The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-02-02
No. 81
LETTER FROM DUPLIN.
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.

are zoo OuSy 'Qgn6lng the wolf from
the door" to take much thought OF
public affairs, much less have we time
to write about them. But do wish to
express my approval of, and, to remark
about some things and doings which
see in THE PROGRESSIVE FARAKR of
January 12Gh; and this will try to do
with brevity.
First of all, let me say, 1 believe THE
PROGRESSIVE FARMER is the best paper
published In North Carolina. 1t is clean
and truthful, fearless and faithful, ex.
posing error and evil and earnestly de-
Tending truth and right. have never
known but one public act of the editor
which thought was wrong; that was
when he vacated the editorial chair to
give place to Mr.. B. Cade. / thought
this was mistake, at the time it oc-
CURED, and so wrote to Col Polk, then
in Washington City and have in my
possession letter dictated by him,
and written by Mr.. H w. Aver, in re-
ply to mine, which very much prize.
(Maxwell and Warc) are right on the
Senatorial question. We cannot sup.
port Mr.. Pritchard for the Senate. We
do not object to him because he is a
Republican, but simply because he does
not represent the views and true senti-
ments Of a majority of the voters of
North Carolina on one OF the most i'm.
portant issues of the country, namely,
that Of the money question. Two years
ago we supported him, believing that
he was in sympathy with and would
act in the interest of the masses But
his course since his election has been
such as to convince us that party obli.
cations are more binding upon him
than obligations to the best interest Of
his constituents, hence how can we
support him9 We have been mocked
and deceived by our public servants
(so called ste tesmen), until we are un-
willing to trust him who has the least
suspicion of unfaithfulness. We need
man who have the courage of their
convictions-men of .firmness and de-
termination-incorrpptible.
But why not this legislature fix
freight and passenger rates on all roads
in the State9 The capital invested in
railroads is before them (or attainable).
The incomes and expenditures are also
at hand. With these facts before them,
they could FIX freight and passenger
rates that would be just to the people,
aud Just to the railroads. believe
they can and ought to do it. If l am
not mistaken, in former days, toll
bridges and ferry ways were limited
and regulated by the legislature; and
even to this day the grisT or grain mills
of our country are limited and only
allowed to take 80 much for grinding
the peoples grain.
l like s. Ohio Wilson's suggestions
about school books. The books now
used in our public. schools, cost about
% times as much as other books OF
same size and value The State should
publish the books and furnish them at
cost.
1 have already largely intruded upon
your space, but want to say some.
thing of one or more measures, that is,
I do not believe majority of the vot-
ers of North Carolina want the State
to establish a reformatory for young
criminals.
Ny first objection is, that the class
Cor race) that furnishes nine tenths of
the young criminals pay scarcely any
taxes at all. Surely, then, it is not
just to lay this burden upon the people
for the benefit of those who contribute
80 little towards defraying the ex-
penses of the State. My second ob.
lection is that those persons whose age
make them responsible to law have
already undergone training (or lack
of training) which has fixed their
habits and character for life, and moth
ing but the power of the Gospel of the
Son of God can reclaim or reform them.
Shall we ask the S5ate to take up this
WOrk3
think some of those who have been
foremost in recommending the measure
will fnd imbedded in their peculiar
principles strong objections to the
same. believe the whipping post at
home would be more effectual and
much cheaper.
There are some who want the State
to do every thing until it comes to own
ing and operating railroads, teIegraphs,
etc, then they are quick TO cry
''paternalism. 3. J. WALKER.
P. S.-Since writing the above,