The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-11-11
FARMERS
An Interesting Interview with Colonel
L L. Polk, President Of the
National Organi-
GOhio State J Urnall

| duStrial Union, arrived IN LnlS CITY
Yesterday afternoon for the purpose
| of addressing the County Alliance this
| afternoon. Seated in front Of a socl-
| able CRATE fire in a modest room at
the United S ates hotel, surrounded
by a score of well known citizens OF
the county, he was found by a reporter
last night. He was engaged IN an
earnest talk to his auditors who were
listening with Impressive attention.
| When through he stated that ne was
on his way home from an extended
visit to the Alliance in the States of
Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and
Illinois. He had heard such encour-
aging reports from Ohio that he con
cludei to spend a few days IN the
| Buckeye Safe. The growth Of the
Alliance is remarkable, and partlcu
larlv so in the States [ have just Wis
tied. The enthu ,iasm displayed by
the farmers in joining the organiza
| ton is demonstrated by the fact that
in Decemb-r, 1889, when the Alliance
was organized in the State Of Kansas
the scattering Alliances contained
| only $4,000 members and to day it
has over l45,O 600 In the Northwest
we have a rapidly grow ng organiza
ton, and in Michigan we have a
model Alliance. We have now ALI
ances organized in thirty five States,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
Canada to the Calf. We have over
"a. 900 Alliances, containing nearly a
membership Of 1000, 600. In a year
we will have over $500 600
What do you think Of the prog
ress Of the Alliance in Ohio 2
" 1t is remarkable, but it is the
same in every State. | ind that the
Alliances in Ohio are larger than IN
any ate | have yet visited. The re
suit here is encouraging and you need
not be su prised to See |, 200 Alliances
ia the State next Oct her, with a
membership of $50, OO0.'
Is il not one Of the objects Of the
Alliance to seek a confederation Of all
other farmers organizations in the
country ?"
" Il IS. There is now another or
g~anizatiOn known under the name Of
the Alliance, which is a strong and
powerful factor among the farmers OF
the Western Stares, particularly in
Nebraska. The objects Of this and
our organization are practically the
same. We have a mutual understand
ing, and it will not be long until the
two are confederated. We want to
yet all the organizations Of the farm
els together and are not attempting
to do so by absorption, bat by uniting
with them
The Alliance appears to be caus
ing the two prominent political parties
so1pe fright IN particular sections OF
the country p
Yes, but the local Alliances ale
responsible for this. The chief prn
ciples of the Alliance are non partisan
ship and non se~ctioDalism. When a
man enters the lodge room he leaves
h party and religion behind him.
The Alliance is united by ties Of
financial and home interests. We
want to labor for the education Of the
agricultural classes in the science Of
economic government in a non par
tisan spirit; to develop a better state,
mentally, socially and financially, and
to suppress personal, local, sectional
and national pre- tices."
Further conversation was p~reventei
by the demands made upon Colonel
Polk by visitors.
Colonel Polk is a striking man in
appearance and a typical Southerner.
He was born, raised and has since
lived in North Carolina. He is well
educated, is an eloquent speaker AMI
a most interesting conversationallst.
He was a union mar up to the out
break of the war, when he went with
his native State. He fought through
the Shenandoah and last night locked
arms and discussed incidents Of the
battle of Winchester with those who
were on the other side. Colonel Polk
is a warm friend of General W. S.
Jones, of Delaware, the latter having
been the guest of the colonel at ais
home in the South as he was return,
ing to the North at the conclusion Of
the war.
Colonel Polk will address the Ali
ance and its friends at the Board of
Trade audit )rium this afternoon at 2
o'clock, and he should be greeted with
a large crowd. Mayor Bruck will
preside. All arrangements have been
perfected by Mr.. J. NJ. Richardson,
deputy national organizer.
MONEY IN APPLES