Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-04
PORTRAYED BY POLK.

Objects Of the Farmers Alliance and Indus
trial Union Laid Down BY President
Polk.
OCALA. Fla, Dec. 3-The National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union
met in the opera house at noon yester-
day. Nearly every delegation had ar
rived and the house was crowded with
Alliance men and women.
Immediately after calling the dele
gates to order President Polk began the
delivery of his annual address, which
occupied over an hour. Itcongratulated
the Alliance on its achievements since
the last meeting and then reviewed the
causes of agricultural depression, which
was declared an anomaly to the student
of industrial progress "Retrogression
In American agriculture" he said,
''means National decay and powerful
and promising as is this young giant
Republic, yet its power and glory touch
not the degradation of the American
farmer"
The harm incident to Capitalization
Of the money power and upbuilding of
monopolies was then pointed out and
both political parties were condemned
for fostering and encouraging this con-
dition.
With reference to extending the
order the president urged that sddi-
tional organizers be sent at once into
Oregon, Washington, Ohio, New York,
New Jersey, Arizona and other States.
Among his recommendations was that
an organization be formed to be known
as the National Legislature, composed
of the National president and the ex-
presidents Of all the State Alliances,
their duty being to look closely after
legislative reform demanded by the AL
lance both in State Legislatures and in
Congress.
In his recommendation upon the pro-
posed National legislative council,
President Polk said: 81 would respect
fully suggest that legislative council
be composed of your National presi-
dent, who shall be ex-officio chairman,
and the presidents of all the State ALI
ances represented in the supreme coun-
Gil, and that this body shall hold its an
nual meeting within sixty days after
the adjournment of the supreme coun-
Gil, at such time and place as may be
designated by the National president;
that it be empowered and authorized to
appoint such legislative committees as
in its. Judgment may be wise, and that
1t be required to transmit to each of the
States, in printed form, Through the
National secretary, for distribution to
the reform press, lectures and member
ship Of the order, all measures or bills,
together with arguments in their favor
as they may decide should be enacted
into laws"
In relation to the political action of
the Alliance, President Polk said that
while the order was political it could
not be partisan or sectional in its &C
ton. In support of this declaration he
pointed to the record of the Alliance in
the recent popular election, and partic-
ularly to the noble and patriotic bear
ing of the brotherhood in Kansas and
South Carolina.
In regard to the record of the Alliance
during the past year, and especially
I with reference to the legislation de-
manded by it. Mr.. Polk declared that
Congress had persistently ignored all
of their propositions, notably in the
case known as the sub-treasury bill.
Congress, he said, must come nearer
to the people or they will get nearer to
Congress.
In outlining the future policy of the
Alliance President Polk said that it
would demand the restoration of silver
to all the rights and qualities Of legal
tender which gold possesses; the issu-
ance of Government currency direct to
the people; equalization of taxes; pro-
hibition of alien ownership of land;
ownership and control of transportation
lines by the Government; limit of pub
lie revenues to the economic admins
tration of the Government; graduated
taxation of incomes, and the election of
United States Senators by a direct vote
of the people.