The research I do for my Caddo blog often reminds me of the similarities between my life and the lives of my ancestors. We have been striving and struggling for survival on this little planet since our creation, and we haven't been as intelligent as we like to think in coming up with new ways to do it. This is particularly evident to me when I read about politics in the old newspapers. Yesterday as I was writing about Mrs. Pitchlynn's sad death from Spanish flu, I noticed a political item on the same page. It's an ironic mirror of our own times and I think you will enjoy reading it.
Caddo Herald, February 27, 1920
Scott Ferris Outlines Several Live Issues
Hon. Scott Ferris received almost unanimous approval for his refusal to engage in a joint discussion over women's suffrage with his alleged opponents for the senatorial nomination. He has received added approval in (his) forward looking campaign by declaring with this refusal that the questions the people of the State (are) most interested in are:
"When is the war going to be closed and the country permitted to get back to normal conditions?"
"When will there be an adjustment of the differences between labor and capital?"
"When is congress going to straighten out the railroad situation so we can have better train service in Oklahoma?" (Before you ignore this one, substitute the words highway, or airline, or gasoline and read it again!)
"When is congress going to enact some wholesome land legislation for the benefit of the returned soldiers?"
"When is congress going to modify the income and excess profits taxes, and relieve business annoyances, and help reduce the high cost of living?"
Ferris is making it plain to the people that a republican congress is blocking the way to a reduction in the high cost of living by refusal to repeal the excess profits tax as repeatedly urged by the president and its failure to pass measures reducing all war taxes by extending over a period of years the payment of the huge sums that are raised to pay up on war expenditures.
These are some of the questions the people of Oklahoma are interested in and want to hear about, and they consider the suffrage matter settled.--
Amen brother! Now you can either be discouraged because we are still arguing the same old issues, or encouraged because we have made a little progress here and there.
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