The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-07-27
WHAT COL. POLK SAYS
ABO:iT THE REPORTS OF HIS
GREENSBORO SPEECH.
is There Plot AmongVance's Friends
TO Destroy Him ."--What Prof. Mas.
sey Says of the Speech.

TO Destroy Him .''--What Prof. Mas.
sey Says of the Speech.
A synopsis of the great farmers meet
ing held at Greensboro last week was
given by the CHRONICLE. 1t will be re-
mcmbered that during the meeting
speeches were made by Col. L. L. Polk,
President of the National Farmers AL
lance and Laborers' Union; Mr.. N. A.
Dunning, editor of the National Econo-
mist, which is the National Alliance
The report of Col. Polk's speech
rs given by the CIR, ensboro Patriot
has excited considerable discussion and
speculation and was the subject of much
talk here yesterday.
Col Polk is now in the city, and yes
terdly CHRONICLE Reporter called on
him, aud pointed out some of the para
ryaphs Of the Patriots report which
seemed to have created the most interest.
The Reporter asked the Colonel if these
reports did justice to the proceedings at
Greensboro, and also asked him if he
would express himself with reference to
what had appeared IN the papers.
The following paragraphs relating to
his speech were specially pointed out:
From the Greensboro Patriot.
''Col. Polk spoke for two hours and
twenty three minutes He carefully
avoided using Senator Vance's name,
bat he assailed him nevertheless in such
IL way that his hearers could not fail to
know at whom he was hinting.'
"rhe Colonel was listened to with
great attention, and was frequently in
terrupted with applause. His sharp at
tacks on Congress, his assault, by in
nucndo and insinuation on Vance,
tickled his Republican hearers almost to
death. At times he was eloquent and
pathetic, and all through his speech was
interesting and entertaining.
a gentleman of quiet and conserva-
tive Judgment, said of the speech that
"It was demagogical to high degree;
an incendiary appeal to class prejudice;
and, try to hide it as he might, bid for
the farmers vote to succeed Senator
Vance"
Col. POLK said
NV attention was called to these mis-
representations in the Patriot before
left Greensboro by several gentlemen
who were very indignant Benbow Hall
was crowded and every respectable gen.
tlcmln present knows that the statements
OF the Patriot referred to are absolutely
false, and are wilful Misrepresentation.
| did not assault Senator Vance "by in
uendo and iusinuation," nor IN any Other
way. used the same arguments, sub
stantially, in regard to the sub-treasury
bill which | ased before the Senate com
mittce and have used on all occasions
since. | notice that these bittersand TN
truthful articles are quoted entire by al
Least one paper day, and II IS little
strange that not one word IS taken IRON
another paper published III Greensboro
which is edited by Christian gentleman
and which all admit gave an unbiased
report Of my speech. But these frantic
efforts on the part of certain people
to show their devotion to and friend
ship for Senator Vance are excus
able in view Of their past cOurs
towards that gentleman. 1t is ludlcrOu
to those of US who have always stood b.
HIM when he needed friends, to b.
now celsured by those who then betray
ed him. And / desire to say now an'
here, that if ever there was time in al
his grand life when the Senator shoul
pray to be delivered from his $50 called
friends, that time is now.
Hundreds and thousands Of men VIII
have been true and loyal and devoted t
the Senator, differ with him, but ar
they likely to be changed by abuse, VII
lification and wilful misrepresentation
TheAliance stands for truth and justice
and it is met by such expressions
"traitors" "incendiary," "demagogical
ishayseed socialist" "agrarian humbug
Communist" &c.
Is there a plot among his so calle
champions to destroy him3 Time wi
tell who his real friends are.
What Prof. Massey Says.
Prof. W. f. Massey, of the A. & \
college, who also spoke at Greensboro
was asked by the CHRONICLE wheth'
the statement in the Patriot, as to &c
Polk's utterance in regard to the hosti
ty of the North Carolina papers was CO
rectly reported, said emphatically tn
il was not. "What l remember, and
am sure I am correct. was that Ct
Polk said that if he was subscribing
and reading q paper that constant
misrepresented the Alliance and its pu
poses, he would seriously ask his wife
She did not think he needed guardia
Col. Polk said in regard to the su
treasury bill that the Alliance was n
wedded to that bill as an ultimatul
but, was ready to adopt any measu
that would be more feasible and whi
would give the farmers the desired I
lief. The sub-treasury plan was propt
ed AZ the best its authors could devils
but they were ready at any time to dr.
Il for a better one. He argued that it
IA constitutional in its provisions as t
law allowing whiskey to be held in &c
ernment warehouses and to be used
collateral through the warehouse cert
Gates. | do not remember any expressl
in his speech that in any fairness cot
be construed into bid for the Senate
ship or an attack upon Vance-not
word of personality was used IN rega
to any one."
Serious Injuries Sustained BY TIE
nessee Congressman.