The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-06-16
LETTER OF p. W. GLIDEWELL.

IL lHc IOllOI Inc - VI III |
progressive element of the Democratic
party in the recent Democratic State
Convention should be continued with
renewed energy. The cause of the
progressive Democracy should be
carried to the people and they should
be old the truth about that cOnven-
ton. The thought and energies of the
organization of the Democratic party
in this State is conferred around the
holding Of public office generally, and
the advancement of a few Of the faith
Tul machine ~lleutenantS to once IN
particular. To a mar who attends
the conventions of the party and who
observes things this proposition is
self-evident
heresy let me reCite some recent oc-
currances in the politics of this State.
The last General Assembly, created a
commission to prOpOSe certain amend
mentS to our Constitution, and that
commission was selected after care
full consideration and the men APP
pointed on it, were thoughtful, wise
and largely progressive. Many amend
mentS constructive in their nature and
looking to the progress of the State,
and charging the power Of the people
to control government ave been sub
mitted. This commission was Sc
lected and created by Democratic au-
lIlOIlly anu I1lS authority was eAeI-
cised, following a strong public de-
mand for a change. Included in the
amendments submitted is one looking
to q reform In our system OF taxation.
Should that mendmen be passed the
ChanceS are hat certain corporations
in this State would likely Dear nearer
their share Of the burdens OF govern
ment. All admit that we are facing
a deficit in the State treasury, and
for this the Democratic party is held
responsible, because it is in power and
in control Of every branch of the
State government. In spite of his
condition the recent convention ut
tered not a word of endorsement for
these amendments, save one relating
to education.
Why this silence of a great party
on questions vitality affecting the life
OF the people of the State? Fear,
fear Of dispensing ONE persons and
interests. closely associated with the
organization, n who are opposed to
any progress save their own, and OPP
posed to any reform. One of the
wise CD leaders of the dominant wing
Of the party said at Raleigh hat these
proposed amendments to the COnSti-
tuition were not political in their ma
ture, and therefore the party should
not express itself upon them. And
yet he placed in the platform an en-
dOi SeiiIcIt VI tHC pIOpOScu EuUCd-
tional amendment, which amendment
is less political in its nature than all
the others.
That wise CD leaders conception
Of the function of a political party is
that it should advance a few men tC
office n not serve a people by Civ
ing them good What q
pitiable- thing, that the party of JEFF
ferson and Jackson should be afraid
| to take a stand on measures vitality
effectlng the State, fOrSOoth some few
offices might be sacrificed in so doing
Name Belicd Purpose.
There assembled in Raleigh, il
April, a convention or mass meeting
| of Democrats to discuss public meas
l ures and to assist in getting the part,
committed to progress. That was tn
, announced purpose Of hat gathering
! After events, however. made its nam.
belle its purpose. 1t turned out to b,
l a gathering Of shrewd political sur
{ geons to administer chloroform to tn.
t progressive movement in this Stat,
2 and devitalize and destroy it. Som
D real prOgreSsiveS attended hat meet
: ing and refused to be chlorOforme
L and wrote into the resolutions som,
progressive measures. But when tia
meeting adjourned the necessary ma
o chinery was set in motion to destro,
5 what had been done and thus carr
Il out the original purpose to Gestro
the progressive movement.
t That mass meeting was compose
L Of representative rGen, many Of thor
{ prominent in the party, from all part
: of the State. y resolution in fave
of submitting to a Vote Of the peopl
q of the State whether they desired tn
initiative ard referendum was passe
u in said meeting by an orerwheimin
vote. And that after the GOVernoI
the leader OF the Iarty. had pieade
ie earnestly against it. \ large numbe
l. of the constitutional committee favor
ed submitting it. many newspapers {
the State favored i. and men prom
N nent as thinkers. and wise in til
E party counselS favored it. And Yet II
Ia proposition 10 let the people vote q
1t at a general election had not FRIEND
: enough to get IA minority report in j
ID from the platform ccn-1itte