The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-07-16
POLITICAL
AG|TATORS
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
STRIFE A MENACE TO
oovERNME EMIT.
Neglect 81 Agricultural and Industrial
Opportunities a National Crime.
BY Peter Radford.


There never was time in the his
tory OF this nation whom 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
of business and whose neglect of the
interests or 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 shlyer
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,
crippled business an achievement OF
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 q
constructive program In government
| The liquor question is the most pro
life breeding ground for agitators ant
whether pro or anti, the hatch Ii
/ equally as undesirable. This article
Is in no sense discussion of the Ii
| quor question but deals solely and By
way OF illustration with the politica
/ products of that issue. Other sub
| iects will be dealt with in the ordel
| OF their Importance.
In the history OF our government
the liquor issue has never produced
constructive statesman worth men
/ tioning and II never will. 1t has sen
more freaks to Congress, Lilliputian
to the Senate and incompatents t
under the SUM-
The recent experience of the Eng
fish Parliament which dashed itsel
into a fury over the liquor question
has lesson that 1t is we'll for tn,
farmers OF this nation to observe; TO
the subject in some form or other Il
constantly before the public for solu
ton and Outlines 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 fgh
In England has declared that he vii
never again take drink POLITICAL,
and there are many American politi
cians--pro and anti-who would rende
their country service by climbing
on the water wagon or signing pledg
of political temperance. Too oftel
our legislative halls are turned int
political bar-rooms and many of tn
members become intoxicated on iquo
discussions We have too many polii
ical drunkards-pro and anti--in on
public affairs. No one who is a slav
to the political liquor habit is quit
so capable OF dealing with the busi
ness affairs OF government as tn
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 til
demon Rum once becomes firmly en-
trenched in the mind of a politician
he IL less capable of meeting the dc
mands for constructive statesmanshil
now confronting this nation.
We have In this country too man,
red-nosed politicians both pro AM
anti A candidate with political deli
rum tremens. a 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 Keeley Cure.
1t is far more important in govern
ment to make 1t easier for those VIII,
toll to eat than to make it more dill
ficult for a few topers to drink Their
is not one person in one hundred o
our rural population that ever touehe
liquor but we all eat three times
day.