The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-07-16
LET THE VOICE OF THE PEO-
PIE BE HEARD AND
4 RESPECTED. Y

"THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER is still
~quarreling about the failure of the
passage of the Railroad Commission
bill. Is not brother Polk ever GO
ing to forgive the farmer mem
bers of the last Legislature for not
voting as he directed 2. He should
not be so vindictive. Farmers, even
if they are members of the Legislature
should be entitled to opinions of their
wn as well as editors"
We clip the above from the DAILY
Plant, a paper that was decidedly
opposed to a Railroad Commission,
but a large majority of whose readers
among The business men and farmers,
were in favor of it. If advocating
the rights of the people against the
entertainments of corporate power
the interests of: the many against the
manipulations of the few, and expos
ing the trickery@of those who deceive
and misrepresent the people, is to be
characterized as "quarreing," then
The PROGRESSIVE FARMER would in
form it's contemporary that it pro-
poses to "~quarrel" until the rights
and just demands of the people are
respected. This paper assumes to
"direct" the votes of no one. 1t did
its duty faithfully and fearlessly, but
always respectfully, in the contest over
the Railroad bill. 1t stood by what
it knew to be the wish of the tens of
thousands whom it. represented, and
made a straightout face-to-face fight
with the most formidable power and
influence that exists incur State. In
reviewing it's course, it has nothing to
regret. And it is a matter of very
little concern whether or not The
PROGRESSIVE FARMER is "ever going
to forgive the farmer members of the
last Legislature for voting against the
Commission BILL" but it IS a question
of interest Ito those members at least)
whether or not the farmers who sent
them there, will ever forgive them.
The PROGRESSIVE FARMER is not "vin-
d~ictive;" it simply has convictions and
stands by them. We have long been
of the opinion that the farmers are as
much entitled to their opinions as
editors, or anyone else, but there are
lots of men who do not think SO. We
know some who did not think so
during the struggle over the Commits
sion bill last winter. THE PROGRESSIVE
FARMER thought that the so, 900 farm
ers who petitioned the Legislature for
a Railroad Commission were entitled
to their opinions, and it said so. But
where was the Plant when these
10000 taxpayers expressed their opin-
ion Did it believe then that the
farmers were as much entitled to
their opinions as editors? Did itrsay
so then? Did it come forward to- aid
the farmers at a time when by so do
ing it could, at least, have demon
strated the sincerity of it's friendship ?
We are gratiied to note the interest
shown by the Plant in this matter, for
be it known, that ample opportunity
will be afforded in the future for that
paper to show its devotion to the rights
and interests of the business men and
farmers of the State. They feel that
every consideration of justice and
equity demands that North Carolina
should have a Railroad Commission,
and they are going to haze 1T. The
very same game was played in the
Legislatures of Dakota, Arkansas and
Texas that was played in North { arc
lima, and it has opened the eyes of the
people. Yes, brother Plant, The Pro
GREssIvE FARMER is with the people in
this matter, and it intends to stay
there and keep up their quarrel "
until they are heard.