The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1913-09-12

as now enforced, and government
control il full which would mean
National ownership--an i'm
mense, if not fatal stride toward
Socialism. OF all the isms Of
modern agitation socialism men.
aces the farmer more dangerously
than any other 1t not only means
government supervision along all
lines Of activity, but the destruc,
tion of home--the reservoir OF
patriotism.
Secondly. We have congratu-
lated, ourselves for years on the
state Of peace and good feeling
existing between the people and
the iailroadsin Tennessee. While
our sisters around us have been
reaping the costly fruits of agi
tation, law suits and uncertain.
ties, Tennessee has been at peace
and the people and the railroads
10 this state have been in cordial
cooperation 10 developing the
primary interests in the state. In
this good work the railroads have
not been stinted in the matter
of cost of service. Every educa.
tional move made BY the Depart
ment Of Agriculture Of this state,
has been literally seconded by
the railroads. Why shouldn't the
railroads cooperate with the Ag.
ricultural Department. The in.
terest Of the farmer and the 10
terest Of the railroad, are so in.
terwoven that you can't help one
without helping the other. Good
results Of the farming and live
stock interest, the e lucational
interest and the good road move.
ment throughout the entire
state. In spite Of the fercest
and bitterest fractional agitation
along political schemes resorted
to to get an advantage of the one
over the other, and the unfavor.
able impression the political con.
ditions in thio state have made
abroad the farming interest
of this state has prospered to a
high state Of development. Be.
sides extravaganza, the result Of
factionalism run mad, Tennessee
has escaped many Of the burdens
that her sister states are suffer.
ing from by the demagogic war
of politicians on railroad corpo.
rations.
while this is all true, re.
greet to say to you that there are
signs and evidences of a serious
attempt to disturb the peaceful
aud profitable relations existing
between the railroads and the
people in this state, and to foist
uponthe people q bitter and cost
ly agitation from which many
states are suffering. A few gen.
tlemen in Office and some who are
seeking Office seem to think their
only chance to succeed is through
exc itement and prejudice, ap.
peals to ignorance, the magnify.
ing Of small mistakes. misrepre.
sensations and reckless assertions
directed at the greatest and most
important, the most helpful and
liberal 1.-THE states great inter.
ests--the railroads. They are
dealing in old bird nests, long
settled issues and digging down
into the depths for something on
which they may use the muck
rake. They need an issue, and
on Issue they must have. The
old issues upon which they have
worked threatens to break from
under them. Like Richard the
III, they would give a kingdom
for a horse, but. ! venture the
prediction that if they get q
horse 1t will be a wooden one.
/ 1T Is q matter Of current re.
port that several of the large
cities Of thisstate have com bined
to control the next legislature.
These cities are boss.ridden, or
will be it is expected, and one