Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-06-30
POLITICAL
AC|TATORs
POLITICIANS WHO CAPITALIZE
STRIFE A MENACE TO
oOvERNMENT.
Neglect Of Agricultural and Industrial
Opportunities q National Crime.
BY Peter Radferd.

HoIc nCt0E was u ZINC III tuE HE
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-
that unite the people. build industry
and expand trade. The agricultural
and industrial development OF this
nation has suffered severely at the
banda Of agftators who have sent
torpedoes crashing into thu 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
predominate IN government. Too long
their hystefical cry has sent = SILVER
down the spinal column OF industry.
Too long have the political agitators
capitalized strife. pillaged progress
and murdered opportunity. An indus
trial corpse 70 not desirable thing,
crippled business an achievement or
neglect an accomplishment about
which any representative Of the gov
eminent has . right to boast
lssues that Dreed AaItators Should be
eliminated.
The political agitator must be elm.
mated from public life before thought.
full consideration can be given to
constructive program In government.
The liquor question 10 the most pro-
life breeding ground for agitators and
whether pro or anti. the hatch is
equally a. undesirable. This article
Is In no sense discussion of the Ii.
quor question but deals solely and by
way OF illustration with the political
products OF that issue. Other sub
jectss will be dealt with in the order
of their Importance.
In the history Of our government
the liquor issue has never produced
constructive statesman worth men.
tionine and II never viii. It has sent
more freaks to Congress, Lilliputians
to the Senate and incompetents to
ONCE than any other political issue
under the sun.
The recent experience Of the Eng.
Hsh Parliament which dashed itself
into a fury over the liquor question
has lesson that 1t is well 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 piowmeu.
Tee Many Political Drunkards.
Lloyd0eerse. the Prohibition leader
Of Europe who led the prohibition fight
In England. has declared that he will
never again take . drink politically
and there are many American politi-
ciAns--pro and anti-~who would render
their country = service by climbing
on thewateriwagon or signing pledge
Of political temperance. Too often
our legislative halls are turned into
political bar-rooms and many of the
members become Intoxicated on liquor
discussions. We have too many polit,
ical drunkaTde--pro and anti-in our
public affairs. No one who Is slave
to the political liquor habit is quite
so capable OF dealing with the bust.
ness affairs Of government as the
sober and Industrious We have few
public men In this day. who are strong
enough to resist the temptation OF
strong drink politically and when the
demon Rum once becomes firmly en-.
trenched In the mind OF politician,
he Is less capable OF meeting the de.
mands for constructive sstatesmanship
now confronting, this nation
We have In this country too many
red-nosed politiclans-both pro and
anti 4 candidate with political deli
rum tfemens, . preacher with politi
oal, snakes in his boots and an agitator
drunk ON the liquor question are the
saddest sightszin civilization and they
should all be forced to take the polit-
fcal 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
ncult for few topers to drink. There
ID not one person in one hundred of
our rural population that ever touches
liquor but We all eat three times q
day