The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-03-13
los "a, = For THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.
A VOICE FROM THE PIEDMONT.
GREENSBORO, March 8, 1888.

GREss1vE FARMER | desire to COM
mend it's unequivocal, bold and manly
tone in the discussion of public ques-
tions, but especially of those in which
the farmers of North Carolina, as a
class, are interested. 1t is teaching
the farmer to think and act for himself
as no journal in this State has ever
taught before. That it's teachings are
taking effect is evidenced by the or
%ganization of numers Farmers Clubs,
and Alliances, and Oranges, and a
greater community of sentiment
among the farmers Of this State than
this writer has ever known or heard
of before. This is a happy augery
for the future of the men who live by
the pillow, if they follow UP on this
line, and realize the possibilities before
them in common purpose and in united
action. Heretofore the trouble with
us has been that we did not compre-
bend our W power as a factor in the
commonwealth; we scattered too much,
each one for himself and ruin for us
all. We plodded along in the dark,
willing to be led but never aspiring to
lead. We saw combinations in the
various other pursuits of life formed
all around us, all of which live directly
or indirectly on us, and yet we learned
nothing. And so it might continue
to be had not The PROGRESSIVE FARMER
entered on the scene, bugled it's rally
ing call, and infused into the toilers in
the fields new life, new spirit and new
hopes. [ do not say this to fatter
you, for | have not been schooled in
that art, but because it is true, and l
mean it, and because I speak the sem
timents of hundreds of farmers in this
Piedmont region who feel as 1 do.
[ have heard a number of them
comment approvingly on your recent
editorial on the Farmer in Politics"
1t struck me as an exceedingly timely
and appropriate article, and as true
as gospel. AS a class, we farmers
have not taken that interest in the
shaping of political affairs that we
should have taken. We have been
too little felt in person or influence in
the bodies which nominate the men
who administer public affairs and
make our laws. Where a few of us
may have appeared in such bodies we
have always been willing to take a
back seat and let others do the direct
ing and the nominating, and then we
went home apparently satisfied with
the privilege of voting to elect the
men in whose nomination we did not
have even a whisper. Is it a matter
of surprise, under these circumstances,
that the interests of the farmers have
been no better consulted in the shaping
of the public policy? Is it to be
wondered at that the politics of the
State are shaped and controlled by
comparatively few men who, while
pretending to be actuated by patriotic
motives, are simply seeking to further
their own interests? Is it to be won
dered at that when Offices of emolu-
ment or honor are in question, that
the name of a farmer is never men
toned :? No. These favors always
fall to the lot of the distinguished or
undistinguished gentlemen who direct
ly OF indirectly manipulate the nom
mating conventions where the non
self asserting farmer takes a back seat
Gf he is there at ally and holds his
peace.
Just now the politicians are in a
tremor, and have been for some time,
over the mention of the name of Capt.
S. B. Alexander, that progressive,
living young farmer of Mecklenburg
county, for the Governorship, and
they + straining their wits to devise
some scheme to ignore a farmer can
didate without giving offense to the
farmers, whose votes are a very essen
tial factor in the political outcome.
There will doubtless be much and
cunning pulling of wires between this
and convention time. With what
effect, we shall see. There is one
thing, however, of which [ a assure
the politicians, professional and anna.
teur, that they had better 60 slow and,
feel their way when they get to fixing
up the State, lest their way be a mighty
smashing down when it will be too
late to remedy plumbers. | think l.
know the feeling of the farmers in the
Piedmont country and [ fancy that
this feeling is more or less shared by
their brother farmers throughout the
State if [ read the signs of the times
rightly. Whether they have can
didates to offer or not, they will in
sist on fair play and a clean deal; no
cut and dried business, but that the
conventions shall be for the people
L. IL -az-1 ~ |