Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1915-07-22
Neglect of Agricultural and Industrial
Opportunities a National Crime.

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.
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
predominant 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 elm
mated from public life before thought
full 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 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
4 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; fol-
the subject in some form or other Is
constantly before the public for solu
ton and ofttimes to the exclusion Of
more important problems to the Amer
lean plowmen.
Too Many Political Drunkards.
LloydGeorge, the Prohibition leader
OF Europe who led the prohibition fight
in England, has declared that he will
never again take u drink politically
and there are many American politi
cians-pro and anti-who would render
their country Il service by climbing
on the water wagon or signing pledge
Of political temperance. Too Otter
our 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 oul
public affairs. No one who is 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 stronl
enough to resist the temptation o
strong drink politically and when thu
J demon Rum once becomes firmly en-
q trenched in the mind Of u politician
he is less capable Of meeting the de
/, mands for constructive craftsmanship
> now confronting this nation.
, We have In this country too man!
. red.nosed politicians-both pro ant
. anti. A candidate with political deli
rum tremens, preacher with politi
cal snakes in his boots and an agitato
drunk on the liquor question are tn
saddest sights in civilization and the,
~ should all be forced to take the polit
/, ical Kelley Cure.
, 1t Is far more important In govern
I, ment TO make 1t easier for those Win
toll to eat than to make It more dill
, iicult for few topers to drink. Their
J is not one person in one hundred o
our rural population that ever touche
, LIQUOR but we all eat three times
4 day.