Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-24

There has been some expression OF
de.raotion as to the peasantry OF Rus
STA. who have remained astonishingly
passive under extremes of political and
industrial viCisssitudes. All the way
from monarchc to communisttc rue,
equally severe and equally huniliat-
ing. the millions in Russia seem quite
hc<ing in self defensive effort,
But in what way are tho aEricul-
tural classes OF western America any
different Are they not equally doclle
and quietg
No need to state what would be the
answer to this question: there Is no
mutinous outbreak because there Is no
need for n. The American pubic, ana
particularly the agricultural class is
forbearing, patient, generous In use
OF the Golden Rule, tolerant up to pos
sihle limit. Much is endured, mnch
"a excused. for tho sake of peace. But
the only Interpretation of the profound
quiet OF tho past many years Is in the
absence of acuteiy provocative condl-
tons
This Is an Interesting topic, one that
rarely gets any notice in public print
For one thing, no elderly person is
fully competent to write a dissser "a
ton on the conduct of the people, be-
cause he thinks they are a degenerate
race destitute OF the pep that
marked their forefathers. He points
to many Instances in tho American
pest annals in which tho public or
some local section OF 1t took the bit
in its teeth" and he roundly asserts
that the present tame and spineies
generation has no spirit for anything
tending nearer to asscrttvc energy
than golf and football. When women
came in, he says, real men went out.
The old gentleman may find himself
fooled one OF these days Perhaps
there are plenty of chips of the old
blocks, but the conditions are different.
The environment is changed. There are
no sufficient opportunities TO draw out
lively scrimmage- There Is no
cherokee Strip 20 DO rushed. no Ute
Gunnison country to b. Invaded, no
frontier. no bleeding Kansas, no bord-
er rufiians, no Indians. no miners, AZ
20 finance. there Is no call for Srech-
tpck party, there being plenty OF long
green money, tons OF silver, stacks OF
gold. As to politics. all is under the
ironclad sway OF that same autocrat
that has relgued all these years-Ihe
Majority.
II IS curious, when We look over the
vast sea of faces. to note the unvsry-
Ing commonplace. Never in American
history has there been such scarcity
Of great men. so few leaders. while
At this moment we realize real neeo
% leadership There arc men VINO
make an effective push in minor ar
FAIRS such as nulIuins hieu"'
in direction of education, forest con-
troll, local bureaus, social discipline
hut when II comet 10 notable gener-
,lshtp around which throngs eagerly
rally Their. is nothing doing.
II may be that this remarkable va
cancy Is only a happen-so OF inc
present brief day. and that right IN
the next block are YOUNG fellows VINO
in n coming crisis will have their
names all around tho world. without
.uch crisis ther" Is no conspicuous
mark to be made. but IL the born gem
~rsl Is here he is here,
There Is an instructive impression
r.ortlcuiarIy among country people
that IL Is better to keep quiet and re-
main unknown than to pose as dlrec-
tor NJ some kind Of a stroke and not
make n distinct success OF Il
Moreover. - takes money TO Mt one
s>lr to do anything-morc money than