Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1890-11-24
PRESIDENT poLK,s OBSERVATIONS.

Farmers Alliance Sees to Cheer Him.
Hon. L. L. Polk, president of the Ma
tional Fa, mers' Alliance and Industrial
union. arrived in this city yesterday
afternoon for the purpose Of addressing
the county Alliance this afternoon.
Seated in front of a sociable CRATE fire
in modest room at the United States
hotel, surrounded by score of well
known citizens of the county, he was
found by a reporter last night. He was
engaged in an earnest talk to his
auditors. who were listening with i'm
pressiee attention. When through he
stated that he was on his way home
from an extended visit to the Alliance
in the states of Kansas. Nebraska, Mis-
souri,, Iowa and Illinois. He had heard
such encouraging reports from Ohio
that he concluded to spend few days
in the Buckeye state.
1.-THE growth of the Alliance is remark
able," he said, land particularly so in the
states have just visited. The enthusi-
asm displayed by the farmers in joining
the organization is demonstrated by the
fact that in December, 1889, when the
Alliance was organized in the state of
Kansas, the scattering alliances con-
tanned only $4,000 members, and today
it has over $4,000 In the northwest
we have a rapidly growing organization,
and in Michigan we have a model ALI
ance. We have now alliances organized
in thirty-ive states, from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, and Canada to the Gulf.
We have over 1000 alliances. contain
ing a membership of nearly 1900, 900.
In year we will have over $500, 900
members"
what do you think of the progress of
the Alliance in Ohio?"
1T is remarkable, but it is the same
in every state. find that the alliances
in Ohio are larger than in any state !
have yet visited. The result here is
encouraging, and you need not be sur
prised to see 1900 alliances in the state
next October. with a membership of
100000"
"Is it not one of the objects of the
Alliance to seek confederation of all
other farmers organizations in the coun-
try?'
1T is There is now another organ
ization known under the name of the
Alliance, which is a strong and power
full factor among the farmers Of the
western states, particularly in Nebraska.
The objects of this and our organization
are practically the same. We have
mutual understanding, and it will not
be long until the two are confederated.
We want to get all the organizations Of
the farmers together and are not at
tempting to do SO by absorption. but by
uniting with them"
1.-THE Alliance appears to be causing
the two prominent political parties some
fright in particular sections of the coun-
tryp"
eyes, but the local alliances are re-
sponsible for this. The chief principles
of the Alliance are non-partisanship and
non-sectionalism. When q man enters
the lodge room he leaves his party and
religion behind him. The Alliance is
united by ties of financial and home in
terests We want to labor for the edu-
cation of the agricultural classes in the
science of economic government in
non-partisan spirit, to develop better
state mentally, morally, socially and
financially, and to suppress personal,
local, sectional and national prejudices."
Col. Polk is striking man in appear
ance and typical southerner. He was
born, raised and has since lived in North
Carolina. He is one of the leading farm
ers of the south, and is the owner of one
of the finest plantations in his state. He
is well educated. is an eloquent speaker