The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-10-21
POLITICAL :
AG|TATORS
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
STRIFE A MENACE TO
GOVERNMENT.
Neglect Of Agricultural and Industrial
Opportunities a National Crime.
BY Peter Radford.

Il 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-
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 ut the
hands of a%gitators who have sent
torpedoes crashing into the port side
of business and whose neglect of the
interests OF the farmer makes them
little less thar political criminals. We
want no more of these evil spirits to
predominant in government. Too long
their historical cry has sent a 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 u desirable thing,
a crippled business an achievement or
neglect an accomplishment about
which any representative of the gov
eminent has u right to boast.
Issues that Breed Asitators Should be
Eliminated.
The political agitator musttbe 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-
INC breeding ground for %agitators and
/ whether pro or anti, the hatch is
equally as undesirable. This article
IS In no sense a discussion of the IL
quor question but deals solely and by
way of illustration with the political
products of that issue. Other sub
of their Importance.
In the history of our government
the liquor issue has never produced
a constructive statesman worth men,
tioning and 1t never will. 1t has sent
more freaks to Congress-, Lillipltians
to the Senate and incompetents to
once than any other political issue
under the sun
The recent experience of the Eng
ilsh Parliament which dashed itself
INTO a fury owe the liquor question
mas a lesson that it is we'll for the
armer of this nation to observe; for
the subject in some form or other is
constantly before the public for solu-
tlon and Outlines to the exclusion of
more important problems to tho Amer
lean plowmen.
Too Many Political Drunka,ds.
Lloyd.George. the Prohibition leader
OF Europe who led the prohibition fight
In England. has declared that he will
nevsr in take a drink politically
ana there, are many American politi-
cians-pr o and anti-who would render
co untry a service by climbing
on the water wagon or sign ing a pledge
OF pol ltical temperance. Too often
our 4 legislative halls are turned into
poilt cal bar-rooms and many of the
men ibers become intoxicated on liquor
aus cushions. We have too many polit-
lcfI drunkards-pro and anti-in our
y lblic affairs. No one who is a slave
70 the political liquor ha bit is quite
so capable OF dealing with the busi-
ness affairs of government as the
9 and Industrious. We have few
public men In this day who are strong
enough to resist the te mptatioi7 of
strong drink politically and when the
demon Rum once becomes firmly en-
trenched in the mind of a politician.
he is feEp nnnoh1a ne ,,ox,tiuo tho do.