The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-03-01
REFORM JOURNALISM.

1t is curious to note the attitude OF
the monopolistic press toward the
Farmers Alliance, an organization
that, although not advocating any
true remedy for prevailing wrongs, Is
doing a grand work by exposing the
wiles and ways of the two old parties,
and the gold ring back of them. The
more radical and outspOken engines of
~plutocracy ignore this organization
almost entirely, so far as regards the
recording of its movements, but never
miss an opportunity to ridicule the
the platform of the new party, or
malign its leaders, many of whom
are honest, fearless men, although
there are. doubtless, schemers and
marplots in this fold as in every other
man made. and, therefore, inadequate
Institution. The more conservative
organs of the money ring, however,
being more in touch with the masses
and possessing less of the spirit of
autOcracy and more of the humane
tendency, treat the Alliance WITH re
spect, though all the while labOring
to convince the public as to the i'm
practicabIlity Of its plans. These latter
Journals are wiser in their day and
generation than their more A~rist0cratic
allies, and, carrying less of the peacock
air, they are cautious enough I'd discern
danger ahead for the national bank
power, with which they are in sym
pathy. These papers print news re
gardmg the Alliance and Third party
movement which, we notice, comes
through the United Press Association,
rather than through the Associated
Press. The former news agency is
more / sympathy with the people
and more democratic, while the latter
ls simply the insOlent conspiracy and
tool Of Wall street and is manipulated
by Jay Gould. We do not say that
the United Press Association is not
influenced by the money power, as
well, Il It's attitude toward reform is
not SO hostile and intolerab e as that
OF the Associated Press, which fact we
CLEAN from the character of it's news.
1t IS we'll to note in this connection,
that the Republican papers p~atrOnize
the AsSO ciated Press while the Demo
cratic papers r o apt to use the
dispatches of the United Press AssOcia-
ton, and as there is a growing rivalry
between these two great collectors of
the worlds news, the difference in the
policies of the two will necessarily be
marked. The n must cater to the
consumers and manipulators of wealth.
while the other will be more friendly
to the producers and the oppressed.
therefore, III the light of the inevitable
happenings Of the future, the pathway
of the United Press Association ap-
pears more rosy than that of it's rival.
III the United Press Association is wise
1t will take liberal notice of the reform
movement, for the tendency of the
people IS Enthusiastically in that direc-
ton, and the daily papers that print
D most reform news are the ones that
VIII, In the end, receive the peoples
patronage. The name of Associated
Press" is daily becoming more obnOx-
lous to the average citizen. which fact
must necessarily initiate against the
circulation of the newspapers that
patronlEe it's wires.
1t Is marvellous how the reform move
ment has grown within the last four
Years, despite the great opposition it
Q been obliged to meet. When one
axes into consideration the fact that
mere is not a single daily paper pub
hshed In the interest of the masses. the
existence, growth, and multiplication
OF the many weekly reform papers is
overwhelming proof that truth is
mighty and will prevail. To be sur
some have fallen by the wayside, and
others, after putting their hands to tt e
ploW, have turned back. but the great
army has moved on. The editor of a
PREPAYMENT weekly paper recently de-
e1aIed, IN substance, that he was sick
ana tired OF the task of trying to en-
Aepten the people regarding their on
4lt1on, and that he was wiser now than
wen he went into the reform work
Which statements are a clear admission
never knew how to enlighten them.
therefore ought to retire and make