The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-01-15
OUR STATE INSTITUTIONS.

politics of our State have elected
majority Of the legislative members,
and have both branches of the assembly,
it is an open question with many of
our people what action they should
take in regard to the State institutions
of this State. 1t is to counsel our peo-
pie on this line that write this letter
and ask its publication.
The first proposition / ask the atten-
ton OF our people to is that for twenty
years the Democratic machine has been
pertectiDg by removals and reappoint-
ments to fit them to the requirements
OF the machine every single appointee
in all and every State institution in
North Carolina, so that to day every
one Of the State institutions instead of
being filled by eppointees and officered
with view to the best interest of the
individual work of each institution,
have been filed with view of carry
ing out the Democratic machine idea
of politics
This, then, being the acknowledged
practice, and the prevailing conditions
under such practice, submit that the
great majority of the people in the
State have demandc of our legislative
members radical and judicious change
of one and all these machine subjects,
through their condemnation at the bal
lot box n-November of the Democratic
machine subjects and their practices
That this is a true and a proper
inference is sustained by the fact, that
the education of the pc ople of our
State in political changes and in North
Carolina has been under Democratic
precept and example. That to the
party in pOtCer, no matter whether en-
dorsed, as has been the CO operative
movement, by majority of the quail
flied voters of the State, or by min
ority, to them belongs the privilege of
filling every single appointment within
the State: Hence, when majority of
the qualified voters in the State en-
dorsed the cooperative movement
against the Democratic machine they
did so upon their informations that
there would be a reversal of existing
conditions and if the expectation of
our people are not realized in the work
OF their own members of the assembly
in these potent reform movements,
there can be no question as to its weak
ening effect in 1896 upon the reform
cause in the State at a time when it
behooves us to weld every interest Of
reform beyond breach.
Our political opponents. much less
our adherents, expect us to do this act
of justice to ourselves. Since long before
the November election they promised
it for us, to all the people, if we should
get in power-upon the campaign.
The legislature should recognize every
State institution in the State and fill
the same by appointments of 1petO
officers, reducing their salaries where
desirable, and neIU boards of directors,
and make,all such officers of State in
situations elected 6y the legislature in
lieu of by the Governor las many are
now) and subject to removal for cause
by the several boards of directors of
each particular institution, and the
filling of vacancies by such board of
directors for the various institutions.
This method of election of officers
and boards of directors would put
the appointment of the same nearer in
the hands of the whole people of the
State than does the present method of
appointment, that vests them in the
Governor or the board of directors,
This would be consistent, we'll advised,
and in proper keeping with the best
interest of the whole State in working
a radical reformation in the removal
from executive appointment, and
placing the same with the representa-
tives Of the people of every county in
the State, and composed of different
political faith.
This change would give the legisle.-
ture the opportunity to fill our State
institutions with men who are in sym
pathy with the laboring and produc
tive element of our people whose inter
ests have been touched by the heavy
burden of taxation and low prices of
farm products to the extent that they
have seen and experienced for years
past the great necessity for economy
and saving in the public appropriations
and expenditures of the State funds,
Whereas, the present incumbents, in
keeping with the policy of the Ben
ocratic machine, try to run the ex
Dense of the State institutions to the