The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-01-30
TIE FARMER IN POLITICS

Politicians arc frankly disconnected at The
agricultural bloc" in congress. They realize that
this group Of rerrcs ,na:iHes holds the balance OF
power and is actually able to force legislation, as
witness the passage by The senate Of The bill to pro
vide for dirt farmer" On the federal reserve
board The spectre CT new and very mili:a.t
agyarian party is looming up.
To the general public, however, the important
question is not whether the farmers are organizing
with any prospect of success, but what sort CT
policies they would try if they succeeded
If this movement can be construed as progycs-
sive tie country should be for it, because, aftsi
all, the political party is valuable only as an
agency Ct The people in governing themselves. Blu,
so far as we are able 10 learn tie program which
the agricultural bloc" is seeking to put through
fails in the test of breadth and liocrality.
It is net the benefit CT Tie country as whole
that is sought, but the benefit Of the farmers. No
consistent principle CT government is set forth. he
idea seems 10 be that, since The government is TIE
fountain ct all favors, it is up to the farmers to
grab their share and as much more as they can.
The big conception that the interests of all classes
are inextricably locked up with tie general well
icing seems to he utterly foreign to t.eir phil
osopby.
And. unfortunately. Tie history Of ag~aran
movements in Ills county furnishes l,t;le ground
to hope fer any genuine record in that direction.
1t was Ike farmers who stood behind Ccnc.aI
Weaver in lis demand for ''grecnIacAs" ard car
red several states fer him. Later tley formed
the Farmers Alliance" vIioh deve!oped lrto
the Populist Party, its chief demand icing lie
free and unlimited coinage Of s;lycv." After lie
absorption CT The Pcpulist movement by Tie Bryan
campaign CT 1895 the farmers remained quicsccnt
Until a few years ago when they organized The
'So-ic.y Ct Equity" f:cm :Iieh, il DE time, i
Mem Partisan League" Ii seemed forth. Though
the League contained scm2 good points, il eT3.aa-
ed lot Ct socialism into its platform in Tie hopz
ct capturing Ike LABOR voie. and was eventually
Killed by the worlu war.
TIE idea cf cheaper money has r2n through all
dlcse movements. dough less pronounced IN tke
,on-Iosrtizcn Lc7sue iEsn in The Gyecnoack CT
Pcpalist Fairy And he came idea crc,,s cut ia
u.c Pts-ut increment III TIE Oe-nan1 0.at Ocld-
ton cease, Together with Ike effort to secure
agrayian representation on The rcsarge beard with
the aYowcd object CT resting all restrictions Of
credt1
In 50 GaT. then, as AIRY coasa 'eg,t pnci &c u,;cr.
lies tie present movement, it is thc prinai2'2 OF
currency imitation, Differing only in superficial
aspect from tie previous financial ideas which Tic
organized farmers have advocated In heir &C.
mand for reduced freight rates, bcuer marketing
conditions justice TO producers, and every hrg
else that is fair and reasonable, they are entitled
to The support CT both parties; but as separate
and distinct political organization, aiming at no.h
ing higher than Ike rcappcrlionment CT govern
mental privileges. they present ltle to inspire the
confidence Of those who still cling to The JeGcr-
sonlan principle CT equal rights fer all special
privileges fer more