The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-04-29
FARMERS SHOULD ATTEND THE PRI-
MARIEs.

AAh4ES
Says the Roanoke howan Times
Farmers r paying but. little at
tention to politics now, devoting
their whole time and attention to
the farm. The professional poll
ticians who take this seeming indif-
ference to mean that the farmer can
not be aroused in time to vote will
find they are mistaken. Good men
to fill public offices are demanded. "
The farmer should be aroused to
vote, but he should also be aroused
a good deal earlier. The most effect
i've work for good government can
be done in connection with the nom
mating conventions, in forcing the
parties to put up good men as can
didates. It is unfortunate that so
many honest and intelligent citizens
who would not think of failing to
vote, feel that they have no time to
attend a primary and work in behalf
of the cleanest and most efficient
men available as candidates. But
this work in the conventions is not
a whit less important, a duty in NJ
degree less worthy of attention, than
is the casting of the ballot on cleo.
ton day. In the Iowa campaign
some months ago, WallRce's Farmer,
of Des Moines, published a sensible
editorial on this subject, which we
clipped and filed away. Here it is
and we commend it's argument so
our North Carolina voters as this
time:
"While Wallaces' Farmer is not
the organ of any party OF any fac
ton of any party, it is deeply inter
ested in good governments. Good
government in the United States
ean government of the people, by
the people, for the people. In our
day good government of the people
is possible only when the people take
an active hand in it. The only way
they can take an active hand in it is
to begin at the commencement which
is the primary where men are nomi
mated for office. If farmers, because
the primaries are held in corn plant.
ing or 20 blowing or hay making
or harvest, stay at home and don't
take any part in the nominations of
candidates, they should not complain
if they r whipped into voting for
candidates which are the other fell
lows nominee. They must either
then stand the whipping and vote
for the other fello VS. choice or bolt
their ticket and vote for a set of
principles they don't believe in, or
stay at home and cease to be a part
of the self government which is the
boast of our State and Nation.
eve hope, therefore, that every
reader of Wallaces' Farmer whether
he be a Republican, Democrat, Popu-
list, Prohibitionist, or what not, will
take a day off and attend the primary
of his party and there do his part in
securing good government, or if not
good government then government
which he thinks is good, which is for
him the same thing.
sit is a common trick of politicians
who have other ends to serve to call
the primary when comparatively
few farmers can attend, in their
busiest season. Until they take a
more active part than they have
been doing the farmers will have to
submit to this and submit with the
best grace possible. After all it
don't take very long for a farmer
to go to the primary and vote, or if
he spends a half day in working for
his candidate he will never miss it
when he comes to die. He probably
needs a half day off anyway !; there.
fore take it,"