The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-05-16

| The Progressive Farmer Was protest
ing against the appointment OF young
sters to important positions because OF
said youngsters famous fathers. The
effect of the policy against which we
then protested ia now painfully evident.
The great Confederate Veterans Re-
union, held in Charleston last week,
was one Of the most successful affairs
of it's kind on record. The North no
longer looks with suspicion upon these
annual gatherings Of the men who
wore the gray. On the contrary, az
an evidence Of the entire country's
confidence in their patriotism and itS
appreciation of their bravery and valor,
the United States Government Official
~ recognized the re union, aud, ig-
noring requests of other cities for the
presence of the cruiser Raleigh, sent
that vessel to Charleston for the bene-
fit Of the old soldiers. And Of all the
veterans there, not one found a warmer
reception than did little Joe Wheeler,
the brave defender of the STARS and
Stripes" Verify, Mason and Dixon's
line is q thing of the past.
We learn from the New York indie
pendent that Gen. Funston, of Kan
sas, whom North Carolina now claims,
was for some years in the newspaper
business. Among other things, the In
dependent says of him: Before get
ting his first taste Of war he made per-
ilous explorations in Death Valley and
Northern Alaska. He landed in Cuba
with a party Of fIibusIers in August,
1896, and for a year and a half there.
after fought bravely under Gomez,
taking part in twenty two battles be-
fore his failing health and his IT. lries
compelled him to leave the island. His
weight had been reduced to ninety
pounds and he feared that he was
crippled for life. But he recovered his
health and received the commission he
now holds. The only thing Fun.
ston would rather do than fight says
one of his friends, is to read Kipling.'"
The StatesvilIe Landmark is waging
a just var against the present method
of selecting legislative clerks-that is,
giving these positions to the bGst party
workers, regardless of their qualifca-
tions, or lack Of qualifications. Speak
ing of this method and its results, the
Landmark of the Oh says: by an
omission in the State revenue law the
"a building and loan associations in the
ktate escape taxation. This tax last
year amounted to 81, 900. The revenue
act is famous for its errors, the mis-.
takes being due to the carelessnesa or
incompetence Of clerks. Hereafter the
Legislature should employ expert copy
lists and proof-readers and require a
bond for the faithful performance of
of their duties. The old methods of sc
lecting q clerk because the applicant
is a good fellow or has a pull should
be abolished"
Hinges Weekly, of Greenville, very
properly commends the action Of the
people of F arm vile, Pitt county, for
their q of dealing with certain
suspects in a case of arson and murder.
Though there was strong circumstan
tial evidence against some of the SIS
poets, the Farmville people "have
sho Wn a desire, all the time" says the
Weekly" to brings the guilty parties
to justice, yet to let the Law be carried
out" How much more humane and
c~ommendable this spirit than that
which fred the brute -lynchers at
Newman, Ga. The Weekly,Iw I've think,
is right again when it calls for a special
term Of court to try the cases. The
extra cost would, of course, be some
thing, but swift punishment is not
only the best preventive Of crime, but
also the best method of discouraging
lynching and similar lawlessness. Give
law Judge Lynch's sWiftness and we
shall soon hear no more Of lynching.
Regardless of the sneers of narrow
and prejudiced newspapers and party
leaders, the people are not at all dis.
satisfied with a non partisan Supreme
Court. The number of cases affecting
the fortunes of various party leaders
which came before the Supreme Court
at its recent session are sufficient to
show the necessity for a court repre-
senting more than one political party.
After all, judges are but men subj ect
to like passions as other men. 1t is
perhaps possible tt have a fair court
composed of members of but one
party, but the people do not care to run
any risks, The judiciary should be