The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1915-07-08
POLITICAL
Ac|TATORs
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
STRIFE A MENACE TO
GOVERNMENT.
Neglect of Agricultural and Industrial
Opportunities National Crime.
BY Peter Radford.

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 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 desirable thing,
crippled business an achievement or
neglect an accomplishment about
which any representative of the gov
eminent 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 a discussion of the IL
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 |
a constructive statesman worth men,
tioning and it never will. 1t has sent /
more freaks to Congress, Lilliputiahs /
to the Senate and incompetents to
Office than any other political issue
under the sun.
The recent experience of the Eng
fish Parliament which dashed itself
into a fury over the liquor question
has lesson that it is we'll for the
farmers of this nation to observe; for
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.
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-
'ians-pro and anti-who would render /
their country a service by climbing
IN the water wagon or signin pledge
Of political temperance. Zoo often
)ur legislative halls are turned into
political bar-rooms and many of the
We have too many polit-
cal drunkards-pro and a.nti-in our
public affairs. No one WHO is slave
O the political liquor habit is quite
10 capable of dealing 18th the bust
less affairs of govern ment as the
ober and Industrious. We have few
'ublic men in this day who are strong
nough to resist the temptation of
trong drink political ly and when the
emon Rum once b ecomes firmly en-
renched in the mi nd of a politician,
e is less capable of meeting the de-
lands for constructive craftsmanship
ow confronting this nation.
We have in th is country too many
politfcians-both pro and
nti. A candidate with political deli
um tremens, preacher with politi-
al snakes in his boots and an agitator
runk on the Liquor question are the
addest sights in civilization and they
Mould all be forced to take the polit-
al Kelley Cure.
1t Is far more important in govern
tent to make it easier for those who
Ill to eat than to make it more diff
cult for few topers to drink. There
not one person In one hundred of
If rural populati on that ever touches
quor but we ALI eat three times
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