The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-07-26
The FARMER AS A CITIZEN.

of being told that it is getting monot
oncus, we reiterate that eternal truth:
In union there is strength" Almost
every week, atEhe risk of being abused
both by the farmer, because he is in
diff rent, and his enemies, because
they fear some good may come of it,
we insist that if the farmers wish JUS
tice they must have the manhood to
demand it.
Hoard's Dairyman, the leading dairy
paper of the country, is not edited by
a socialist, nor even a calamity howl
ing Populist." But the editor has for
years made a study of farming and
dairying and also of farmers and dairy
men. In a recent issue of his paper he
saws:
THE farmers of the nation, who
possess great political influence with
the law making power and the courts,
are careless and Indifferent. If an or
gauiz ton is started, like the National
Dairy Union, to secure the passage
and enforcement of laws against adul-
iteration, they allow it to lapguish for
want of both funds and friendship"
Continuing, he makes a statement
strongly-but every one who has
studied the case will agree not too
strongly-put. Read it:
"There is no other class in American
society who lie down so supinely be
fore wrong and oppression; who can
be so easily divided against themselves
by sharp politicians in the pay of some
fraud; who suffer millions Of loss
through fraud, yet haggle ove a few
dollars Of expense to put down the
fraud. In view Of the prosperity of
all these frauds, we are tempted, oft
times, to ask: Are we, as farmers, fG
subjects of American citiz anship, or
worthy defenders of the American sys
tenn of representative government"
This is a startling question. Yet, we
regret to say, we believe the facts war
rant Mr.. Hoard in asking the question.
The farmer as a citizen is honest-so
honest, in fact, that he seems to con-
slider every n else honest and there,
fore makes little effort to defend his
own interests. And here he fails in
his duty as a citizen.
We hope a number of III farmer
friends will give US their opinion OF
Mr.. Hoard's statements.
Wallace's Farmer also gives a sea
sonable hint which may not be out of
place here:
THE time is fast approaching when,
if the farmers are to hold an even end
with other classes they must make
farming interests a factor in politics.
We do not believe in farmers forming
political parties. We believe that
every man should use his political in
fuence for the benefit of his farm and
that that car be used to the best ad
vantage in the party with which he
has identified himself and the politi-
Cal ideas of which he firmly believes.
We believe that in this party he should
use his influence in order to protect his
own interests by seeing to it that the
candidates are pledged TO the enact
ment of laws that will protect the
farmer and advance hls interests, and
that candidates for L%fices, such as
railroad commissioner, which directly
bear upon his interests should be flied
with men who will be fair and just as
between him and other Interests with
which he has to contend. If his party
dominates men that are hostile co his
interests, we believe that his allegiance
to the farming interests and his own
home should outweigh his allegiance
TO his party. IT farmers Of the various
parties will work to this end even a
little bit, there is but little danger of
their interests suffering at the hands
Of legislation. Whenever the farmers
make the farming interests a factor in
politics, the politicians will see that
everything is fixed to the satisfaction
of the farmer; if not, the Offices that
bear directly upon the farmers inter-
ests will be mere trading stock. This
is the way OF politics and the way of
human nature. If farmers are sum
GENTLY awake to their interests they
can easily secure any law upon which
they will agree, by pledging candidates
in advance TO the enactment of these
laws"