The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-11-12
POLITICAL
ACITATORs
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
STRIFE A MENACE TO
GOVERNMENT.
Neglect of Agricultural and Industrial
Opportunities National Crime.
BY Peter Radford.

There never was a time in the MIS-
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
eminent has right to boast.
Issues that Breed Asitators 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 Ii.
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, Laliputians
to the Senate and inchmpetents &c
Office than any other political issue
under the sun. "a
The recent experience of the Eng
fish Parliament which lashed Itself
into a fury over the liquor question
has lesson that it is we'll for the
farmers of this nation to observe; FOL
the subject in some form or other IL
constantly before the public for solu
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 fga
in England, has declared that he viii
never again take a drink POLITICAL!
and there are many American politl
cians-pro and anti-who would rende
their country service by climbin!
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 liquo
discussions. We have too many polit
ical drunkards-pro and anti-in on
public affairs. No one who is slav
to the political liquor habit is quit
, so capable Of dealing with the bus
ness affairs of government as tn
sober and Industrious. We have fey
public men in this day who are stron
{ enough to resist the temptation Q
strong drink politically and when tn
demon Rum once becomes firmly Ell
trenched in the mind Of a politician
ne Is less capable of meeting the d.
mands for constructive statesmanshi
now confronting this nation.
We have in this country too man
{ red-nosed politicians-both pro an
anti. A candidate with political del
rum tremens, a preacher with polit
cal snakes in his boots and an agitato
i drunk on the liquor question are tn
saddest sights in civilization and the
should all be forced to take the poll
ical Kelley Cure.
1t Is far more important in govern
l. ment to make 1t easier for those VIII
toll to eat than to make it more di
Il hcult for a few topers to drink. Thel
G Is not one person in one hundred
|. our rural population that ever touche
hquor but we all eat three times