Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-07-15
POLITICAL
ACITATORs
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
STRIFE A MENACE 70
coyEaNMEN
Neglect Of Agricultural ard Industrial
Opportunities a National Crime.


There never was a time In the his
tory of this nation when we needed
statesmen more or agftators less than
AZ the present moment. The oppor-
sea demand the best there Ia In state
craft and the posi- bilitIea that are con-
fronting as eau 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
torradoes 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 agttasars
capitalized strife, piiiaged progress
and murdered opportunity. An indus
trial corpse ia not a desirable thing.
crippled business an achievement or
neglect an accomplishment about
which any representative OF the gov
eminent has a right to boast.
Issuss that Breed Asitators Should be
Eliminated.
The political agitator must be elm
mated from public life before thought
gysF -
constructive program In government.
The liquor question Is the most pro-
life breeding ground for agitators and
whether pro or anti. the hatch il
equally as undesirable. This article
In In no sense discussion of the IL
auor question but deals solely and by
way OF Illustration with the political
products OF that issue. Other sub
Iecgs will be dealt with In the order
OF their Importance.
In the history OF our government
the liquor Issue has never produced
constructive statesman worth men
tioning and IL never will 1t has sent
more freaks to Congress. Liliiputians
TO the Senate and incompetents to
Office than any other political issue
under the sun.
The recent experience of the Eng
hsh Parliament which dashed itself
into a fury over the liquor question
has lesson that II Ia well for the
farmers OF khis nation to observe: for
the subject in some form or other Ii
constantly before the public for sow
ton and ofttimes to the exclusion OF
more important problems to the Amer
lean piowmen.
Too Many Political Drunkards.
Lloyd. George. the Prohibition leader
OF Europe v no led the prohibition tight
In England, has declared that he will
never again take a drink politically
and there are manv American politt-
cians-pro and anti---who would render
their country a 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
discussions. We have too many polit-
zeal druukards-pro and anti--in our
public affairs. No one who is q 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-
trenched IN the mind OF a politician.
he In less capable of meeting the de-
mands for constructive craftsmanship
now confronting this nation.
We have I'm this country too many
red-nosed politicians--both pro and
anti. A candidate with political deli
rum tremens. a 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-
teal Kelley Cure.
Ii Ia far more important In govern
ment % make IL easier for those who
toio to eat than to make IL more diff
fistlt for few topers to drink. There
Ia not one person In one hundred of
our rural population that ever touches
liquor but We all eat three times .