Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-05
The Country Home
BY MRS. W. H. FELTON,
TO, THE POOR FARMERS!

10! THE POOR FARMERS!
A century ago the poor Indian
was the theme Of the philanthropic
politicians of this country, "Lo, the
poor Indian" was always "ready to
hand when the congressional ora
tors wanted something to speak
about, and to send out the orations
thus delivered in the capitol at
Washington for public reading and
to get the farmer vote.
At last the Indian problem worked
itself out and Indian Territory was
changed to the state Of Oklahoma,
and 10! the poor Indian" was no
longer poor. He had all in his grasp
that any other citizen was allowed,
and the speechifyers had to find
some other topic and some other
class of folks to defend in speeches,
and do but little for in practice.
1 have been closely affiliated with
farm matters, the woes and bless
ings of rural life, ever since I could
recollect in childhood. For long
time 1 thought the speech makers
were in dead earnest when they
lauded the farmers and dedicated
their energy, strength and eVerlast-
ing loyalty to n the great farming
class of the United States of Amer
lea.
My delusion continued until had
an opportunity to get somewhat be
hind the scenes and comprehend
that these congressman and politi-
clans were talking to the gallery
and the farmer was only the goat.
Nowadays I get disguised when
the demagogues begin to, crate and
appear as the champions of the
farmer. 1t is the same old program,
and the same old devotion to the
"horny-handed sons of toll" Alas!
When general election comes
along quadrennially, the speech
making becomes noisy and volunin'
Gus. Oh! how these candidates dc
sympathize with the poor farmers
before election times! They never
fail to pat them on the back and
say to them: "You vote for me and
when I get to congress and the leg
isIature I'll never let up until you
get what belongs to YOU"
rYou farmers are the producers.
The whole thing would thing would
stop if you left your job. That other
fellow made promises and there were
no performances. Get rid of him.
He has failed you. I tell all the
people here he is no good"
Have you not heard it? Has it
not become tiresome to remember?
The farmers get up occasionally and
say 1--WE are not going to believe any
of these false promises any more
When these demagogues get to con
gress in Washington, or to the leg
islature in Atlanta, they all for
get these prediction promises, and
Lney raise their own salaries, and
increase appropriations, and quar-
rel over trif1es, and divide into fac
tions,. and when the gavel falls on
"sine die" we are more heavily
taxed than before, and not bit
of help in sight. There is an old
proverb in verse:
For every evil under the sun,
There is a remedy, or there is none.
If there is one-try and find it.;
If there is none, never mind 1t. "
Georgia farmers organized the
Farmers alliance and the thing was
tremendous for size and thunderous
for noise. A lot Of the demagogues
were displaced, and the turn over
was stupendoUs.
But the new representatives turned
over also. And directly it was just
as bad as ever.
Then the Peoples party made its
debut. Nationwide in it's appeal and
protest; immense in promises and
slack in performances. 1t was the
same old story.
These were largely democratic con-
vulsions. Georgia had big sensations
and it looked like the farmer had
made, for one time, a "ten-strike."
We all know how it ended, most
ly in smoke! In 1912 the Republican
party went on what oldtimers might
denominate "a bender"
Teddy" the heroic, led the forces.
And it looked like Teddy would
head the f1nak count. He gave the
old-timers in both the great par
ties a big scare.
The word went around, 1--WE
must get rid of Progressives." And
the word prevailed!
Now, they are flattering the old
farmers again-mostly in the west.
The south is about forgotten in the
turmoil, for cotton went to the dis
card in 1920-21. Nothing left but
debts and taxes,
Corn down to II cents bushel
far away in Iowa, and no railroad
accommodation no market place
to- sell and the farmers must burn
corn because they are not able to
buy coal at eleven dollars ton. A
ton of corn in the car, only brings
four dollars and these demagogues
in congress, cannot relieve these
poor farmers of some of the heavy
taxation, which has become awfully
burdensome, with only corn to sell
and corn has, therefore, glutted the
market.
We have all sorts of farm bureaus,
farm loan organizations and a sec
rotary of commerce and a secretary
of labor, and it seems to all end in
talk, nothing but talk. The tax
payer gets it in the neck as usual.
1t is always pay-nothing but pay
taxes. Because 1 am a genuine
Georgia farmer, have spent all the
active years of my life in open SYM
pathy with farmers, because shar-
ed their joys, when they were joy
full and also their woes when they