The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-03-08
LETTER FRom sRo. wHITa.

Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
have not written anything for your
most excellent paper for some time, but
not because / have been less interested
in the great issue of the day and cur
rent events Tt is true that I have
been greatly discouraged by the results
of the last political campaign, both
State and National. Great mistakes
have been made. Some mistakes are
irreparable; others eventually turn
out in the end for the best. In the
past history of political reforms there
have been many plumbers in the choice
OF leaders, The Populists certainly
made mistakes in the choice of lead
ers in the two last gubernatorial con
tests and in the choice of a railroad
Commissioner. The Populists may
have made a mistake in sending Mr..
Chairman of the National Executive
Committee. A mistake may have
been made in not calling the National
Convention o Now, be charita-
BILE; who has not made mistakes all
along through life7 Mr.. Butler is a
young man; yet is he not politically
older than the Populiat party9 Has he
not been and is he not still the ablest
Populist Senator in Congress9 Now
all ye who rail out in vituperetion
against Senator Butler, don't you envy
him9 Don't you hate him for his very
success? / know that the leaders in
both the Democratic and Republican
parties do hate Senator Marion Butler
for his very success, and because they
think that somehow or other he stands
in the way Of their political advance
ment. It was with bitter regrets that
the many admirers of the Hon. Thomas
Watson read his bitter animal
versions on Mr.. Butler. Doubtless it
was pleasant reading for the Democrats
and Republicans, but it made few
friends for Mr.. Watson, and tended
rather TO weaken than to strengthen
the cause and success of the PopulIs5
party. If the great laboring, tolling,
tax robbed masses wish to succeed in
getting rid Of the burdens laid upon
them; they must unite upon some
great issue-an issue which the major
ity of reformers favor. And the f1nan.
cial issue, in my opinion, is the great
est, for it fleets directly and indirectly
every person in the nation. Toe great
mass of reformers can wait awhile for
many of the measures outlined in the
Ocaia demands.
Truth is eternal; it will never die.
What was once true is still true, and
ever will be. II weknow the truth we
will be wise. IL we desire TO know the
truth we must read the truth; and
read it withous prejudice. It would be
well if everyone could or would read
the papers OF all the political parties;
but the ordinary laborer has not the
time to read, nor the money to spend
for the able and reliable papers Of each
party; and as for reading many Of our
little papers with the accompanying
William Street supplement is time
wasted. Just as well not read at all,
for one will be none the wiser. The
only result will be the readers mind
will be dwarfed and filled with narrow
prejudices. One. by reading The Pro
GREssIVE FARMER can learn more truth
than by reading q dozen Of the petty,
political sheets in common circulation.
1t has been q matter of interest to
me, how sueha paper as THE PRoGREs,
sIvE FARMER can be printed fifty one
times each year and sent out TO its
readers. Surely the money cannot
come from the subscription list. We
know that it does not come from q
source like the William Street Liter
allure. If the paper is kept running
by its advertising patronage ! am sure
that those who advertise in its columns
are richly rewarded. .Onone occasion
I advertised in it for a position as q
teacher. I was overwhelmed with ap
ol~ications. Nine of the leading maya
zines, two county papers andTHE Pro
GRE. sIvE FARMER were read in my
f4muy during the past year. The
FARMER was the best one of the lot;
and as an all around family paper it
is the best in the State.