The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-10-14

Great Crowds Hear J hem
The Ladies' Turn Out
to Hear the
- Speeches.
We greatly regret that Col. L. F
Livingston was too unwell to fill his
appointments at ~Statesville, Greens
boro and Oxford: Had it been known
sooner other speakers would have
been on hand. Brothers L. L. Polk
and E. G. Beddingfeld were able to
reach Oxford, and we trust that their
audience was not entirely disappointed
in the absence of Col. Livingston.
On our arrival at Oxford we were
met at the depot by that Jealous and
able Alliance man, DR.. A. J. Daley.
He carried us to his home and after a
short rest we partook of a MOST ex
cellent dinner prepared by Mrs. DAlby.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
speaking had not been advertised we'll
on account of the short notice given,
a large crowd of people had gathered.
Many of the brethren had brought to
bacco to sell, but all of them managed
to get it sold in time to attend the
speaking. At 12:45 we repaired to
the opera house where a large portion
of the crowd had already gathered.
Col. L L. Polk spoke first and was
introduced by Maj. w. H. P. Jenkins,
| County Superintendent of Public III
struction, in a short speech made up
of the most patriotic and inspiring
words. Col. Polk was listened to pa
tiently for one and a half hours by the
immense Gro Ed. It is needless to say
that the crowd were intelligent and
sober. No county in North Carolina
has more educated o a greater pro
portion of Industrious people than
old Granville. They are shrewd, in
dustrious, Jealous in any good cause,
and economical. We can go still
further and say that they are conser
vative, honest and true.
At the close of Col. Folks speech
Bro. E. O.. Beddingfeld was called
upon. He was introduced by Bro.
A. S. Peace, Lecturer of Granville
County Alliance, in a handsome man,
ner. Bro. Beddingfeld said that he
felt out of place when he got up to
make a speech right after the gre test
orator in America had just sat down.
But we are sure that his speech was
enjoyed by the audience. He said that
Col. Polk had covered all the ground
nationally speaking; that he would
touch only upon State affairs in a gen
eral way. He told of the causes that
brought about the organization Of the
Alliance. Bro. Beddingfeld said that
the professional men and party bosses
had formerly met in some secret place
and made a platform which was gen
orally adopted in open convention
without discussion. The farmers be
came tired of this and the result was
that the farmers have become aroused
and to day We see the outcome in a
glance at the Alliance. He said that
the professional classes contained many
noble men; that he would not attempt
to prejudice the people against them.
That other classes were to the front in
organization and took that position by
pulling together in unison.
Bro. Beddingield, referring to the
fact that the farmers of the State were
in politics in this State, said that it
was a hopeful sign; the townships in
most sections had been run by two
or three little political bosses, but
there has been a change. Every politi
cal convention nowadays is nothing
less than a mass meeting and the
township manipulators have almost
been relegated to the past. He said
that if North Carolina and North
America was represented by just such
men as he saw before him he would
have no fear about the safety of the
country. He said that he was tired
of seeing men vote the Democratic or
Republican ticket simply because their
fathers did; that there must be live
issues and that we now have them.
He discussed the railroads at some
length saying that we could not afford
to elect railroad attorneys to represent
us in the legislature. He mentioned
the fact that one of the political parties
in this State had nominated a railroad
attorney for Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of the State. He
urged that we lay aside political
prejudice during this campaign and
not allow party feeling to stand be
tween US and the accomplishment of
our purpose. Bro. B~eddlng6eld told
something of politics in Wake county.
He said that while the farmers had
power to control the convention, yet
they gave the city people a chance to
make a part of the nominations. He
then told how the railroad men man
aged to hoodwink the members of the
legislature into voting against a rail
road commission.
Bro. Beddingield was listened to