Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1890-12-19
d 4
TIE I 4! ALLIANCE CONGRESS-.
!hs National Falnsls Alliance Hold
a. S''. i''''''''' i''''''' :
Over Two V Hundred 4!l!!!! & Delegates Attend
d Emphasize Former Pleas
for Public Reform,
Col, Polk Re- elected President and
soatb1,Dakota y Recognized IL
oHs|,I Rooster,
ENTHUSIASTIC "HAYsEEDs. .

et,E0IhUSlA6I1C1a adA16EEU5s
OcALA, Fla. Dec. 6. Special Correspond
ssce: The annual meeting Of the Nation
al Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union
of America, assembled in this city last
Tuesday and was called to order by Presi-
dent Polk in the afternoon. The conven-
tion has about 2OOdelegates representing
Ill but few states of the union and at
this writing is pronounced the most en-
thusiastic and most interesting annual
+ meeting ever held. In addition to the
regular delegation from each state Alli-
4 ance, there are large numbers OF other
members of the order present and 1T is
estimated that about 1900 Alliance men
2ysfR constant attendance at the conven-
tils anAlia 3 still larger number keep going
,and eos Ag from day 70 day, remaining
only as long as their slender purses will
permit Of the extravagant hotel rates that
are exacted from them as tribute.
PRESIDENT POLK's MESSAGE.
Much Of the time Tuesday afternoon
was taken up in reading the annual mes
!. sage Of President Polk, which is very de-
tailed ana ompfehensive az the years
4 work. Reviewing the present situa-
tion Of the country, Presid dent Polks says:
The great and universal depression,
I under which the agricultural interests of
this United States are suffering, is, in
view ofsour surroundings and conditions,
an anomaly to the student of industrial
/ progress. No country or people in all
history have been so favored and blest
4 with opportunity and favorable condi-
tions for the successful and profitable
prosecution Of agricultural industries.
With soils, climate and seasons admir-
ably adapted to;the successful growth of
all xhe great staple crops, demanded by
cor As.a1 1ee-with a people justly noted
faa industry, frugality, and pro-
gressN enterprise, and characterized by
an aggressiveness in material develop
ment which has no parallel in history
with transportation facilities, inland and
upon the seas, equal to the productive
Z power Of the country development
in railroad and manufacturing enterprise,
and in the growth of villages, towns and
4 cities marvellous in it's expansion with
the rapid accumulation of colossal for
: tunes in the hands of the few-why, in
stead of the happy song of peace, con-
tentment and plenty, which should bless
the homes of the farmer and laborer of
the country, should we hear the constant
and universal wall, Of .shard times?' To
Z solve this significant and vital question in
the light Of equity, jlstic and truth, is
the underlying principle, the holy mis-
sion and Inspiration of this, the greatest
industrial revolution Of the ages.
This great organization, whose Jurisdiction
now extends to thirty-five (35) states Of
this union, and whose membership and
co-workers number millions of American
q freemen by a common interest
! confronted by common dangers -impeii-
ed by common purpose devoted to a
c$Shno nont country standing for common
". and guided by the dictates of an
eIaitsd patriotism will, in the exercis es
Of conservative political action, strive to
!, equal rights for all and special privil-
s9eges to none" and secure indeed "a gov
ernment of the people, for the people and
by the people.
No patriot can view, but with feelings
of gravest apprehension and alarm, the
growing tendency, under the fostering
care of our politico-economic systems, to
the Capitalization of money power and
the upbuilding Of monopolies. Central
lied capital, allied to irresonpsible cor
porate power, stands today as formida-
BILE menace to Individual rights and popu-
lar government. This power is felt in our
halls of legislation, state and national
IN orr ,,n,,,,1ar conventions-at the ballot