Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-09-08
WILL MR.. POLK FIGHT
Trying to Force the Alliance
Leaders into a Duel.
The Outcome of Bitter Controversy in
North Carolina Between Editors
To Force Polk to Resort to
the Code If Possible.

RALEIGH, N. c., Sept There
is open warefare between the democrats
and the farmers alliance. The demo-
cratic machine leaders have been of
the opinion for several months that the
speeches of President Polk were rank
treason to the democratic party, and so
expressed themselves, but as matter
of precaution and to prevent the organ
ization of the peoples party through
out this state, the democratic press and
politicians have restrained from max
ing attacks on Polk and the alliance.
In Folks paper. the Progressive Farm
er, of this week, there appears cut
representing confederate soldier on
one side of the bloody chasm and a fed
eral soldier on the other, shaking
hands across the chasm. In the center
are the words: ''People's Party"
Right under the confederate soldier are
these words: "a Solid South for
Fear of Negro Supremacy" I'm
der the Federal soldier are these words:
"a Solid North for Fear OF Rebel Brig
adler Rule" At the bottom OF the cut
are these words: anticipated twenty
years ago by Horace Greeley. Taken
up now by the farmers alliance" Then
follows long extract from the speech
OF Polk at Ocala Because of the ap
pearance of this cut the general belief
is that the peoples party is here and
has come to stay.
The same issue of President Folks
paper makes bitter attack on Messrs.
Ashe and Jernigan. editors Of the News
and Observer, and publishes circular
letter sent out year ago by Ashe,
which stated that the News and OBJ
server advocated the subtreasury bill.
Polk then denounces Ashe and Jerni-
gan as guilty of an awful attempt to de-
ceive the farmers, because the News
and Observer holds the subtreasurY bill
to be unconstitutional. He says such
conduct shows that Ashe and Jernigan
are totally depraved and unworthy OF
the confidence OF any honest and respec-
table person.
In reply Polk is denounced as a
coward, traitor to the democratic
party, failure and humbug as
farmer, as dishonest in his transactions
with several individuals, and as a
"feather-leg" in every particular. Mr..
Ramsey as assistant editor of Folks
paper is also denounced as a vulgar
coward.
Messrs. Ashe and Jernigan intend to
force Polk and Ramsey to resort to the
code for satisfaction. If they fail they
will try to break Polk down by making
him contemplate by holding him up
every day as 'feather-leg." which is
miserable, abject coward, pitiless
scoundrel and paltroon of the most
disgusting character
No one believes that Polk will fight
Ashe and Jernigan believe in settling
disputes according to the code. Ramsey
is absent, and his friends say he will
show fight as soon as he returns.
Several offers to act as seconds have
been made to both parties.
Polk held council with his friends.
1t is known that he was advised he
must fight if be would maintain his po-
sitiOn as the leader of the alliance.
1t is said confidently by his friends that
Polk will challenge Ashe and Jernigan,
and will insist on meeting, the fight
to continue until one or both are dis
abled. Folks friends here declare that
if he backs down now he will be Odious
hereafter and that the alliance will go
to pieces. Alliance men are rallying
to Polk all over the state as the result
of this attack, and openly declare for
the organization of the peoples party.