Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-22
(" FARMER POLK
TAKES THE PEOPLE OF AsHEV'Lle
INTO HIS CONFIDENCE.
The Fight IL Whether the Dollar or tho
Citizen Shall Govern the Country
What tho Farmers Want.
rspec,al Telegram 70 the Dispatch. |

AsHgvILLE. N. c., July 21.-Colonel
Leonidas J.. Polk, of North Carolina
president of the Farmers Alliance and In
dustrial Union of the United States, spoke
here this afternoon. Thespeech IS the hrst
III the State since his return from the
West. Although his coming was unex-
pected quite n large audience was present.
who listened to his speech OF about Two
hours with great interest. He was intro
duced by the Hon. r. b. Vance. lie begun
by abiding 10 the very cordial welcome ne
received everywhere in the West. ana the
many evidences OF kindly feeling among
the people there toward the people OF the
South. In reference to his alleged amoi-
ton for Office he said he WIS a candidate
for no Office and never had approached
and nevor would approach any man Tor DIS
support.
THE rABMEE's CAUSE.
He would never east vote tor man
who was not friend 70 the farmers cause:
IF that is political treason. make the most
Of it." He spoke of the alliance gong
into politics. There was mistake made
bv small politicians in confoundlng
politics with partyisIn. In that sense the
alliance was not going into politics. Inc
trouble which il depressing the farmer lies
in the unjust and dishonest financial sys-
TEN of theCiOvernment. There Is less tnnn
81 per capita in money in circulation. we
ask for no class legislation for farmers. we
are opposed 10 class legislation. we de:
mand simple justice. and by the heip OIL
Heaven we intend 20 have it. The hght Is
whether the dollar or the citizen snail
govern this country-the power OF cor
porations and combined capital or the
people"
NOT PARTY MEASURE.
In presenting the farmers sub-Treasury
bill to Congress Republican and Demo
crat. friends of the farmers, We're chosen 20
introduce it in order that IT should not be
considered as n party measure. senator
Vance was asked TO state that he INTRO
duced the bill by request and he was not
asked 10 commit himself TO 1t. II a man
believes the bill To be unconstitutional IL
is his duty 20 vote against IT, ana he IS 10
be honOred for it, but we expect ana ue-
mand OF Congress that II shall give US "A
measure of fast relief. There are too Few
farmers IN Congress. OF the Az members
in both houses only thirteen are farmers;
The majority in Congress belong to wal
street. From owning over half OF the
property of the country, the property OF
| the farmer has been reduced TO % per cent
of the whole, while they pay 50 per cent OF
| the taxes.
WHAT THEY WILL DO.
If the men Of the present Congress vii
| not give us relief we are going to send the
men who will. The man who comes home
| and can't show that he had made an hon
est effort TO help the farmers, said the
speaker, | will oppose.
After his speech the Dispatch correspond
ent had brief interview with Colone
Polk. He left Washington on the oath OF
June, since which date he has spoken e
large audiences in Kentucky. Missouri
Kansas. North Dakota, south Dakota MIN.
nesota. Wisconsin. Illinois. Michigan, anc
Indiana, leaving the latter state Friday
night.
| yAsCT's LETTFR.
| He saws he knew nothing or Senator
Vance's letter on the sub-Treasury bill o.
| the article in the ProWcSsiUe FGTmer II
referenceto the same until along time atte
they were written Senator Vance was III
| bosom friend and he should deeply deplor'
"A conflict with him on any sublect. IL ate
| investigation he finds that Senator Vance
| IL opposed TO the sub-lreasury bill Their
will even be no conflict unless he fails Z
present better measure for the rellef o
| the farmers.