The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-01-09
TENNESSEE Farmer
LEGISLATURE OF THE
STATE OF TENNESSEE
LAWMAKERS MUST BE MADE APP.
PREcIATE OUR AGRIcuLTU.
RAJ IMPORTANCE.
FARMERS HOLD The POWER

And Can Get Any Legislation Desired
If They viii Only Make the Same
Persistent Demands as the Profes.
sions.
(By Capt. T. F. Peck, Commissioned
Of Agriculture
In Tennessee, agriculture is the
paramount industry. 1t is the basis
not only of the prosperity Of farm
ers, but all of the people. We know
that it has not in the past been given
the encouragement its importance
merits. AS a result one does not
have to travel far to see the effects
on the land of the indifference shown
towards our most important industry
The notion that any fool could be
farmer, and that If there was an
especially bright and promising boy
in the family he should be educated
for professional career, has result
ed in depriving the farms Of the in
telligence. needed in their manage
ment, and the depleted soils SO much
in evidence are abundant proof that
every fool could not be. farmer.
Our lawmakers must be made to
appreciate the important part agri.
culture plays in our general prosper
ity, and the Importance Of having
competent officials at the head Of the
departments and to provide them
with adequate funds to cnduct the
work most advantageously to encour.
age the development OF the agricultu'
raj industries Of the state.
Now, fellow farmers, our lawmak.
ers are not going to bother about log.
islation in our interest unless we de.
mand it Of them. Other. industries
demand that their interests 10 look.
ed after. fostsred, protected and On.
larged. They put into the fields can
didates pledged to take care OF their
interests, while we a. farmers have
been drifting along. letting our in.
terests take care of themselves and
We know the result-the greatest In
terest in the state has received the
least legislative consideration.
= What are we going to do about It?
The farmers Of Tennessee hold the
balance of power. We can get what
we need to insure the development
of our agricultural resources II we
will indulge in less politics and use
more cohesiveness and cooperation
as farmers in making our demands on
our lawmakers for helpful legislation.
Candidates will soon be announcing
for legislature. Before. we assure
them of our support let Us make
known to them our demand, that they
give to the farmers the helpful leg
islation they need. We all know how
solicitous they are for the farmers
vote, and how interested they are in
the farmers during political cam
paigns, when they need their votes.
There are lot Of things the next
legislature can do for the good Of the
farmers. The candidates for the leg
islature who have enough brains to
do these things ought to have brains
enough and initiative to know what
some Of these things are in advance,
and enough courage and candor to
discuss them now.
1t would be good idea for the
If they wuold cast aside per-
sonal preference and select men for
legislative positions who stand
squarely ON issues beneficial to the
interests, all else being
equal. The farmers do not need or
want anything that will not be for the
general good Of the state. In the
past their interests have been neg
lected. II they do not look after
these matters they VIII be- neglected
and disregarded the next time. When
the Legislature IL in session the farm
eYs cannot ha tiiere ~. look after
their. interests. The others come.
The farmers should look after the
matter at home before the members
are elected.
We have all heard Of "the tan was-
cling the dog" That illustrates the
attitude of the Tennessee farmers in
legislative matters affecting their IN.
terests as compared to other inter
ests. 1t would be nothing but COM
mon justice to the dog to wag his own
tail awhile, especially when the tail
is dependent on the dog for its ability
to wag at all.