The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16

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his ballot, give expression to his un-
biased and untrammoled choice, to as
the men whom he prefers. Then we
would have indeed and in truth gar
expression of the wU of the people,"
Establish a we'll digested and equitable
system of primary elections, and let
every man, when the time comes, go
to that election and say by his vote
who he prefers a. candidates for the
various Offices. Then when the State
iconventions meet, instead of the ok
and often disgraceful scenes
which characterize the hurly-burly
scramble for Office, they would have
lbut to ratify the expressed voice of
the people-for they dare not do other
wise. And that same voice would be
equally respected in regard to matters
of legislation. Do the farmers want
certain measures to be enacted or re-
pealed by the Legislature or Congress?
Through the primary elections they
have selected and elected the men of
their choice and they have only to get
together and discuss and agree upon
those measures, and demand such
pledges from the nominees as will
secure their enactment. If the nomi-
nee fails to give such satisfactory
pledge, let him also fail to get the vote.
Get together and decide upon such
measures as would benefit the agricul-
tural and industrial interests of the
State and country and place that de-
cision before your nominees, and de-
mand that they will stand by it in good
faith. Many and badly needed re-
forms would come and come speedily,
if the farmers of the country would
adopt this straightforward and manly
course. Will they do it?
We are not to be intimidated or
frightened by the cry that "the farm
ers are going into politics." We know
it has ever been used to deter them
from doing so. We know it was said
of the Farmers Convention which
met in this city a year ago. 1t was
said of the Inter-States Convention
which met in Atlanta, Ca, last sum-
mer. It was said of the Farmers
Convention which met in Greensboro
last month, and it is said of the ALI
ance. We know that the charge is
untrue and groundless. But suppose
it were true. Who in all this broad
land has a better right "to 60 into
politics" than he who clothes and feeds
the world? Who is it that makes
parties in this country? Some one
should 60 into it who could
and would do something to
relieve the country of the evils
which af1ict it. The farmers consti-
tute ~three-fourths of the voters. They
pay eighty per cent. of the taxes, they
furnish seventy-three per cent. of the
domestic exports of the country, and
when they are forced by unjust and
discriminating laws to drag their to
bacco thirty and fifty miles through
mud and wintry SHOWS to market, and
are 'insulted by skulking spies prowl-
ing around their premises at the bid
ding and in the pay of their own.gov-
eminent, and they see one million dol
lars per day going into the vaults of
that government at Washington,
wr,ung from the hard earnings of the
country, we repeat that the farmers
owe tito themselves and their families
and to good government, to rise up
and change this state of things, even
if itshould subject them to the charge
of the grave and heinous offence of
".going into politics" It will not be
done until they take sufficient interest
in politics to demand it, and to see that
men are placed in Office who will
honestly and faithfully execute that de-
mand. Will they do it a?