Judsonia weekly advance., 1915-06-23
POLITICAL
 AC|TATORS  { E-------'- POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE STRIFE A MENACE TO
 GOVERNMENT.
Neglect of Agricultural and Industrial
 Opportunities National Crime.
By Peter Radford.


 There never was time in the his- tory of this nation when we needed statesmen more or agitators less than at the present moment. The oppor- tunities now afforded us on land and sea demand the best there is in state craft and the possibilities that are con- fronting us call for national issues that unite the people, build industry and expand trade. The agricultural and industrial development of this nation has suffered severely at the hands of agitators who have sent torpedoes crashing into the port side of business and whose neglect of the interests of the farmer makes them little less than political criminals. We want no more of these evil spirits to predominate in government. Too long their hysterical cry has sent shiver down the spinal column of industry. Too long have the political agitators capitalized strife, pillaged progress and murdered opportunity. An indus trial corpse is not a desirable thing, a crippled business an achievement or neglect an accomplishment about which any representative of the gov ernment has a right to boast.
 Issues that Breed Agitators Should be
 Eliminated.
 The political agitator must be elim- mated from public life before thought ful consideration can be given to a constructive program in government. The liquor question is the most pro- life breeding ground for agitators and whether pro or anti, the hatch is equally as undesirable. This article is in no sense a discussion of the li- quor question but deals solely and by way of illustration with the political products of that issue. Other sub- jects will be dealt with in the order of their importance.
 In the history of our government the liquor issue has never produced a constructive statesman worth men, tioning and it never will. It has sent more freaks to Congress, Lilliputians to the Senate and incompetents to office than any other political issue under the sun.
 The recent experience of the Eng fish Parliament which dashed itself into a fury over the liquor question has lesson that it is. we'll for the farmers of this nation to observe; for the subject in some form or other is constantly before the public for solu- tIon and ofttimes to the exclusion of more important problems to the Amer ican plowmen.
 Too Many Political Drunkards.
 Lloyd-George, the Prohibition leader of Europe who led the prohibition fight in England, has declared that he will never again take a drink politically and there are many American politi- cians-pro and anti-who would render their country service by climbing on the water wagon or signing pledge of political temperance. Too often our legislative halls are turned into political bar-rooms and many of the members become intoxicated on liquor disc""sssions. We have too many polit- ical drunka, ds--pro and anti-in our public affairs. No oIe who is slave to the political liquor habit is quite so capable of dealing with the busi- ness affairs of government as the sober and industrious. We have few public men in this day who are strong enough to resist the temptation of strong drink politically and when the demon Rum once becomes firmly en- trenched in the mind of politician, he is less capable of meeting the de- mands for constructive statesmanship now confronting this nation.
 We have in this country too many red-nosed politicians-both pro and anti. A candidate with political deli rum tremens, preacher with politi- cal snakes in his boots and an agitator drunk on the liquor question are the saddest sights in civilization and they should all be forced to take the polit- ical Keeley Cure.
 It is far more important in govern ment to make it easier for those who toll to eat than to make it more diff ficult for few topers to drink. There is not one person in one hundred of our rural population that ever touches liquor but we all eat three times da