The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-03-02
RALLY ROUND THR PRESS,
BOYS!
To Populists and Other Friends Of Re-
form.

Inc l6 an extract from d
letter urging me to say something Id
behalf Of the reform press:
would it be asking too much Of
you to send a communication once in
a while, giving the Ieform press a good
wordR The -- actually
needs the assistance of the reformeEs,
and if it does not get it, will have to
suspend. II you could speak an en-
~couraging word it would help"
By this and many letters Of similar
import, I am prompted to urge the
Populists and other friends of reform
to rally once sgain to the support of
our reform press. O1e of the CHIEF
reasons why the Peoples Party should
take independent action ia that it will
save our papers. If we let the Demo.
Gratis dictate Jul issues it means not
only the absorption OF our party, but
the death Of the reform press. Other
papers would supersede u own, but
with a living issue to defend, our Pop
ulist papers will revive and flourish
because our people will demand speci
fc new Of our movement not to be
had from any other source. With
papers thriving in every State, we are
IN constant readiness to carry on the
war with a fighting chance Of success.
Mark Hanna has discovered the secret
of our power and announces that he
will conduct a sound NJ )ney" cam
paign by giving to the weekly papers
gold matter" through patent in
sides" Ii Mark Hanna had not felt
the power Of our gallant press he would
not initiate it.
Oar papers may not contain the
latest scandals, but they do teach prin
ciples, and give facts and figures the
piutocratic papers suppress. They also
help to circulate other reform litera-
ture indispensable to our movement.
If you once realize how helpless the
friends of reform are without papers
through which to get a hearing, you
will see that you can make no contri-
button to reform that will equal in
effect what you give to the POpulist
press.
Our party was born amid the throes
of necessity, nursed through pFivatioD,
reared amid poverty but protected by
the prayers Of the people. Through
storm and calm, through evil and good
report, answering in loyalty to the
cause Of the oppressed, our noble re
form press has been the vanguard or
our army. With the torch of educa
ton they light the way, heraldlng she
advance of reform. Leaders come
and 90, but our advance guard remains
ever loyal and true. They stand TO
their guns, Bcorning all demands to
surrender, prOclaiming their principles
in spite of ridicule. persecution and
poverty, even to the death Of their
papers.
Under the inspiration Of the mo
ment, men march TO the lannon's
mouth and we applaud them for tGeir
bravery, but it requires greater Our
age to wage an unequal contest year
by year as our reform editors have
done. Shall we leave them to strug
gle on unaided, unappTeciated, only to
go down at last9 No, mol 1t is our
battle they are fighting.
Do not read this ~indIfferentIy, or de
lay until tomorrow &C subscribe for
your local papers-and others if you
can afford it. Subscribe to day. then
get your friends and neighbors to do
the same; then write a note Of cheer
and appreciation to your editor ard
essur him of your sympathy and sup
port. The reform press must live If
our movement is to live.
Fraternally yours,
GEO +. WAsHBURN,
Member Natl Executive Committee,
pos%On M-ee