The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-07-29
FARMERS MUTUAL BENFE1r
ASSOCIATION AND THE
KNIGHTS OF LABOR
OUT EN- MASS.

Long---2o,o 900 People upon the
Grounds--July 5th at the
* City of Emporia, Lyon
County, Kansas.
The occasion being the presence a.
Hon. L. L. Polk, of North Caro1;na
President of the National AIIiana
and Industrial Union, and promised
speech from him on that occasion
also Of Ralph Beaumont, chairman 81
the committee on needed Legislation
and also National Lecturer of tha
Knights of Labor. We learned from
| Bro. Clover, Of our State Alliance
that President Polk was to be in Kan.
sas on the Sd, 4th, and 5th Of Ju'v
for the purpose of talking to the pee.
pie, the Sd and 4th had been ARRANGED
for, and learning that they could be
had at our city on the 9Th, we called
the attention of our orders to the fact
and asked for immediate replies. The
unanimous response came in, have
them by all means. AS the time was
short 1.-TWO weeks) in which to make
arrangement, and the fact that the
people had already made their caIcula.
| tons to celebrate the 4th, it looked
doubtful whether a respectabl Die sized
crowd could be got out on the 5th,
but as the time sped on, news of ar.
engagements boing made to hear Polk
and Beaumont, came in from all parts
of this and the surrounding counties
The day opened fine, being clear with
a cooling breeze, free from dust, bav.
lug had a fine rain on the Sd.
At about eight in the morning
teams, buggies and giggs with rustt
occupants commenced to arrive on the
streets unattended by bands of music
or song, neither did they display flags
or banners. The denizens of the CITY
were quite hilarious and cracked many
a joke on old hayseeds who had come
out to hear and see the we'll advertised
Rebel B'Ggadler.
At half past 9 o'clock a. M, the
hour set, professions, with the stars
and stripes flying, banners waving,
bands of music playing and may
choirs of sweet singers discoursing
fine vocal music, began to arrive soon,
filing the streets and avenues leading
into the city, stretching away for a
mile or more on some of the roads
leading into the city. The streets
were soon blocked with teams and the
police gave up their effort TO keen
them open.
At l o'clock the procession began
to move down Commercial street, pre-.
coded by four coaches in which were
seated Mayor Griffith, President Polk,
Ralph Beaumont and several other
prominent persons, visitors and cjti.
zens. The before dinner speech was
delivered by Hon. Ralph Beaumont,
in his clear, compact, forcible manner
to the %edifcation of all attentive
lis 'eners who gathered around the
stand, crouding as close as people can
BE- packed and reaching back as far as
the voice of the speaker could reach,
Cheers of appreciation were often given
during the address.
After dinner, at the sounding OF the
drum, the immense throng of people
began to press near the stand, many
were to be seen going on run for fear
they would not get in hearing distance
of the speaker, Hon. L. L. Polk,
whom of all speakers who has ever
addressed an assemblage of people in
this country, none has been more
a~nxiously looked for or attentively
listened. He spoke for about two
hours, holding the vast assembly
spellbound, they standing during all
the while. The speaker was often
cheered, and the hearty response Of
approval heard. At the close of
the lecture the multitude seemed if
possible to press closer the speaker
than before, anxious to press the hand
Of their Southern brother and friend
of humanity.
Let me add there waS no MaSom's d
D,ron's line here, and may God grant
that there may never be heard more
of that or any other line to sepa,
rate the people possessed of one com.
mon interest and a common humanity.
United we must stand if divided We
must fall a prey of organized capital
Yours fraternally,
P. B. MAxsoN,