Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-06-25
POLITICAL
AC|TATORS
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
STRIFE A MENACE TO
GOVERNMENT.
Neglect of Agricultural and industrial
Opportunities a National Crime.
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 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 a 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
eminent has 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 a discussion of the H.
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
tjoning 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 lesson that it is well for the
farmers of this nation to observe; foi
the subject in some form or other is
constantly before the public for solr
ton and ofttimes to the"exclusion O.
more important problems to the Amer
lean plowmen.
Too Many Political Drunkards.
Lloyd-George, the Prohibition leade'
of Europe who led the prohibition figh
in England, has declared that he vii
never. again take a drink polite; IL.
and there are many American politi
cians-pro and anti-who would relde.
their country a service by cHmbin
on the water wagon or signing pledg
of political temperance. Too ofte.
our legislative halls are turned in,
political bar-rOoms and many of tn
members become intoxicated on nquc
discussions. We have too many poll
ical drunkards-pro and anti-in GU
public affairs. No one who is a slav
to the political liquor habit is qui'
so capable of dealing with the bus
ness affairs of government as IT,
sober and industrious. We have few
public men in this day who are strons
enough to resist the temptation O
strong drink politically and when tn,
demon Rum once becomes firmly eli
trenched in the mind of 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-nesed politicians pro ali,
anti. A candidate with political dell
rum tremens. preacher with politi
cal snakes in his boots and an agitatol
drunk on the liquor question are the
saddest sights in civilization and they
should all be forced to take the polit
ical Kelley Cure.
1t is far more important in govern
ment to make it easier for those who
toll to eat than to make it more diff
ficult for few topers to drink. There
is not one person in one hundred o.
our rural population that ever touche!
liquor but we all eat three times {