South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-12-19
President Folks Message.

Following Is q synopsis of Presi-
dent Folks message to the National
Farmers Alliance. ut Ocala. Fla:
President Polk was introduced by
DR.. Rogers and delivergd bic annual
address After few congratulatory
sentences, be said: Profoundly i'm
pressed with the magnitude OF this
great revolution for reform. involving
Issues momenlous and stupendous IN
In their character, IS affecting the
present and future welfare of the PEG.
pie, the public mind is naturally di-
r,cted TO this meeting with anxious
interest il not solicitude< and YOU
cannot be unmindfnl OF the import
ance and responsibility that attach to
your action as representatives, coming
from Sta'es and localities remote
from each other and differing widely
from each other in .heir material and
physiological characteristics and
marked by those social and political
differences which must necessarily
raise under oar form of government.
1t is your gracious privilege, as it
shall be your Growing honor, to prove
to the world by your harmonious &C
ton and thoroughly fraternal coop
Grafton that your supreme purpose is
to meet the demends of patriotic duty
in spirit of equity and justice"
The president congratulated the
Alliance on its achievements since
the last meeting. and then reviewed
The causes OF agricultural depression.
The president declared that this de-
preston is an anomaly To the student
OF industrial progress. 'Retrogression
In American agriculture, he said,
means national decay, and powerful
aud promising as is this young giant
republic, yet its power and glory touch
not the degradation of the American
farmer TIE alarm incident 10 cen.
tralizAtion of the money power and
upbuilding of monopoliss Was then
pointed out and both political parties
were condemned for forcing and en-
oouraging this condition. With ref
erence To extending the order the
president urged that additional or
gnniZers be sent at once into Oregon,
Washington, Ohio, New York, New
Jersey, Arizona and other States.
In his remarks upon the proposed
national legislative council, President
Polk said: Il would respectfully
suggest that Legislative council 20
be composed OF your national presi
dent, who shall be ex-ohicio chair.
man and the president Of ali the
State Alliances represented In the
supreme council, and that this body
shall hold its annual meeting within
sixty days after the adjournment of the
supreme council at such time and
place as may be indicated by the ma.
tional president that it be empower.
cd and authorized 10 appoint such
legislative committees as may In its
judgment be wise, and that It be re.
CURED TO transmit to each one Of the
States, 10 pritned form through the
national secretary, for distribution to
the reform press, lecturers and mem
bership Of the order, eli measures
aud bills, together with arguments 10
their favor, as they may decide sho1ld
be enacted into laws President
Polk said that an organization OF this
kind would WELD a moral power
which would enforce the respect Of any
legislative body to which It might sp-
peal.
Touching upon the political action
OF the Alliance, President Polk said
While our organization is political
1t cannot be partisan or Beesioual ln
It's action. Ia support of this dee
clarstiou We proudly point to our
whole past record and 90 the recent
popular election, and particularly 70
the noble and patriotic bearing Of
the brotherhood ia Kansas and South
Carolina.
In reviewing The record Of the ALI.
ance during the past year, and espeo.
tally to the legislation demanded by
II, tue speaker declared that Congress
had repeatedly ignored ell Alliance
propositions and even suppressed dis
cussion Of them, notably In the CAGE
Of the measure known as tue sub.
treasury bill. Congress- be said
must come nearer 70 tbs people Or the
people will get nearer to Congress.
The remainder Of the address was
devoted 10 a discussion OF financial
reform and the policy OF the Alliance
10 uproOting sectionalism. As out
lining the future financial policy of
he Alliance, President Polk said that
it vii demand The restoration ofsilyer
70 al the rights and qualities Of legal
tender, which gold possesses; the is
sue Of government currency direct to
lhe people !. equs.ization Of taxes
prohibition OF alien ownership of
laud ownership and control oflrans.
portation lines by The government:
limit Of public revenues TO The econ
omio administration OF the govern
vent graduated taxation of incomes
and the election or United States
Senator'S By direct vote Of the people
A. the conclnsion OF Presldeut
Folks address tho Alliance resolved
itself into q sort Of lovefeast' dur
log which z. A. Power. an oil Union
soldier from Indiana, mOvoi thai al
sx-UnioB soldiers 10 the hall Who i'm.
dorsed the sentiments expressed In
The speech of President ROu Ks. Of
South Dakota, with reference 10 the
burial ot sectionaiism, rise up 20 be
ooonted. The motion prevailed, and