The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-03-15

E6OUCS p6SS64SoE E9bSS 41 S4S OU0US'
The s'poor" railroad companies will
raise a great howl, but that should not
change the Commissioners hearts. The
''poor" public have some rights to be
considered.
A conference of Populists has been
called to meet at Raleigh, March 10th,
to confer and agree upon party policy.
The call was mailed March Sd to indi-
vidual members and workers through
out the State, and to Congressman. The
indications are that there will be a
large gathering. Ali workers are
specially invited.
Col. John B. Webster, Of Webster's
Weekly, and Col. Joseph Pie Caldwell,
of the Charlotte Observer, have read
each other outof the Democratic party.
We rise to suggest that we think Col.
]. Pie ought to be in the Republican
gold standard party, and that Col.
Webster ought to join the Populists.
We have recently visited one or two
cotton factories, and after seeing the
surroundings we are convinced that
the farmer who leaves the pure fresh
air Of Gods country for the health de-
stroying and combining work Of the
factory makes a grievous error Yet,
the laborers in these mills fare much
better and receive higher wages than
do their Northern brethren.
It is an encouraging sign to see the
partisan papers of the State growing
broad enough to acknowledge there is
some good in another party. The Kin
ston Free Press, speaking Of DR.. Cy.
Thompson, Secretary of State, says:
He attends to his official duties ably,
promptly and constantly. DR.. Cy is a
mean politician, but makes a good
official"
Without a woman in it." the ALI.
ance, as well as any other organization
or institution, would be in q ~deplorable
condition. The aims of the Alliance
are so pure and so noble that the wo
manifest woman and the manifest man
endorse them, and should join the Or
der 50 as to encourage and help those
who are engaged in the work.
Consul General Lee in Havana is
another public official who has won the
confidence and esteem of men of all
parties. He has true grit and is, to
use an old phrase, ''the right man in
the right place. Elk President Cleve
land acted wisely in appointing him.
and President Mckinley in refusing to
remove him to make room for q politi
cal friend.
We don't admire the politics of Sec
rotary Wilson of the Department Of
Agriculture, but must confess that he
is making a much better officer than J.
Sterling Morton, his predecessor, who
farmed chiefly in his imagination. The
position is a responsible one and the
farmers Of the country should be glad
that Mckinley stumbled upon such a
man.
We have surrendered a good deal of
our space of late to a discussion of the
methods of Chairman Butler, of the
Populist party. Both sides have been
given a fair hearing and we hope the
discussion is about over. A large per
cent. of our readers are PopuIists and
we consider it fair to allow representa-
tive members to express themselves on
the questions Of the day.
The middleman is one of the chief
enemies of the Alliance. Don't trust
too much to your village merchant or
the slick tongued agent. Get the cata-
logues of reliable firms and order direct
from our advertisers. Be sure to state
where you saw the ad. Get the cate
logues of several firms selling each ar,
ticle, compare prices and thus you can
buy to the best advantage.
It is said that at a corn conference in
Chicago the editor of a 80 allied farm
paper was shown q pumpkin seed and
made to believe it was a new variety
Of corn. He is a wonderful man to
tell people how to farm. Yet because
his paper is cheaper, some people sub,
scribe for it rather than pay a little
more and get the sound, practical and
timely advice Of such men as Profs.
Irby and Emery.
Some of our Democratic friends pro
fess to believe that none except Demo.
Gratis can manage the affairs of a county
or State in a c~ommendable manner. OF
course this is all nonsense. Two of the
County Commissioners of Wake county
are Populists and m is a Republican.
In the past two years they have de,
creased the county debt from S44 600