all join in this TO
by ward movement and sooner. perhap
ng than you realize. we will have solve
% the marketing problem