The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-31
HON. c. w.

Correspondence PROGRESSIVE FARMER.]
In the retirement of this courageous
man of the people the new reform
movement sustains the loss OF a tried,
fearless and loyal friend, and North
Carolina a faithful, true and efficient
Representative in Congress. His con-
gressiOnal career has been markedly
conspicuous devotion to the interests
of his constituents, and by a fearless
and conscientious discharge of his pub
lie duties. A plain man Of the people,
he was always apprOachable. A gen
erous-souled man with a heart bigger
than his body, nc man or woman,
however humble, ever sought his help
or influence in vain. And when eX-
pectatiOns we're not realized the fault
was not due to any lack of honest, per
sistent effort on his part. A thorough
ly educated man, being a first honor
man at the State University, he had
strong connections and his judgment
has rarely been at fault. In Congress
he formed the strongest friendships
with men of both parties and from all
sections of the country. With the
agitation of the S~ub-Treasury bill in
the first session of the last Congress he
at once became prominent in the effort
to effect a report of the bill and its
consideration in the House. His efforts
we're renewed at the last session, re-
sulting finally in the introduction of a
resolution rebuking the committee on
Ways and Means for tri1ing with a
measure that SO vitality concerned the
farmers and laboring men throughout
the country, and directing that the bill
be reported to the House for immediate
consideration and discussion. The
resolution was referred to the commit
tee on Rules and by that committee,
composed of the Republican triumvi-
rate, entirely ignored.
Having Unidentified himself with the
Alliance movement from a conviction
that it was a public necessity, he has
openly and m lnfully maintained it's
principles in Congress, when to do so
was to invite ridicule and criticism.
When his ringing letter appeared in
the National Economist and The Pro
GRESSIvE FARMER sustaining the Sub
Treasury plan, a distinguished South
ern Governor (whO has since Joined the
alliance said in a newspaper inter
view, there was but one fool in public
life who openly sustained the bill"
He was admOniShed ver and over
again that his position on this question
would lose him a denomination. He
lost the nomination but survived to
see the principles he advocated tri-
u%mphantly indicated in North Caro-
lima and elsewhere. He stood alone in
the North Carolina delegation in adj
vocacy of the bill, and stood alone in
the American Congress in a public
avowal of that position. Of such stuff
heroes are made
In defeating the silk culture appro-
priation he struck down a piece Of ex-
travagance and waste that has cost the
people $780, 900 annually for several
years. AS a member of the Agricul-
tural Committee he succeeded in de
feating this job in the face of threats
and opportunities.
In the closing hours Of Congress his
voice was heard elOquently protesting
against the high-handed injustice done
the American farmer and laboring
man by the most audaciOus class legis-
lation in the interest of the Eastern
manufacturer and capitalist. Good
men are too scarce for G.. w. McClam-
my to long live in the seclusiOn of pri-
vate life. ONE OF THE PEOPLE.