The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-12-09

sympathy dLu SAO01 A4NS1
OF peOnle. whom it would represent. Not
only would its service in his direction be
potential for good IN securing harmony and
unity of action among the people, and by
crystaliziDg and concentrating that actt' n
upon any desired measure OF reform, but the
natural and harmonious blending II the
moral force of such a body. with the influence
of the press through ut the States, would es-
tablish and sOlidify a power which could nol
fail to exercise a most benefcent effect. on
We have reached that point in the devel-
OpmeMt of our organization when we must
address ourselves to the important and lH-
despensable work of organizing and syste-
ma al / tneSe T Io1 ! hri a99Ra adverfeI u oui
Organize your lecture system so that we
may have able and competent men constant
ly employed in advocating our principles
and purposes throughout ali the States with
in your jurisdictiOn-Organize and establish
a system through which we may reach the
people through the columns of an able re
preventative reform preSS-aid the member
ship as far as we may be able, in deVlslng
and establishing the best possible system LOT
conducting their business through county
and state agencies and place our fer
legislation, as an organization, in the hands
of an able b'dy OF men representing each OF
the States and no power nor combination OF
powers, can prevent or thWaTt our ult1mat
and triumphant success.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
/. | respectfully call your attention to the
ncCes ,ity of q change in Section 2, Art. 5, OF
our constitution, defining the relative powers
and duties of the judiciary and executive de-
pdTDLlGIlASs III the hAdbLCA VI O44lC1h AAAhSS
by the President. .
The requirement that the President shall
submit promptly all official rulings 10 the Ju-
dietary department., for consideration ana
action, is unnecessary and often Impractical
BILE. In cases OfimpOrtance the delay thus en-
forced, especially hOuld the judiciary fail to
concur in the ruling OF the President, might
work great injustice and incalculable lam
age. suggest, respectfully, the ~eXpediency
of so amending the section referred to as
to authorize appeals to the judiciary from.
the rulings of the pTesident-the decisions OF
the judiciary on such appeals, To be hnal con
StructiOn of the law until the next meeting OF
the Supreme Council.
2. Section 2, Art. 8, OF the constitution,
makts it the duty OF the supreme Councll 70
riOus State constitutions, also to enact laws
defining the eligibility of persons of mixed
or unusual occupation or residence, subject 10
all the limitations of this article" In pur
Suance OfthiS requirement Section 70 OF the
statutory laws enacted at the last session OF
the Supreme COunci says 'that the question
OF eligibility be left to each State subject to
the limitations of the constitution" ThlS
conflict between the organic and statutory
law has caused confusion and embarass
ment throughout the States. l recommend
thai Section 20, of the Statutory laws be re-
pealed and that the Supreme Council enact a
law in conformity TO Sec. 2, Art. 8, Of the con
stitutiOn. I further recommend that the Su-
preme Council determine and fix definitely,
the question of the eligibility OF mechanlcS
living in cities and incorporate towns. Much
confusion and irregulartty has grown out OF
the ambiguity of the law on the eligibility
of this particular class of our citizens and 1T
is important to the good of the order that the
matter should be definitely settled.
3. Under sections seventeen and eighteen
of the statutory laws, the office of crop
statistican is created and his duties
defined. The functions and powers of
this officer and his SubOrdinates are so indet-
mite and the machinery through which this
service is to be performed, is so imperfect, thst
I beg to dii ect your attention t lit. TheimpOr-
lance and magnitude of this work, If under
taken at all, requires an expenditure Il
money and labor much beyond the scope
contemplated by the law as it now stands.
The value of the inf, ,rmatiOn sought depends
upon it's accuracy and the prOmptneSS, often
with which it is disseminated to the mem
beTShip To secure this would require the
constant service and entire time of the head
of the department and much of the time and
service of his subOrdinateS throughout the
states. It will be observed that neither the
chief Of1Cer nor any of his subOrdinateS are
required to give any spec fed time. to the
work, nor are they allowed any cOmpenSa-
ton for The services nor any appropriation
to defray eXCenSeS of printing, etc. I'm
der existing laws this service mus necessa
ally be voluntary and imperfect, and hence.
of little value, and I would therefore recon-
mend that means and measures beadOpted TO
reuder it effective and of practical value to
the order, or that it be abolished
4. I recommend, if it be practicable and eX
pedient, that the office and duties of taeasur-
er, be transferred and merged into that Of the
secretary.
S. I respectfully suggest to your body the
expediency and hdylsabllity OF requiring
ted or appointed to any civil oficS, to tender
the resignation of his office, promptly, UPON
his acceptance of such nomination or appoint
DEPARTMENTS
For a statement of the work and duties per.
formed in the various departments, you are
re pectfully referred to the repOr's, aspect
lively, of the officers in charge. AID in this
connection, l recommend, with the concur
renee of ali the officers concerned, the APP
pOintment of a competent committee, early
in your session, who shall, with your national
secretary, axamin carefully and thoroughly
and report thereon before your adjournment.
1t affords me pleasure to testify to the fdel-
ity and efficient labor of all the officers con-
nected with your national Office.
POLITICAL ACTION.
An intelligent conception and COmprehen-
sion of the relations and reciprocal Obliga
ti"ns between the citizen and the govern,
ment is one IF the highest attributes of Amer
lean citizenship. AID under our form # gov
eminent, n of the most important and re
SpOusible duties devOlving upon the citizen,
first and foremost in our Declaration of
principles we that we are: To la
Dor tor the education of the agricultural
classes in the science OF economical govern
ment, in a strictly non partisan spirit and to
bring about a more perfect union of said
classes"
Were it the design Of the formers of our or
ganic law to impress our membership with
the responsible and patriotic duty of reach
ing that exalted standard in citizenship, to
which, all Ameriran freeman should aspire,
amt to assert that our organization was pO-
lll1Cdl7 LII Tx S4C ms " AIAdb G6EIllS tIlSy
we're fortunate in adopting the language used
IN this declaration. But while our OrgauiZa-
tiOn is political, it cannot be partisan or sec
tiOnal in its action. In support of this decla.
ration re proudly point to our whole past rec,
ord and to the recent popular election, and
particularly to the noble and patriotic bear
ing Of the brotherhood in the states OF Kansas
a. d South Carolina.
1t is as needles as it would be criminal, to
attempt to disguise the fact that as an organ
izatiOn we have reached a critical period in
our existence.
InSidiOus and powerful influences are seek
ing to divert us fl ON the high purposes and
grand objects for which we were organized.
Flushed and elated with Success-marVelous
in many of it's aspects and the most
remarkable in the political history of this
country, let Us not impair its prestige and
power by indifeTH. &c or inactivity, on the
one hand, or by gT-Sping for the impractical
BILE or u~natainabit, ul the other.
Strong aSWe are andsIrOng as we must be-
cOme-strOng enough, if united, to render
our lines i~mpregnable 10 any open or OppOs-
ing fOrce-yet we are not strong enough, nor
can we be, to Withstand the intrigue and
trecchery of foes within. Our principles must
find their "city of refuge and cur cause it's
citidel of safety in the loyal hearts of a devO-
ted membership.
Let our primary bodies barricade their
doors AGAINST nm worthy and 6aSiUDiuV on