The progressive farmer., 1902-07-08
Correspondence.
The Kvils Of PartiSanship- Of High
Character for Public ofices-The Work
Of the Voters Leagues in Chicago.

The Evils Of Partisan ship-Men Of High
CharactAr for Public ofioes-The Work
Of the Voters Leagues in Chicago.
Cor. of The Progressive Farmer.
This is election year, and we should
Be studying who should be elected for
ofice, and especially about what part
each of us VIII play in nominating and
electing good and Competent men to
fn these offices. Some one has said,
at is difficult to say which has done
the greater harm, blind devotion which
would not see, OF, intelligence which
saw but lacked purpose and moral
courage to act.' Nest men belong to
one of these classes. In fact, a man
is not popular with the politicians un-
less he does; they want him to follow
without a murmur.
Governments by the people get bet
ter or worse, according to the honor
and manhood of its citizens. If every
man would vote just as he thought
~best, regardless of former party ties,
it would be best for the country. The
man that can do that is a part of the
baIlest In the bottom of "the ship of
State" which keeps it from turning
over.
When the candidate makes speeches,
whether in public or private, think of
it and consider; they may have an axe
to grind. The man you vote for
should be a good moral debt-paying
man, as well as a good common sense,
tolerant man, who thinks there are
some good men in all parties.
There is a great talk of education
now, which is good. We need four
months free school each year, but not
longer than that at the public expense
We must not make education too
cheap. A thing that costs nothing is
not generally appreciated. Our free
school teachers should be first moral,
and teach morals first. Second, teach
it is an honor to work, and that chill
dren should go to school to learn to
work to better advantage, not to get
an education to keep them from work,
as some of them now think; teach
them it is a disgrace to be idle. And
third, teach them book knowledge. No
one should be allowed to teach unless
well qualified to teach morals and in
dustry, as well as spelling, reading,
writing, arithmetic, grammar and
geography
Each one of us ought to feel as if
we were a committee of one to see
that we have good school teachers,
county commissioners, jurymen, Iegis-
lators, and county and State officers.
Now, to do that, there should be par
ties, but no partisan hate. IF a man
Is a good honest man and a good
neighbor, he should be respected as
such as much if a member of one DO
Etical party as another. There are
good and bad men in all parties. Speak
out and condemn wrong, and commend
right at all times. Of course, it is not
always popular to do it, but you must
do what you think is right so as to re-
tain your own self respect; you have
yourself present all the while, so keep
your self respect. Papers like The
Progressive Farmer are sitting high
mp on the wall, and should-and
think do-look at government from a
nOn-partisan view.
Each man should read the best mag
azines, and commercial or trade pa
pers, and as the best of those maga-
zines and trade papers look at govern
ment from that view, it makes no diff
ference what party rules this country
just so they do it best. We can get
some good ideas from them to help us
make up our minds and show us how
to vote. Don't be a stool pigeon, OF
dummy, but a man, a high minded
man, knowing your rights, and know
ing dare maintain"
Along this line I read an article on
Voters Leagues in Chicago, H., where
they had one of the most notoriously
corrupt governments up to a few year:
ago, but with their Voters League
idea, they now have forty aldermen
out of ffty-fve who were recommend
ed by the Voters League; hence, from
being the worst governed large city in
this country, it is now the best gov,
erned. I viii copy here a part of the
-OutlOOk's article spoken of, which will
explain itself:
'IBut, like most associations of this