The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-06-08
POLITICAL
AG|TAT0RS
lfa
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
STRIFE Al MENACE TO
GOVERNMENT.
Neglect Of Agricultural and Industrial
Opportunities a National Crime.
BY peter Radford.

There never was q time In the his
tory Of this nation when We needed
Statesmen more or agitators less thar
at the present ~ nent. The oppcr
tunities now afforded US on land and
sea demand the best there is In state
craft and tie possibilities thar arc con
fronting us call fer 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 pf agilators who have sent
torpedoes crashing into the port side
of business and wlsosa neglect Of the
Interests of the farmer makes them
little laas than political criminals. We
want no more III these evil spirits 70
predonainate iii government. Too long
their llyeterical cry has sent shiyer
down the spinal column Of Industry.
Too long aaye the political agitators
capitalized strife. pillaged progress
and murdered opportunity. An indus
trial corpse IL mot 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 A9itaters Should be
Eliminated.
The political agitator must be elm
anated from public life before thought
fnl consideration can be given to a
constructive program in government.
The liquor question is the most pro
lilic breeding ground for agitators and
whether pro or anti. the hatch is
equally ais undesirable This article
Is IN no sense a discussion OF the II
quor question but deals solely and by
way of illustration with the political
products of that issue. Other sub
jccts viii 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
tioAing ana it never VIII. II has sent
more freaks to Congress. Liiliputians
70 the Senate and incompatents to
Office than any other political issue
under the sun.
Tho recent experience Of the Eng
lish Parliament which lashed itself
Into a fury over the liquor question /
has lesson chat 1t is wen 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 ofttinles to the exclusion OF
more important problems to the Amer
lean plowmen.
Too Many Political Drunkards.
Lloyd d-George, the Prohibition leader
OF Europe who led the prohibition fight
in England. has declared that be will
never again take a drink politically !,
and there are many American politi-
cianspro and anti-who would render
their country q service by climbing
on the water wagli or signing pledge
Of political temperance. Too often
our legislative halls are turned into
political bar-rooms and many OF the
become intoxicated en- liquor
discussions. We have too many pOlit-1
lcal drunkards-pro and anti--in our
public affairs. No one who is slave
to the political liquor habit IS quite
70 capable Of dealing with the busi-
ness affairs Of government az the
sober and industrious. We have few
publin men III this day who are strong
10 resist the temptation OF
HronE drink politically and when the
lemon Rnm once becomes firmly en-
ranrbed Ii the Inina OF politician.
ie Is less capable Of meeting the de-
hands for constructive craftsmanship
Iow confronting this nation.
We have IN this country too many
ednosed politicians both pro and
nti A candidate with political deli
irm trenens, a preacher with politi-
al snakes in his boots and an agitator
runk on The liquor question are the
edaest sights in civilization and they
hould all be forced to take the polit.
eal keeley Cure.
u Is far more important in govern }
aent 10 make II easier for those who ,
Oh 10 eat thsn TO make IL more dif.
cult fer a few topers to drink. There
j not one person in ono hundred or
" rural population that ever touches
Iqaor but we all eat three times a
~.