The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-11-23
rHR FARMER AND POLITICS.

a recent issue or the Cotton RIanG
ers' Journal, OF Memphis, Tenn, has
for its leading editorial an article en-
titled politics, the Curse of Farmers"
This is good. Politics is the curse of
the farmers-the curse because they
have neglected it entirely or followed
blindly the lead of party bosses. This,
however, is not the burden of the Jour
nails wall.
Politics is much more of an enemy
to agriculture, " says the Journal, land
all things pertaining thereto, than all
the blight and rust, cut worms and
army worms and potato bugs that have
been created since the last potato bug
and wife entered the ark"
And yet an enemy 90 dangerous the
Journal would have the farmers TO let
entirely alone And With the farmer
in politics as It's text it gradually warns
up on its subject until it attracks every
farmers organization which has ever
attained any prominence whatever.
Just what the professional politicians
Wantl Let the farmer let politics alone !
Let him vote as the party leaders say
blindly and careless of results without
ever giving the merits of the respective
parties or candidates q moments at
tentionl
Or let him stay away from the polls.
Let the professional politicians, toe
bankers, and the monopollsts manage
the little affairs of governing a great
people.
This in substance is the advice Of the
Journal. Just here we should like to
ask If anyone ever heard of b nkers'
organ advising bankers TO let politics
alone, or calling politics a curse of the
bankers. We presume that we might
ask this question until doomsday with
out getting an answer in the afirma
tive. No bankers journal eveEopposes
the organization Of bankers either
not at all.
Why is this9 Simply because the
bankers know that I'm union there IS
strength, " and that it is to their inter
est to go into politics.
Our farmers have as much interest
in politics, and their fortunes are
affected as much by politics as are
those OF bankers 1t follows then that
farmers as a class should give politics
the same attention. Let us see. In
the first place, bankers r organized.
They meet together regularly and con
fer with each other as to the laws
needed to make them more prosperous
Right here is a hint for farmers. VIZ
never heard a banker say his organiza.
tion was Every good provided they
would all stick together" They stick
themselves and if one of their number
has not enough of the spirit of progress
To stick with them they set him down
as an enemy of their class. Farmers
would do we'll to follow their example.
Again, bankers settle upon needed
reforms. They do not sneeze every
time their party leaders take snuff
They get some one or more parties on
their side, and with all the energy OF
mind, body and soul they work for the
success of their principles Party
doesn't cut much figure With them
its principle.
AS before stated. farmers should give
politics the same interest bankers give
1t. When the banker and the monop,
olist let politics alone, then let the
farmer let politics alone-then, andnol
till then.
When bankers and monopolists fail
to organize and stick to their organi1a,
tions, then let the farmers fail to or
ganize or fail to stick to their organiza,
tions-then, and not till then.
When bankers sacrifice their prin,
ciples for party, then let farmers sacri,
fee their principles for party-then,
and not till then.