Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1915-07-01
POLITICAL
AC|TATORs
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
STRIFE A MENACE TO
GOVERNMENT.
Neglect Of Agricultural and Industrial
Opportunities National Crime.
BY Peter Radford.

There never was a time in the his
tory of this nation when we needed
statesmen more or agitators less than
at the present moment. The oppor.
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
predominant in government. Too long
/ their hysterical cry has sent SILVER
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 desirable thing,
a crippled business an achievement or
neglect an accomplishment about
which any representative of the gov
eminent has right to boast.
Issues that Breed Aeitators Should be
Eliminated.
The political agitator must be elm
mated from public life before thought
full consideration can be given to
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 discussion of the H.
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. 1t 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
lish Parliament which dashed itself
into a fury over the liquor question
has a lesson that it is well for the
farmers of this nation to observe; for
the subject in some form or other is
constantly before the public for solu- |
ton and Outlines to the exclusion of |
more important problems to the Amer |
lean 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-
and anti-who would render
their country a service by climbing
on the water wagon or signinga pledge
of political temperance. Too often
our legislative halls are turned into
political bar-rooms and many of the
members become intoxicated on liquor
We have too many polit-
ical drunkards-pro and anti-in our
public affairs. No one who is a slave
to the political liquor habit is quite
so capable of dealing with the bust
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- I
-renched in the mind of politician, 6
ne is less capable of meeting the de- !
hands for constructive craftsmanship i,
low confronting this nation.
We have in this country too many
politicians-both pro and
init. A candidate with political deli
ium tremens, a preacher with politi.
al snakes in his boots and an agitator
trunk on the liquor question are the
addest sights in civilization and they
hould all be forced to take the polit-
cal Kelley Cure.
1t is far more important in govern
nent to make it easier for those who
oil to eat than to make it more diff
cult for few topers to drink. There
} not one person in one hundred of A
UT rural population that ever touches
quor but we all eat three times
ay. a,