The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-04-24
A LAWYER AND FARMER.

A LAWYER AND FARMER.
They Discuss "Gubernatorial Posi-
bilities."
A few days ago we CHANGED to hear
a lengthy conversation in a-neighbor-
ing county between a clever lawyer
and a farmer, in which the claims OF
their respective candidates for Cover
nor we're presented with earnestness,
and we must say with more frankness
than is usual in political discussions.
The lawyer insisted with great earnest
ness that his candidate was pre-eml-
nently the man for the position; that
his superior qualifications entitled him
to it, &C., but that Capt. Alexander,
the farmers candidate, should be put
on the ticket for Lieut. Governor.
The farmer replied:
"Well, you are badly mistaken
when you say that your man is the
strongest in this county. I know that
in the towns, the lawyers and the
town people are generally in favor of
almost any one as against Capt. Alex
ander, and they seem to think the
whole people are that way, but [ know
what [ am talking about when l tell
you that Capt. Alexander is strong in
this county, and a long way ahead of
any mar who has been talked about.
And as for putting him on for the
second place on anybody's ticket; that's
something the farmers of North Caro-
lima will not listen to. We don't think
that he would do we'll in playing tail
to any mans kite, and we don't want
him there; we want him for Governor,
and we going to have him for that, or
nothing. We have not had a farmer
for Governor in fifty years. Why,
just look at it! You have about 700
lawyers in the State and we have over
100, 900 farmers. We pay the taxes
the great bulk of them-we do the
voting, we constitute the party, and
yet this loo, 1000 men have for these
fifty years never asked one of your
700 lawyers to vote for one of our
men for Governor, but you have al
ways, and every time, had one Of your
crowd ready for us to vote for, and
we have done it, faithfully and steadily.
You know this, and we know it, and
it does seem to us that when we come
forward only once in a half century
and present such a man as Alexander
100, 900 of us-that you 700 lawyers
should be. modest enough to stand
aside and say to us: you are entitled
to the office of Governor and we will
cheerfully do all we can to elect your
man. This is the view that we farm
ers take Of it, and we are going to
press the claim and stand by Capt.
Alexander, first, last and all the time
not for any second place on any
body's ticket, but for the head of the
ticket-for Governor-the place he
ought to have, and the place we in
tend to give him. We know some
thing about what is right and just.
W. know that our claim is just, it is
right and we are not going to be
bought off by any second place on the
ticket. We know Capt. Alexander's
record a. a solid and fearless friend of
the farmers and Of all the people of
the State, and some of. you people are
going to be the worst astonished you
ever were in all your lives, if you
think he is not strong among the peo-
pie. No, sir, we want Alexander for
u next Governor, and we are going
to stand by him, and I know some of
the best business men in this county
who will go with us. If you could go
around in the country and talk to the
people, you would change your views
about some things"
Knowing our farmer friend to be a
representative man in his views, in
telllgent, level-headed and observant.
we noted his views to give to the read
ers of The PROGRESSIVE FARMER, be-
llevlng that he spoke the sentiments
Of nineteen-twentieths of the farmers
and business men of the State. And
If the true sentiment of the people is
expressed in the convention and at
the ballot box, Capt. S. B. Alexander
will be inaugurated Governor of North
Carolina on the first of January, 1888.
Bro. Pickett is doing a splendid
work in our cause, and the brethren