The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-01-18

LIT THE PEOPLE LEAD.
correspondence Of the Progressive Farner.
So much has been said and written
about s'bosses' and bossism dominat-
ing and controlling the managementOf
the Populist party, that some few un-
suspecting ~innocents may be induced
to believe the Young Giant in this
State is to day worse boss ridden than
the old Democratic party e. was
under the mail clad hands of its AFRO
gant and despotic leaders of the recent
past, Dr. the present wild cat Democ-
racy under the virulent vituperative
rawlings of those who are presuming to
be it's leaders to dRy-WhiCh raving, by
way Of depression, may serve to show
their violent hatred, and indignation
for those who differ with them polite.
ally, but utterly fails to disclose one
iota of political sagacity, or, develop
any marked degree Of craftsmanship.
So pertinent has this outCry of
bosses and ''bossism," been levelled
at us by the irresponsible penny-a-
liners predominating the claims Of the
yellow journalism" welded against
us by u enemies throughout the
State, that to some extent at least,
wrong impressions may have been
made upon the minds Of a few Of the
more luke warm members of the Popu-
list organisation, If any such there be
among us. However, be that az it
may, TO thoroughly eradicate the idea
of ''boss rule" in the PopuIist party,
and to forever set at rest this oft, reCur-
ring obnoxious question, / would sug-
gest some slight changes in III party
organisation for the coming campaign
of 1898.
To resolve this question of changes
into practical shape and make them at
once available for all purposes OF party
government and party management,
let the State Executive Committee,
after mature deliberation among them
selves, and a thorough interchange Of
opinions with the County Executive
Committee select, through the recon-
mendations of the latter, two inauen-
tial members Of the party, from each
of the nine Congressional districts who
shall when called together, constitute
a general committee, clothed with the
function Of formulating the policy Of
the party and experimenting it's thor
ough organization, outlining plans of
action, &c.
Referring such plans or policy TO the
county executive committees TO be by
them re. referred to the consideration
of the primaries or individual members
of the township meeting, and their
conclusions returned to the general
committees" This in effect will con
stitute a direct Application of the initia-
tive and referendum so often discussed
in the public prints and so ~indifferently
explained.
1t will, after settling a few minor de-
tails, efectually eliminate every semb-
lance of ''boss" rule from the organiza-
ton or management Of the Populist
party.
Under such an arrangement the peo-
pie would have absolute and entire con-
trelof their party organization in every
county of the State, regardless Of what
would or could be said OF done.
The above views, thus briefly out
lined, at first glance, will probably be
antagonized by some as too cumber-
some and unwieldy; but when, after
reflection, they fully realize that the
township meetings or primaries ma
be convened at q moments notice and
all questions thoroughly discussed,
agreed upon and returned to the 'gen.
eral convention" within q week, these
objections fail to materiaIizs, and It
will be plainly een by the simplest OBJ
lection, that the will Of the peoDls
would control the machine" instead
of the machine" or any Of it's self con
stituted ''bosses" individually or col.
lectively controlling the will of the
people. n. L. WooD.
Lewiston, N. O., Jan. 8 1898.