The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-03-28
QUESTIONS FOR INFORMATION.
MICHAEL, n. G.

wish to ask some questions, and as the
legislature has adjourned, and 1 sup
pose gone home, as they had ample
time to dance out the 5000 90 they ap-
p~ropriated Of the peoples money. [
suppose they did not go to Raleigh to
do much, except to have a big dance
at the expense of the people and prove
to their colored brethren that Democ-
racy was their true friend, by paying
them out of the public treasury to id-
die while they danced, and to legislate
against the Alliance. Well, they said
in the campaign, that they ''never had
a chance, and what they would do, If
given q chance. And perhaps no party
ever had a better chance, and they
made use Of too, Did you ever see
such adance? Didn't they goit, church
members and all, [ guess they all
danced, i. e., the Democrats, for in
looking over the names of those voting
for or against, | see some that call
themselves members Of the church
when at home, and even pray in pub
lie, voted for the appropriation. Pretty
church members! but perhaps they
either lost their religion in the cam
paign by misrepresenting the Alliance
and Peoples party, or SO far backslld
that they fell on the day Of election by
their corruption and fraud.
But it is their legislation against the
Alliance, that has stirred me up to
want to ask sone questions; I see they
did not hare backbone enough to pass
a bill to Kill the Alliance at once, but
the many requirments and restrictions
in the bill they did pass shows c0nclu
sively that they wanted TO Kill the Al
lance, but they feared the result, and
therefore they passed a bill setting
many traps and gins into which they
hoped the Alliance would go and get
killed, and they would not be charged
directly with It's death. And SO they
set a trap that If only Z member out
Of the many thousands should get
caught by the least misstCp, it would
virtually Kill the whole organization
in North Carolina, viz: If one official
member violates any one Of the restric-
tious in the bill, the State charter is
thereby forfeited. 4 ~deeperlaid scheme
of vllaiDy and rascahty, has never been
perpetrated.
But what we want IS Information, SO
as not to violate any Of the restrictions
or conditions, for [ want the Alliance
to live and continue its educational
work, until the people get wise enough
never to send such a set Of men again
to the State legislature, as those who
voted for that Infamous bill, that is a
disgrace to the Old North State.
Any one reading the bill will at once
see the effect Of one misstep, by one
single member upon the whole State
Alliance, ! G., q forfeiture Of our State
charter, This being the case, l want
to know Just how to plumb the track,
and as the legislature has adjourned
and I 10 not know whether they found
their way home, unless some OF their
co3orod fddlers piloted them, Judging
their intellect by their legislation. !
will by your permission, put my ques
tiCns to Major BiIkins. I guess he can
answer them, and if not I know Mrs.
Bi.kins can, for she is q roUsor and
keeps Up with the times, and a long
ways ahead of the last legislature.
Wen, Major, hard as the times are, l
managed 10 day to get five pounds Of
coffee and one pound of pepper, all
through the Alliance, and I want to
know exactly hov to use these articles
without violating any Of the many
stipulated conditions in that bill passed
referring TO our State charter &c. I'm,
der5tand me now, Major, it is Alliance
coffee, and I want 10 know just how I
can use it SO as not to forfeit our State
charter. Will I be allowed to pour it
out in q saucer, or Will have to drink
it out Of my cup And will they allow
me to sweeten it, or will [ have to take
it without sugar? And how about the
pepper Major? VIII we be allowed to
grind the pepper like other white folks
and put it in a pepper box, and sift it
over or food, Or viii we have to beat
it with a hammerin a cloth, and then
put it On with u fingers?
Then as spring is here, and my wife
wants to set some hens TO raise chick
ems as meat is high, and we expect the
preacher to come to see US, so we want
10 know just how many eggs we ALI
ancemen viii have to put under each
and every hen, 50 as not to forfeit our
State charter, according to the act
passed by the legislature.
Again, Major, it takes a hen three