The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-12-22
WHY CERTAINLY, COL. WOOD!

This paper is always glad to re-
, ceiye requests, and it is also just as
glad to accommodate when the re-
quest is proper, as it is to receive the
reouest-but here is one that is so I'M
usual that we must beg to take 1t for
the time being under Amusement,
This modest request comes from
party who designates himself as
Henry A. Wise Wood and whose hab-
itat is New York. Col. Wood mod
estly asks this papers aid sin restor-
ing the Republican party to power,
with Col. Teddy Roosevelt as its EN-
ergizing'"
AS before. we stated this is so sud
den we must take it under advise
ment, but before beginning the Jop
of thinking it over we will say frank
Nv that it appeals to US. This partlc-
ular paragraph in Col. Woods re-
quest is specially significant-read II:
"That the Republican party is COM
uosed of the most highly educated,
the most travelled and experienced OF
our men none will deny. But because
of their very advantages these men
are regarded as being apart from the
rest. are thought to be class wish
ing to exploit the rest, and are thus
distrusted accordingly. This is the
Republican party's handicap. But
this handicap can gradually be turn
ed to immense advantage by actually
placing at the disposal of the people
at large this store of knowledge ana
cultivated intelligence"
OF course, Col. Wood, it goes with
out saying almost, that it would be de-
sirable to have our government adj
ministered by the most highly educat-
ed among us; by those who have trav.
eled the farthest, and who have gained
the most experience. A government
in the control Of party that enjoys
monopoly of the knowledge anc
cultivated intelligence" OF the coun'
try ought to be dinger of a govern
ment.
We are loath to discourage Colone
Wood in his laudable and patrlotl'
enterprise. But we can't help saying
that what makes us hesitate is the
appalling difficulty of the task which
he urges us to join our efforts witt
his to accomplish. Deeply though i
is to be deplored, the shameful fac
is that the men with rough necks ant
horny hands are so numerous tina
thew can outvote US finer and NOR
delicate organisms, and they maxi
brutal and ruthless use of their pow
er to do so.
What are we "most highly educat
ed people" to do, Col Wood, when W
are obliged to submit to the presi
dency of so frowsy and untutored
character as Woodrow Wilson?
How shall we save ourselves, an
assert our sacred right to rule, whe
such gangsters as Or. Charles E. FL
liot, Thomas A. Edison, Henry Forc
Luther Burbank, Jane Adams, Id
Tarbell and other questionable char
actors, destitute of the advantage
that travel, culture and experienc
give, combine to force their low
browed will upon us?
To our mind, Col. Wood, it woul
seem that we should have change i
our form of government. There Shout
be a constitutional amendment, or a
entire new constitution, providin
that only the educated, the Travelled
the experienced, with their exclusiv
store of knowledge and cultivated in
telligence, shall have a voice and
vote in public affairs. In that wa
Charley Eliot, Tom Edison, Han
Ford, Lutte Burbank and others o
their ilk might be restrained from eS
ercising their maligned influence an
we very best people would have
chance to save the country and kee
it saved.
1t is difficult, perhaps, to bring sue
a reform to pass. But let it not b
forgotten that the "energizing spirit
of the new dispensation is at hand t
devise means by which the educate
and travelled minority, booted an
spurred, may ride the illiterate an
unworthy majority in peace and Sc
curity, and we'll be with you, Co
Wood, with spurs on our heels, poem
on our lips and music in our hearts,
st. Joseph Observer,