Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-03-19

2
farmers in congress. There are some
who speak and most sympathetically
for agriculture. They believe it is
the greatest basic industry in the
world. They want to give it square
deal, but with very few exceptions,
none know how this square deal is
to be obtained.
Recently the cables informed us
that the farmers had obtained the
/ balance of power in the parliament
/ Of the commonwealth of Australia
For many years in the country agri-
culture had struggled for it's right
full place in the government. 1t
wanted not to control affairs, but to
be given a voice commensurate with
its Importance. In the last election
this place was obtained and agricul-
ture in that far distant democracy
says that place win never De lost
Agriculture in Australia did not,
however, capture the balance of
power by denouncing the methods of
opposing parties and interests. 1t
did not get it's proper place beneath
the southern cross by sulkily staying
at home and refusing to do it's po-
litical duty. On the other hand it
knew that it was entitled to real con-
sideration and it proceeded to get it.
The farmers of America must do
what the farmers of Australia did
They must collect what is due them;
not at the point of the bayonet, but
at the point of the ballot, The
farmers of the antipodes realized in
the last eelction that the time for
agitation had ceased and the moment
for achievement had arrived. They
could have passed resolutions until
doomsday; they could have de-
nounced until all human energy had
come to an end and they would not
have obtained a commanding place
in the councils of the state if they
hat not proceeded along intelligent
lines to garner the fruits of effort.
What the farmers of Australia will
do with the power now in their hands
is matter for themselves to deter
mine. But | am quite confident that
they will give good account of their
stewardship and fully justify the con-
fidence of the people who elected
them.
It is not enough that the farmers
vote-they must select. Too often
in this great country the politicians
make a selection of candidates and
then invite the farmers to accept
their choice. Then Uncle Reuben is
faced with the alternative of not
voting at all or voting for a candi-
date whom he is conscious does not
properly represent his views.
Of course l am not asking that the
farmer restrict his field of political
observation to the rural meadow or
the cornfield. / am conscious of the
fact that he will not narrow his view
point so as to exclude consideration
of other interests. But it is a safe
proposal that the man who can not
or will not recognize the transcend
ent Importance of agriculture ought
not to be entrusted with the exercise
of political power.
One of the most unfortunate con-
ditions in our country is the light
vein in which politics is discussed.
This is distressing to the man who
thinks, the man who looks ahead
and sees all that is behind. Politics
is the most important of all human
considerations, for upon its proper
use depends the lives, the fortunes,
the liberties and the happiness of
humanity. Instead of thanking God
for the blessing of politics men are
in the habit of deriding it, Let US
get away from this extremely dan
gerous way of thinking. Let us get
back to the view of our fathers that
free government is the greatest bless
ing known to humanity and that
eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty.
eW can not make full use of a
privilege which we do not respect,
and We can not WELD with any e;.
feet a weapon which we affect to
despise. Therefore, let us respect
politics Let others faint it if they
will. Let others deride it if they
so desire, but let the men who till
the soil determine that the blessing
which was obtained for US by our
forefathers shall be treated as a
+ sacred inheritance never too highly