The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-11-10
Mr.. Bilkins War is to Know al About the
EIections--Why Pc oPle Don't
Uo+a a Thew Draw

Vote as They Pray.
B.-"Hello! Mr.. Devil"
DIVE are all here"
B.-"I want to talk with the editor
erbout the elections"
Rail right, Bro. Bilkins."
B.-"Say, what is the news from the
elections? WHO got there and who
didn't?'
Rim a general way the mes who
| got the most votes are the ones elected.
Otherwise some Democrats, some Re
publicans and some Peoples party
men,"
B,-"Betsy has been wantin' me to
come to town every day to hear from
the elections. Do you think the people
voted right?"
RI really can't say. Perhaps
they thought they voted right. But it
is evident that partyism and other
things caused many to vote for certain
men against their better judgment.
For instance, some of the biggest bank
ers and manufacturing m~OnOpOlists
were voted into office, many of those
voting for them knowing that they
would never be any advantage to the
reform movement; that they would do
all in their power to defeat reform in
any shape. Many were forced to vote
for men who they were opposed to
every way because they were afraid
thy would lose their places. The
ready dollar also got in it's work with
people who were veryneedy or because
they had no patriotism or honesty.
These people voted for men whom they
knew were enemies to their interests"
:" Why in the dickens do they do
that way? Who forced anybody to
vote?"
Rim Ohio and other Northern
States there is a large number of PEG
p e in debt, Their creditors compel
them to vote a certain way or pay
their debts at once Many of them
being unable they vote to please their
masters and delay the evil day. Many
others IRE employed by rich manufac
turing concerns. They must vote for
high tariff and other things or lose
their chance to earn a living"
B-But l want ter know why
them poor people have lost their nan
hood, their patriotism and all sich?"
R.-"FOr years we have been max
ing millionaires. To do this with such
great rapidIty it is necessary to make
thousands of poor tenants on the farms,
in the factories and everywhere.
Poverty makes tramps, lOafers and I'M
patriotic men,. Hence it is an easy
matter to force voters and buy them
cheap in many parts of this Union"
B.-"But don't they know that every
time they vote that way they are just
maxim bad matters wOrse?'
R-"Yes, that is true. But drown
ing men will catch at straws. Men
will shoot, drO ~n Or poison themselves
on account of trouble. They will get
desperate and vote hat way just be-
cause they are hopeless. They don't
care The world has no charms for
OLHCL11s 1lICJ WILL NOUC 1Ol C IdSCdI dS
quick as they will for an honest man."
B-"Say, why don't the smart men
put their heads together and stop all
this?'
R-"Thousands of them are on the
alert. The great reform movement is
a beginning. 1t may possibly save the
country. There is yet some hope. But
if good men fail to stand firm nothing
can stop it. The way looks dark and
dreary, but, as l said before, there is
yet hope"
BIB Blamed if 1 don't want some
body to raise the price of cotton. Do
you reckon it will go up this winter?"
B-"IndicatiOns are that it will. The
cotton men have a little game on hand
to bust the Sub Treasury. But their
game is the making of it. Every
day brings fresh evidence of the need
of it. Providence will not permit those
who toll and make their living by the
sweat of their brow to suffer long. The
bottom rail will get on top SOON"
B-"Here, Nh. Editor, give me Your
hand. You are right. The bottom
rail will soon be on top. Betsy says it
is bound to come, an she wants to sit
on top of the fence and let the bottom rail
lie on some of the politicians necks.
Betsy weighs 22O. Don't you bet their
necks would get sore?'
R-''That would be a funny sight,
indeed"
B-"How erbout that address. I
hain't e it vet?"