The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-02-01
THE STATE MUST LIVE

The assertion of class interest must
not only be expected, but it should
serve useful purposes, and should
really tend to promote the common
good, as it is the means of making one
class know and respect the rights of
another. 1t is very useful in framing
many laws, in order that the extent
of advantage asked by one class may
be weighed against the cost and dis
advantage to other classes, who must
ever be willing to concede something
to promote the good of the state.
But when such laws are adopted
they should appear to recognize class
rights rather than reflect class views;
for the common good is the end and
purpose of all laws.
The common citizens must pay a
iprice for all class legislation, which is
only made greater when the evils of
one of such laws are attempted to be
offset by another of like class; thus
the dragons teeth are sowed, lawyers
and other parasites are multiplied and
production pays the bill.
Organization is necessary for prop
er expression of class interests. Labor
unions may do good, and none may
complain if labor finds, in organiza-
ton, better means to assert it's rights
against capital, or to advocate laws to
protect it's interests.
| But while all others organize, our
farmers, who produce most of our
wealth, are at work in their fields.
The nation would soon starve if they
worked on the eight-hour plan and
took time off to attend union meet
ings. They are too proud to mention
their privations and hardships, while
duty has taught them to endure more
of exposure and danger than most
others meet What those in CONNER
cial life demand as daily necessities
are seldom tasted by them; the amuse-
ments and varieties of our cities are
lost to those households where all
must begin their labors before Aurora
ushers in the dawn of each busy day.
They support no parasites by their
fresides, for even every child does its
part in useful work and contributes
its mite to feed and better the world
would be loath to impute to any
intelligent man, of any class, or in any
walk of life, any decision or purpose
to rob such households of the fruits
of their toll; and such a man needs
none to prompt him to stay the hands
of any whose selfishness may lead
them to want to cast more burdens on
the farmers, and thus deplete those
homes where must be schooled the
best manhood for the America of the
future.
Such, however, is the tendency OF
all laws limiting the hours for labor
in any business, and of most of oul
laws to regulate trades and the rail.
roads. The tendencies of all sucl
have now accumulated into a positive
l and certain force, now operating tt
: deplete our farms, give preference tt
!, other lines, and fill our cities with
:, parasites.
Let US hope that the railroad labor
bill may prove the climax, and tina
those senators and congressman, wh'
voted for it, may make it live only a!
a memory, to better guide our ship o.
) state from the rocks of destruction
and better mark the true channel o
communal life.
: Our law makers would do we'll t
e remember that the real good of tn
It state may not be promoted withou
helping the farmers, and that an,
measure which helps a majority o
e the farmers of our nation to he'll
e themselves is sure to promote tn
Il common good.
n What the law makers are thus ask
st ed to remember, as motto for actor
e also implied that farmers in one line
n or one locality, should not act to pre-
1T cure from the state a preference fo
s, themselves.
The state may do we'll to give TEN
porary aid to any man, or class Q
70 men, overtaken by misfortune; and i
n so doing is less apt to err in generos
lity to farmers, as they are our mai