The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1915-07-01
POLITICAL
AG|TATORS
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
srRiFE A MENACE TO
oovERNMENT.
Neglect Of Agricultural and industrial
Opportunities q National Crime.
By Peter Radford.

By Peter Radford.
There never was Q 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
seq demand the best there IL In state
craft and the possibilities that are con-
fronting us call for national issues
that unite tho people. build industry
and expand trade. The agricultural
and industrial development OF this
nation has suffered severely st 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
nredominate In government. Too long
their hysterical cry has sent a shiver
down the spinal column Of industry.
Too long have tho political asitators
capitalized strife. pillaged progress
and murdered opportunity. Al indus
trial corpse IL not n desirable thing.
q crippled business an achievement or
neglect an accomplishment about
which any representative OF the gov.
ernment has . right to boast.
Issues that Breed Aeltators should be
Eliminated.
Tho political agitator must be elm
mated from public life before thought
ful consideration can be given 10 a
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 a. undesirable. This article
10 In no sense . discussion Of the II.
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
tho liquor issue has never produced
q constructive statesman worth men,
tioning and II never will Il has sent
more freaks TO Congress. Lilliputians
to the Senate and incompetents to
once than any other political issue
under the sun. "a tr,rf t..r
The recent experience Of the Eng
lish Parliament which lashed itself
into . fury over the liquor question
has . Lesson that Il is well for the
farmers OF fhis nation TO observe; for
the subject In some form or other 10
constantly before the public for solu.
tion and ofttimes to The exclusion OF
more important problems to the Amer,
lean plowmen.
Too Many Political prunkards.
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
Dur legislative halls are turned into
political bar.rooms and many OF the
members become intoxicated on liquor
discussions. We have too many polit'
ical drunkards-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 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 q politician.
he is less capable OF meeting the de-
msnds 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. 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-
ical Keeley Cure.
. II Is far more important In govern |
ment TO make II easier for those who |
toll to eat than TO make II more diff |
hcult for Q few topers to drink. There
10 not one person In one hundred OF
our rural population that ever touches
liquor but We all eat three times q