The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-01-26
ECHOES OF THE CONVENTION.

One Of the most gratifying and
striking features of the Convention
was the prominent part taken by the
younger members. Neal, Of Neck
lenburg; Norris, of Wake; Ivey, of
Robson; Mcintyre, Of Richmond;
Wilcox, of Moore; Cronly, of Forsyth;
Kerr, of Alamance; Davis, of Neck
lenburg; Mobiles, of Jones, and others
whom we cannot now recall, took a
lively interest in the proceedings
throughout. Of all the speeches on
the floor, that of Gen. Rufus Barringer
on the resolution endorsing the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College, was
the best by common consent. 1t vas
frank, manly, broad, liberal and
patriotic. w regret that we were so
absorbed in the spirit and so captivated
Ny the earnest, impressive manner of
1.-THE speaker that we omitted to take
notes of it. 1t should be printed and
| placed in the hands of every young
man in the State.
x y X X *
DR.. D. Reid Parker, of Trinity, was
"the man Of all work" of the Con-
v~ention and acquitted himself hand
somely. He made a ringing speech
-, lol,1f - LN,,,,o,I T~o@+4oo o-l
exhorted the brethren" every one of
you"-to 60 home and get up an In
s%titute, and not to wait for or depend
on the Agricultural Department or
any one else. "This thing of waiting
for some Ole else to do our thinking,
our talking and u work, is just n
of the troubles with us today"
x - x y y
Capt. S. B. Alexander, they say, is
not a speaker. We have seen him in
conventions, in the Grange, in various
meetings and in our State Senate, and
we can say for him, as a speaker,
more than a be said of some Of our
"orators." We never saw him rise. to
address a crowd anywhere that he did
not receive the most respectful and
earnest. attention. He never rises un-
less he has something to say-he says
it in a plain, practical, impressive way,
and stops. He always commands at
tention and meyer speaks for the fun
of the thing,"i He discussed the re-
port Of the committee on the Home
stead law, and presented the idea that
every man who wished to avail him.
self of the homestead should be re-
CURED to register it before it should
be of any effect. If a man registered
his homestead, it was at his own
option, and it would be apublic notice
of the act. If we have a homestead
at all, he favored one on which a man
could live. His speech on the public
roads of the State was full of we'll
digested thought and practical sug-
gestion, and we hope he will allow us
to publish it.
R/* * x X =
v The committee on homesteads, liens
and mortgages reported the resolution
Of l.. l.. Polk and unanimously recon-
mended it's adoption. This looked to
a reduction Or modification of the
homestead. H. B. Norris, of Wake,
wanted the whole thing wiped out and
wanted the Convention to. ask the
Legislature to pass a bill submitting
the question to the people, and he
offered a substitute to hat effect. He
thought the homesteadwas an unmiti-
gated evil. He knew of no friends to
the measure except spectators and
lawyers. The average legislator is as
afraid of it as he is of a dog law.
Politicians are afraid of it because
they fear they might lose votes. He
made a plain, pointed, strong speech.
J. G.. Blocker counseled a ~conserva-
tive course. Don't put the coulter too
deep. # the farmers of the State and