The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-06-26
AGAINST THE AMENDMENT.

A Citizen of Forsyth Replies to RefOrmer
correspondent OF The Progressive Farmer.
l am glad to see that we have got
some good men who I believe will
stand up for equal rights to all and
special favors to none. There has
been a great deal said about the con-
stitutiona1 amendment and election
law. In the Progressive Farmer of
last September 10Th, one mani
don't know who he is, for he don't
tell his name, but calls himself an
Allianceman and a "Reformer >
writes favoring the amendment.
Now, 1 want a word with this cor
respondent. Mr.. Reformer, youc com
pare a little year old child hand
ling a pistol to an old man voting at
the ballot box. That is enough to
make a dog laugh. We all know
that any sensible man can handle the
pistol and the ballot with intelli-
gence if he chooses to do so. If he
does not, it is because he does not
choose to do so. The little child is
not capable of doing either me-.
There is no argument in such stuff
as that.
Again, you say the hope of the
country lies in an educated citizen
ship and there can be no better slim
illus to education than the adoption
of the constitutional amendment.
Now, Mr.. Reformer, if that is the
best you have got you had better
hustle around and see if you can't
find something a little better. The
amendment is not intended for the
i good of the country, neither is. it
intended to educate the poor man,
but it is intended to take their rights
from them and give it to the ring
leaders and bosses that getit through.
[ am as much in favor of education
as any man, and I know the best and
the only way tor educate our children
is to have good school houses, good
teachers and plenty of money to run
them. Isn't that so, Mr.. RefOrmer?
Say yes, for you know it is.
The amendment will never educate
any man. Suppose it did. Educa-
ton has nothing in the world to do
with a mans voting. It never
changed a mans vote. You may
take any Democrat or Republican
that has got no education at ali, edu-
cate him all you please, but it will
not change his vote. And that is
not all, the ~illiterate man can vote
just as intelligent as the educated
man. Now, suppose here is a grad
uate he walks up to the polls and
votes a Democratic or Republican
ticket. He thinks he knows how to
vote because he is an educated man a;
he believes he has voted right
whether he voted right or not, and
it does not matter how dishonest he
is or whether he loves his country or
not, every one of his party will say
he voted right. Then here is a man
that has got no education at all, he
walks up and votes exactly the same
ticket. So you see if the illiterate
man voted wrong the educated man
voted wrong if the educated man
voted right the illiterate man voted
right. Now, Mr.. Reformer, what do
you think about it? Don't you
think your argument is rather thin?
l think so, and you can't fool me
with any such rotten stuff.
honestly believe this amendment
and election law compose one of the
~rottenest schemes that has ever been
invented in North Carolina, and if
carried into force will cause more
trouble and bloodshed than any other
scheme that has ever been brought
before people. Give us fair and
honest election laws and there will
be no trouble over the elections.
Give US equal rights to all and special
favOrs to none is the voice Of every
true citizen. H. E. LONG.
Forsyth County, N. G.
Sharples Cream Separators-Proft-