The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-10-25

THAT VOTE, WHO AND
WHAT ARE YOU!
The combines and monopo1ies are at
tempting to compel people to vote for the
Democratic party in this State-the party
that is the servile tool of trusts, corpora
tons and railroad magnates. Where they
fail to compel such votes, they resort to
persecution and oppression. They try to
compel Uotes nozv. If they are given the
power, they will disfranchise every vote
they can't control as far as they can go,
and no one knows how far they can 90.
The letter below illustrates the fore
going. The writer is a son of the late
Rev. Jno. N. Andrews, Presiding Elder of
the NJ. E. Church, and is man of sterling
character. 1t was first written as a private
letter to a kinSman and the extracts fron
it are used by permission.
WILMINGTON, N. c., Oct. s, 1903.
Hon. j. M. Mezv60oyne.
DEAR COUSIN We'll, you must know
the result of my trouble at the railroad
shops. Yes, 1 had to walk off with my
discharge yesterday. With tools on one
shoulder and o~veralls under one arm. I
walked out with ar air of freedom, and
thanking God, who is my truest friend,
that could go home to my family alive.
You expressed it in your letter to me
when you said s'DeviIs incarnate."
Mr.. Chadbourn said he did not believe
the railroad company would do such a
trrng. l told him that it was thought
that I could be appointed Registrar in
my ward. He said q" Don't you accent
it." Sure enough, Judge Robinson ap-
pointed me. 1 was notified Friday night
and / went to Mr.. G~hadbourn's and told
him that 1 remembered his telling me not
to accept it. He then sent me to Mt.
French, who is acting Sheriff. l went to
MIR. French. He told me to qualify and
GO rlghI ahead; that he knew no reason
why | should not. l did so. When I
went to shop Monday morning / found
my closet securely nailed up. l got a bar
and priced the door open af' er a hard eff
fort. Then 1 found my clothes nailed to
abe wall, but pulled them loose, changed
clothes and went to my work without
speaking a word. The shop boss was al
his desk, near by, and saw all this, and
several men who work inside, and never
spoke.
I went to get my tools and they were
gone. box and all. But during the day /
found them, by accident, in the trash car,
which was about ready to be pulled out
and emptied.
1 complained to Superintendent !. H.
Davis, but met with no help or sympathy.
He told me L had better give up my Job.
/ said, ono, I'll not do that. / would
work in the very jaws of death to support
my wife and little children. What have
l Z done that I should quit nv Job ~ 30,
we'll, you have been a faithful worker, -
he replied "you nave acted all right as
far as 1 know, but tell you, we can't toll
crate the political party that you support;
you had better quit now, for the worst
has not come"
l told him I would not quit, and the
matter was with him to discharge me or
let me go to my work. His reply was,
well, you will have t. stop Isaid, IAN
right" and went a. Il I'd my partner. He
expressed his sorrow. but said he hoped ]
would change my politics. l told him
had too much manhood in me to surrender
to any such Infamous set.
I had a little worh - do to complete the
car we were on, and during the time met
with jeers and insults. Some one wrote
upon my closet door in big chalk letters,
-cursing me in bitter language. When !
went to eat my dinner l found it, spoiled
with acid or some bitter liquid put in it,
and one taste of it made me run to the
tank to get a cool drink of water.
All l1lIS 1ldu % DG DOTuE III S1lEHCGs "A
reply or an attempt at resentment, even il
Ihad known the source, might have caused
the loss of my life by,a set of "devils in
c~arnate," backed up by sixteen shooters,
ready for the command by Boss, OF ring
leader, to take the life of their fellowman,
n by a party that would Cypress the
pOo and take away their liberties.
Oh, that the powers that be may still
hold the reins of this government, and
that these fellows may be brought to q
knowledge of the fact that they do net
own the world.
told several of the men who were .
little kind to me, that they must vote as
their Boss said vote.
Then it seems 80 bad to me that my old
Sunday-school Superintendent, now Su-
permits ndent of the largest Sunday-schoO1
in the city and Boss singer in the big
church choir, should have allowed me to
receive such treatment, and not offer to
try to find out or bring these fends to
justice, but keeps them employed ; ~rascals
as mean as robbers destroyers of an HON
est mans goods. He knows that my
heart and hand have been with the church,
and that a right proportion of my money
has been given for its support and up
building.
They nave thOwn aside all regard for
goodness and integrity. Such men see
no good in anybody who is not a White
Union Man." and the foulest lies that
ever fell from the lips of man are daily
being circulated by hose who desire the
e~nslavement of the poor.
The same rascals who abused me be-
cause I would not vote for S. Fl. Fish
blate, for Mayor, afterwards saw their
mistake and went to work to have him
imprached, and had the audacity to send
a newspaper man 70 me to gather evidence
in regard 20 his burning his store. 1 told
him NO., sir, yOm put lin there yOa
must impeacf him"
Now they are mad and cursing our Re
publican Mayor, who is a gentleman. ]
must not write too much.
l thank YOU for your kindness to as,
and trust you are all right ere this.
Yours truly,
c. S. ANDREWS.