davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
~. e. p. A.
EDITORIAL NOTES.

It is pretty hard en- the millionaires
for the reform papers to refer to their
earnings as their ''stealiDgs."
To a man up a tree it looks like the
Cuban junta in New York might do
more execution if it were located nearer
the battle ground.
The Iowa State Treasury is short
about 500, 600 and can't collect taxes
fast enough TO catch up with the
deficiency. Iowa is a sound money
State, too.
Senator Harris, of Tennessee, is in
favor of recognizing the Cubans al bel.
l~igerents. The Senator is something
of a belligerent himself, but he never
does anything to hurt the party"
We see it stated that efforts are be
ing made 10 defeat Senator PETER in
Kansas. We don't know what the
charges are. if any, but we notice that
Senator PETER is Offering to club his
paper with Loslie's Weekly. That
ought to defeat him.
Dun reports 381 failures for the week
ending Saturday. This is % more than
last week, 81 more than for the same
week last year, and A more than for
the same week in 1898, the panic
year" Thus it is that the Cleveland
Mckinley, goldbug good times are
forced upon US.
The Richmond Times published a
picture of Cleveland along with his
message with the name in type under
the picture upside down. OF course
this was an error, for the Times is a
great Rdmirer of Benedict Arnold, Jr.
But really it vas all right, for the pres
emit administration has been upside
down from the first.
It now seems certain that Gen.
Maceo, the Insurgent Commander in
Cuba, has been killed. He was invited
to meet a representative of Gen. Wey-
Ter at a certain point with a view to
negotiations for peace, was betrayed,
and he and his entire staff, except one
man, the Judas" were murdered in a
most cowerdly manner. Such treach.
cry is inexcusable, even in a war, and
will win more sympathy and aid fol-
the insurgents than anything that has
yet occurred.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
THE alliance FAMILY.

The Alliance is one great ~fraternal
family. Among it's members are to
be found people of nearly all walks of
life. From the Legislator down to the
servant boy or girl, all classes and con
ditions are here met with. The brawny
laborer here finds a circle of brothers
and sisters who have become endeared
to him es his immediate family. Toe
farmer here meets his brother-farmer
and they feel that their interests are
common. The youth meet here to
learn the higher duties which may one
day devolve upon them. Here, on one
common level, meet the learned and
~unlearned, the gray hairs of old age
mingle with the golden locks of youth.
The untutored learn wisdom from the
experienced and good cheer sways the
sceptre of love over the assembly,
Pennsylvania Alliance Advocate.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15

Railroad for 80 years, (and that, too, 6
years before the present lease expires)
is controlled by J. Pierpont Morgan.
We know who he is. He is the man
who babe Mr.. Cleveland to issue the
1862, 600, 900 U. s. bonds when he hest.
tated aud they we're issued. He is too,
we know, the American agent of the
Rothschilds who are the real owners of
the Southern Railway system. Who
expects the Rothschilds to reduce our
railroad fares and freights or to permit
it to be done, if they can help it9
If our legislature will forbid free
passes to all public off Gals and ship
pers, and will cut freight and passenger
rates in proportion to the cut the
RothschiIds have made in the prices Of
our cotton and other produce, there
will be an even handed justice in it
which will commend it to all good
people.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
UTILIZING HIS COLLEGE EDU-
CATION.

A tramp appeared at the house of
J. b. Barton, three miles south of
Columbia, No the other morning, and
asked for cold victuals in Greek. He
stated that he was e graduate of Prince,
ton. MI. Barton, himself a Greek
scholar, was just about to start for
Columbia, and his horse was hitched in
front OF the house.
Jestingly ne offered to give the tramp
the horse if he could recite the Greek
alphabet without a mistake. The tramp
looked at the horse and then at Mr..
Barton, al d then inquired if the bet
included the saddle and bride. Mr..
Barton said that it did, and went into
the house to get a Greek book.
Returning, he found the tramp
mounted on the horse. As Mr.. Barton
stepped from the porch the tramp rat
tied off the alphabet without a mis-.
take, and, turning the horses head.
disappeared in a cloud of dust. The
animal on which the Princeton pilgrim
rode away was one the best saddle
horses in Boone county, noted for its
FLOODED stock. Philadelphia Press.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
RAILROAD FREIGHT CHARGES
AND PASSENGER FARES.

The platform Of the PIpulist party
in North Carolina calls for more mod
crate railroad charges AID a provision
against free passes.
The Railroad Commission report of
North Carolina for 1895, while giving
the standard fare at 81 cents per mile,
states that the number of passengers
handled actually averaged the railroads
2 1 5 cents per mile. a moro ell quent
statement against free passes was never
made than this show up Of the volumeof
these favors issued in showers to politi
clans, oficeholders, merchants, big ship
pers and others to prevent a clamor
against high rates II the common PEG
pie" pay 81 cents and the railroads aver
age 2 is cents, it follows that every two
persons (on an average who travel are
paying for the free riding of another
person whom the railroad has nominal
ly favored with a free pass, but who in
fact is travelling ct the expense Of other
travellers.
The report calls attention to the fact
that while in Massachusetts and some
other Northern States, the rate is not
over 2 cents per mile, their population
is very much larger than ours That
is true, but there railroads are also
more numerous than with Us. Besides,
what guarantee is there that the Massa
chusetts rates are not too high?
As to freight rates, in the late 'cut
rate" litigation in the Federal Court,
the Seahoard Air Line filed an answer
in which there was an itemiz d state
ment showing that the freight rates in
| Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina are 25 per cent. higher than
the average in the rest of the country.
We take this statement from the At
lanta Journal, which at the time gave
a synopsis Of the pleadings.
It is very certain that railroads will
never voluntarily reduce their burdens
upon the people. Pharoah did not,
and for the same reason. He did not
wish to reduce the luxury of his court,
nor the high salaries of his overseerG
+ and favorites and the people were bid
then as now, to make brick without
, straw" The principal railway svsten
t in the State, which bids fair. lik,
r Aaron's rod, to swallow I'D all the res
and which already has leased the N, @
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY RATES.

The Southern Rail way announces
Christmas and New Year Holiday rates
1867 at a very great reduction. Tick
cts to be sold between all stations of
that Company, within a radius of 500
miles of actual selling point on Dec.
22d to 25th, inclusive, and Dec. Both,
1895, to Jan. 1st, 1892, inclusive, good
to return Jan Ssh.
For the accommodation of students
attending schools and colleges, tickets
will be sold to those presenting certif-
Gates from the Principals or Presidents
OF such institutions on Dec. 18th to
Dec. 2 tn, inclusive, with final limit of
Jan. 4th, 1892.
Gall on any Agent of the Southern
Railway for detailed information as to
rates, schedules, baggage checks, etc.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
SPECIAL ALLIANCE MEETINGS.

AS announced elsewhere, the Execu-
tive Committee of the State Alliance
REQUEST the members of every Sub Ali
ance in the State to hold a special meet
ing on the 95h of January, 1897.
One of the important Objects OF these
meetings is the raising of &. $50 add
tional cash stock necessary to put the
shoe factory at Hillsboro in full opera
ton and keep it running. This sum
looks quite large, but when there are
thousands of men and women to take
the stock, it would seem that there will
be no question about getting it up,
especially for such an important and
badly needed enterprise.
But AIliancemen must go to work.
See as many of the members Of your
Alliance as pcs idle and talk the mat
ter over with them. Get them inter
ested and keep them 30. Let every
member appoint himself a committee
Of one to see that there is a full turnout
at the meeting on January Oh. Don't
lo3k after other Alliances; see that
your own Sub. does its full duty. AS
it is impossible to foretell what amount
will be raised, let each member, each
Sub ALLIANCE do all they can in the way
of taking stock, thereby insuring com,
plete success.
We trust that active Alliancemen,
and especially those who have been
elected to responsible and profitable
Offices, will not only take stock literally,
but will urge the matter upon others.
We hear a good deal of complaint about
those who get Office appearing to lose
interest in the Order. Now is q good
time to dispel and disapprove such i'm
pressioLs. Let every one do his full
duty.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
SAD, BUT ORIGINAL JOKES.

Raleigh Lawyer-'NoW tell me all
about the Ease. I'm your counsel, so
you must keep nothing from me-"
Observation-Disclosures; I've paid you
every cent I had in the world to de
fend me-"
Populist-"And you say marriages
are made in heaven2"
Rspublicsn-"It has been reported
to me that ways"
Populist-"Then I wish Senators
could be made the same way. 1t would
clear up the political situation in North
Carolina nightly"
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
PRosPRRITY's ADVANCE AGHN

The advance agent Of prosperity = i
been discovered by James r Wv
formerly of the Concord STANDARD,
now connected with the school O00A
terest of the State. Prof. COOK
covered this genial gentleman
Madison in Rockingham. He Isl
lister of the gospel in ezcellenU sp a
ual" standing, and makes good Of an /
which he labels: "a Sure Cure H.
Kidney Troubles" He gets a q
custom. and his cure never falls W 3
the desired effect when taken a'D%
ing to directions and in suffcion's|
titles. A liberal use of the SUR
during the day is guaranteed Som
one prosperous till bed time II'
description given of the eftecs' ~
cure, we are convinced that 10 y
kindred substance to our native n +
une original and only pure L ~ he %
ulator.@ The effects seem TO
liar, but somehow the "pfos ~ 10
does not last long, and has Cbrr
cruited too often. -WhkeSO"
iOIo
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
TaRRE-FOURTHS WATER.

The R port of the North Carolina
Railroad Commission is just out. From
it we find that all the railroad property
in the State is assessed for taxation at
1924, 900, 900 and that the bonds and
stocks issued on the same is 1874. 00O,-
900. That is to say, the railroad com,
panies pay taxes on $24, OOO, 1900, and
tax the people to earn dividends and
interest on 1874. 600. 600 or four times as
much. No wonder freights and pass
enger fares are out of all proportion to
the fall in the prices of all produce.
Not only we pay dividends and inter
est on four times the value Of the prop
erty, but through our excessively high
freights and passenger fares we pay
the enormou salaries of $40, 900, $25,
600, even $50, 900 to numerous officers
and furnish them with private palace
cars, ste ifs of servants, secretaries and
lobbyists, for all these expenses come
out Of the people, as much as any other
taxes. Besides the same report shows
that some of the companies took to
themselves as much as 20 per cent net
profits.
The r abroad Commission last Au
gust did give us a little reduction OF I
cent per mile on passenger fares. 1t
was not much but it showed some con
sideration for the public who are bear,
ing the burdens. The railroad officials,
however, did not intend that sort Of
thing should start. They came down
here IN their magnificent palace cars,
with private secretaries, lawyers and
servants. They descended like, an
avalanche on the Commission. They
filled the modest little office of the
Railroad Commission with their 70
| tund, sleek and well fed Rnd~ well
| dressed persons and talked so lUgu
briously about the poor widows and
/ orphans who were stockholders and
who would suffer desperately if that I
cent per mile were lifted off the travel
ing public, that our Commissioners be
came visibly affected and ashamed OF
ever having thought Of such a thing.
The reduction Of + cent was promptly
recalled. One portly official with dia
monds and similar trimmings to set
If his handsome person ut is said our
travel and freight pay him a salary OF
$25, COO per year, declared that t cent
per mile reduction meant a loss OF
800 600 per year to the railroads. II
never occurred to him to say that its
retention meant a loss Of 800, coo PEI
annum to the travelling public in North
Carolina and that if cent was 800,
900, the 81 cents was 81, &c OOO, ar
amount which would bear some abate
ment.
The statute requires property to b.
taxed lat its true value" and we take
it the Railroad Commission have done
their duty in putting the valuation a
$24. 600, 900. We know the railroad of
fcials and lawyers said it was to-
high. If 80, clearly in paying railroad
charges high enough to ear interes
and dividends on $94. 600, OCO of bond
and stocks we are paying on three
fourths water, to say nothing Of tn
enormous salaries and other unnecee
sary expenses.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
CONGRESS AT ITS OLD TRICKS.

Congress has been n session to some
extent for a week. The first important
work done was listening to President
Cl~evelan&'s message, which bristleG
with jingoism and empty phrases, and
from the tone ard great length of it,
we judge that he ia getting ready to
rest and shoot ducks.
The DINGHY tariff bill has had some
attention An important immigration
bill was introduced and discussed.
Many private relief bills came up for
consideration. Boatner, OF Louisiana,
capped the climax by introducing 6
bill to increase the salaries Of Repre-
sentatives and Senator'S from IS 600 to
81 500. This bill is not calculated to
restore confidence. What the people
want is a IS per cent. reduction in the
wages OF Congressman, and if they are
not going to do better than they have
for some years, they want them to go
out On a strike as s0on as the bill can
be passed making the reduction.
A notable event of the re assembling
of Congress was the refusal of several
silver Republican Senators to go into
the Republican caucus.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
A rARHRRL PHILOSOPHER.

The Durham correspondent OF the
Richmond Times writes as follows:
There are philosophers in Durham
county. A man was in town yester-
day, aged some fifty odd years, who
has neither shaved or cut his hair since
Johnston ended the war by surrender
ing to Sherman, about three miles from
here, in 1865. He doesn't come often
more seldom this year than usual, be,
cause the drought ruined his corn and
cotton, and his tobacco won't bring
enough to pay the interest on the mort
gage he put on his log cabin and fifty
acres of ''chir quapin RIDGE fourteen
years hgo. He was dressed in a home
made cotton suit, the weak places /
which had been reinforced by stuff OF
various hues; his three barefooted boys
the youngest of a family of eleven, fol
lowed in his wake, and stared in open
wonder at the passing train
! The old man had q turnip under his
arm, and his mission was to exhibit it
to the paper man" Stalking In the
[ fiji 20 and having the 'boss" pointed
out, he said: II fetched this turnip
fer you to see an put in yer paper, an
then I'm gwine ter leave it with the
~'pothecary man on the corner fer a
show. It's bin weighed an it downed
the scales at ten pounds"
Did you make a good crop9" we
asked.
YES, of turnips; but mighty little of
enything else"
We suggested that a failure in a crop
these times was pretty hard on a man
with his family.
well, he said, "it is a little oncon-
venient about grub time, but, l guess,
we'll git along, though, to tell you the
truth, l ha We eat rabbits and simmons
till my old houn trails me wherever l
go, an when he comes to a tree will
smell round it an look up. The tarnel
ole fule can't make out whether it's a
rabbit Dr. a postum he's er trackin'."
Asked if he didn't think times would
improve, now that the election was
over, he considered for a moment while
the humorous expression on his face
gave place to saddened recollection, he
piled: Mister, Idon't know, nor keer
much about the election. I'd like to
have paid the interest on the mortgage,
but I can't, and shan'G bother. We al
was has had sumpen to eat, and keep
the house from leaking, and l reckon
we always will; leastwjse while I can
work, an I ANITA borrO win no trouble,
mister"
We have no intention of infringing
on the patented philosophy Of Mr.. Polk
Miller's old Virginia darkey, but there
are many dressed in purple and fine
linen who may we'll envy this son Of
nature, the philosophy he practices in
patched clothes, and ignorance of 80
called civil z alton. His aspirations
never soar above what he has or can
attain, and he is happy with his eleven
children. No politics disturb him by
day, no visions of gold or silver haunt
his lOWly couch in natures rest time.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
CREAM OF Fl PRRss

Hard Hits, Bold Sayings and p...
Paragraphs From Reform Pane.
The Alliance has a field distino.:
It's own, and no other order can atan
and fill it's place.-Pa. Alliance A5 I'm
cate. NuVo'
The Window Glass Trust is oco,.
ing much attention just now. It soaS
as if this trust might easily be broLIn
Pomona Herald, Providence, R 'p'
The Peoples party has learned =
son this year which, perhaps, it boa '
learn ooner or later. If so, it is
it learned it this year.-World, Chm TV'
cothe, Mo.
The papers are full of account,
men in cities committing petty cffen..S
in order to get in jail for food and sh'a
ter. Great is confidence ."-Advona
Guard, Defiance, Ohio.
It is about time for John D R,oA.
teller Dr. some other p~lutocrat tn oi~.
a million or " o Of their ~stealines +,
some church or university = eonIs'
Advocate, Pittsfield, Ill.
A scientist has discovered that Il.
earth is webbing on it's axis ~.
may account for the seeming iDghi,~
of Democratic politicians to mako'
straight statement of facts.-Mopito,
Montgomery, Ala.
What will the Mckinley mills 4,
with the goods they are manufacture
to the accompaniment of brass bsnd'
and newspaper articles Nobody hs,
any money with which to buy them
Farmers Tribune, Des Moines, Iowa
1t is said that a larger number #
voters will attend McKinley's ~inaugurs.
ton than has ever been in WASHINGTON
at n time. No doubt very few Of
them expect to buy return tickets
Southern Mercury, Dallas, Texas.
The Dunlap Reflector feels confident
that it is impossible for prosperity to
come in States that are Ia control of
the Pops. II he notices any + other
States will he please make a note Ut
in big type3-Courier, Council Gro,
! Kansas. ..nsN
The people fought ovoI > s1 e
bone for many years before ,
covered it to be devoid of meat M
another bone is thrown out and it
labeled "bjmetallism." Will the pc
pie again be fooIed?-WorId, GiIF
cothe, No.
but there's no use chuakiDg a copper
cent into a contribution box 50 loud I'D
to make the folks on the back seat
think the communion service he'
tumbIed cH tho aita=-P0oRte1s sP
nal, Pickens, 8, @. a
The prosperity boomers point ttn5
$40, 600, 0CO increase in value Of bonds
and stocks as a great indication of re
turning good times, OF course that
class of business was helped by Hannas
election; nobody said it wouldn't be-
Farmers Advocate, Charleston, W.
Va.
The average cost per mile Of railroad
in the United States is less nau $780,
while the average capitaj5z alton sS64'
900 per mile. Ga this immense ''Capia
stock" the people pay interest every
two years sufficient to cover the actual
cash cost Of the roads. -Express, Chi
cagO, Ill.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15

Margaret E. Sangster, whose recent
book Among My Neighbors, received
such q warm welcome from the public,
has written what is said to be her best
short story for the Christmas number
of Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15

were invited except those who had par
ticipated in the hen roost raid.
1--WE were received cordially and
were treated royalty. After an hour
of jolIity dinner was announced, and
we filed into the dining room and took
our places at the table. at the head
of the table sat President Sturtevant;
on his left Yves Bryan, on his right a
young oma attending the Jackson
vile seminary, the very girl who after
ward became Mrs. Bryan. The doctor
bowed his head r~everently and said
grace. Raising the carving knife and
fork, he turned to Bryan and said: 81
am ready to r you, young man do
you prefer a piece of old Spots or
Mrs. Spots or Miss Spots'2
"And the eloquent Mr.. Bryan has not
answered that question, even to this
day."-Chicago Times Herald.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15
CALL FOR SPECIAL MEETINGS

CALL FOR SPECIAL MEETINGS.
The State Alliance F Executive Committee
Asks the Brethren to Meet on January
9th and Raise a Fund.
HnLsBoRo, N. G., Dec. 4 1896.
To the AlIiancemen Of North Carolina:
DEAR BRETHREN:-Your Executive
Committee thinks that the shoe factory
can be put into operation without in
fringing upon your reserve funds, pro
vided you raise two thousand, two
hundred and Fl .ty dollars in cash in I'D
dition to the even hundred and fifty
dollars now in the hands Of Bros. Ivey
and Barnes. In order that there may
be unity Of action, your Committee re-
specially but earnestly requests that
the various Sub Alliances meet in
special session on Saturday, the Oh
day of January at the ir usual time and
place OF meeting, for the purpose of
raising funds to put the shoe factory
in operation. Your Committee further
recommends that the contributions OF
the Sub Alliances be supplemented by
the County Alliances at the regular
meeting, Thursday, January Ash.
Your tannery is now in successful
operation. Excellent leather of all
kinds is b3ing is being tanned. Send
on at once, in as large quantities as
possible, your COW hides and sheep and
goat skins. Leather, such as you pre-
fer, will be given in exchange for your
COW hides and sheep and goat ekins al
an exchange valuation materially
beneficial. Your Committee has or
hand three thousand dollars worth Of
material, You have a magnificent
plant and property at this place. 1t is
for you to make this great enterprise
successful. At the special meetings
hereby called it is necessary to raise
two thousand, two hundred and fifty
dollars IN cash. This amount, with
other funds available, will enable your
factory to run several months uninter
ruptedly.
The profits of the Business Agency
will be used as a supplementary fund
to run our factory. Your Committee
therefore urges this as an additional in
centive for a largely increased patron
ege of your Business Agency.
Have your local dealers in guano t
make arrangements with your Busincs
Agent to handle our brands Of guano
This will be greatly benz fetal.
The Price List of the Business Agency
will hereafter appear in your organ
THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER. Renew
your subscription and keep posted al
to prices. Buy and sell through your
Agency. Respectfully yours,
A. f HILEMAN,
J. NJ MEwBOENE,
N @. ENGLISH,
w. B. FLEMING,
JOHN GRAHAM,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-15

Il am standing aotU Just behind the
s.rtain, and in fUU gLo1C Of the coming
sunset. Behind me are the sbGdOC8 on
he track, before me lies the dark galley
and the riUer. When I mingtG tUGth ats
dnrk Unters I Wdnt to cast one ttnger-
no look upon q country tUbO8e goU8rn-
u.ent is OF the people, for the people,
and By the peopLe,"-L. L. Polk, J"!y
ith, 1890.