The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-07-01
OUR DEMAND CARDS.

ult., 1eVOtes over two column IN Try
ing to prove that the Alliance has
made a mistake in asking candidates
to pledge themselves. l rise to ask if
the people have not a right to know
what measures a candidate will sup.
port oefore they nominate him or vote
for him ? Have candidates a divine
right to refuse to make promises 2
Shall they stand on their dignity
when called on to say how they are
going to vote on any question if
elected ? Are we to be met always
with the answer Il will vote in &C.
cordance with the platform of my
par" or Il will do my best for the
relief of the people who elect me-" ?
These swt that may any
thing or nothing will not satisfy the
people any longer. Is it wrong to
pledge candidates =? Then why did
the politicians have resolutions intro,
duced into a number of county con
ventioGs two years ago Pledgtng the
| Legislative candidates to vote for Mr..
Ransom for u. S. Senator? It makes
a big difference whose OK is gored.
The Chronicle says, in speaking Of Col.
Jones refusal to sign, that Mr..
Jones did right" If Mr.. Jones op-
poses the demands he did do right to
refuse to sign an agreement to support
them; but if he favors them he should
have signed the card. If he favors a
portion of them he should have signed
the agreement to support that portion
if elected. The people will be hard
to convince that his refusal is not in
tended to keep them in doubt as to
his true intenti 1ns in regard to these
demands. One thing he has clearly
demonstrated, both in his refusal to
| commit himself and in his letter, that
is that he can not be depended on to
VOC for the measures asked by the
Alliance for the relief of the people.
He may do so if it suits him or he
may not. The people are not in a
condition to be kept in doubt. They
have a right to know the position of
all candidates and they will know be-
fore they give their support. It is
time for the politicians to get rid of
the idea that a candidate is any better
tn III the people whom he asks to vote
for him. Even after he is elected he
is only a public serVamt paid SO much
cash for his services. We claim a
right to ask such a person to sign q
cor tract to work for oar relief before we
employ him. If he is unwilling to
bind aimseF we may be unwilling to
trust him with the work. The pollLl,
C ans say " there is no need of a writ
tea pledge" Why not ? We are in
IL med that during the campaign two
years ago a certain candidate for the
State Legislature was asked while
speaking if he was in favor a railroad
commission and he said he was. When
the Legislature met he voted against
a commission and when he was
charged, by a gen leman who was
present when he made the pledge of
being false tt it, he fatty denied hav
ing made it. If he had been pledged
in writing, he might still have broken
his pledge but he could not have de
MED it. His name written by his own
hand upon the card would have been
an unanswerable witness against him.
His people would know te had lied
and would never again De deceived
by him.
The newspapers seem to take
it for granted that the Alliance pro
poses to support cvery candidate
who signs the cards. In this they are
much mistaken. They will be pre-
sented to every candidate for Congress
in this State, irrespective of party.
Of course the farmers cannot vote for
all if they all s;gn, but they ear vote
for those they consider the most like
ly to stand by their pledge and work
as well as vo5e in the interest Of the
people. The charge cannot be made
that these demands are wild or IL
reasonable; for the Chronicle itse,f
says it " is in thorough and hearty
sympathy with every effort made TO
carry them into effect" Most
newspapers in the State speak fav.
ably of them.
When the Alliance was first organ
lied in this State it passed resolutions
asking for relief. NOBODY noticed
the resolutions. The members of the
Alliance next sent a great many petit,
tions to the State Legislature. Politi
clans then began to take a little notice
but put the matter aside saying "the
petitions we're sent out from head,
quarters" " the farmers haven't got
enough to know what they
want" etc. The Alliance next passed
some demands. Politicians smiled.
Next the demands were sent out FIR
endorsement by candidates. Then
came the deluge. Politicians excited.
The newspapers indignant; party
bosses d;smayed the dignity of office
seekers insulted. What does all this