The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-05-21
PRESIDENT POLK
TALKS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
The Free and Unlimited Coinage
of Silver will be DcmaDdcd---
Cleveland will be Opposed
to the End

Col. l.. l.. Polk has recently been in
Atlanta. and as it is the fashion now
for all prominent men to be interviewed.
he was corralcd by a reporter Of the
Coaatwion and is credited with the
following
President Polk, Of the National
Farmers Alliance. was. in the city for
Il few hours yesterday.
Since his last visit here he has organ
lied state Alliance in New York, and
has visited several of the northwestern
states. He talked freely for the Con-
.stitution on the progress Of the order,
its aims, hopes and achieved results.
lie was earnest in manner, and entirely
frank in all that he said. He said he
recognized the Constitution as being
one Of the ablcst papers in the union,
and that its advocacy Of the peoples
interests was known and appreciated.
What is the progress. Of the move
ment in those states in which you have
just organized:i
The state organizations, which we
have effected in Iowa. Ohio and New
York have been made up Of the very
best material, and as an indication Of
the spirit which actuatcs those people,
the state alliance Of Iowa. before it ad-
iouIned, commissioned and equipped
forty Or fifty men, and started them
out from the city Of Preston into the
field. In New York | found the same
spirit. That organization was made
up Of first-class and enthusiastic mate
rial. find about the same complaint
that find all over the country-thc
scarcely Of money, which gives them
no price for their products
The theory Of diversifying crops in
those localities that are tributary to
large markets and easy Of access, with
an idea to making it profitable, is eX-
planned. as is proven by the abandoned
farms of Massachusetts and other por-
tons Of New England, and the mort
ragged farms OF New York. NewJ Jersey
ought to be the richest state to-day,
and yet land all over that state has de-
preciated from 80 to 50 per cent. in the
last few years. In Ohio, when / was
there not long since, Gov. Campbell
said that the lands OF Ohio had depre-
ciatcd in value S., 900, 600 i'll the past
ten years
s.Iow will the Alliance affect the
political relations of the agricultural
classes
lin nv Judgment, this movement
ought to eclipse all others with the
farmers. | think that if the farmer is
true to himself, to his country and to
his family. he ought to subordinate all
other political questions to this move
mcnt.'
.sWhat will be the effect of a failure
to agree to the farmers demands:''
THAT will be the great propelling
power which will drive the farmer into
the the third party. Ii their just claims
and Just demands for simply nothing
more than their just rights be ignored
by other parties, no power on eartn
can keep the farmer out OF the thlrd
party. That is my Judgment. Ihey
have reached point where they must
have relief. and think that they have
determined that they will have it. /
think that it was unfortunate that the
present parties did not pay more at
tention to the appeals OF the American
farmers in the fifty-first congress. we
are hoping something from lhe MY
second. Ny observation IS that the
average congressman of these latter
DAYS subordinates everything to party
success. and the chief end OF the aV-
erage congressman. when he gets tc
Washington, seems to be what can he
do for the next campaign, and not what
he can do for his country
''What is the most pressing question
before the peOple:''
1--WE want the next congress to de
wise some system, and to so change the
present financial system of this govern
ment. as to furnish the country will
an abundance of currency to supply
the legitimate demands of the bushes:
Of the country, which we cannot get 81
long as the currency of the country il
controlled by few men. I think tina
this is the paramount question.
''Silver legislation would be stel
believe that free and unlimited coinage
would give us all that is needed. W.
want It, however, and are going to de
mand it. We are solid for that, and
don't believe that there is man be
longing 10 the industrial classes of tn,
country who will support any ticke
that does not stand solidly on the plat
form of unlimited free silver coinage.
eff Mr.. Cleveland should be the mex
democratic nominee. how would tn,
farmers regard it,
My Judgment is that they would q
solidly against Mr.. Cleveland. I car
speak for my own state. and I thinl
that they have been as true and Iowa
to the Democratic party as any men il
the south. They will certainly no
support Mr.. Cleveland. Indeed. w,
are very much indisposed to favor an
man who comes from the eastern
states. We are afraid of Wall stree
power. We have no particular man il
view. | think that the southern ALI
ancemen would rather have a clean
solid, patriotic friend of the peopl
AiOii SOIuC pllc tl tiit nOrluWeSIef
states
You think. then. that the al
lance has reached that point where
Is not to be controlled by democrats il
the south or republicans in the north?'
Il am decidedly of that opinion. I
has passed beyond the sound of tn
party lash in these great question
which it has brought before the people
I'm Massachusetts the condition {
affairs with the farmers is deplorable
1t Is very much as it is in the north
west. and they are not only ready bu
anxious for organization. We hav
organizers there now. sent there in re
Spouse to special requests
''What about the third party con
vention in Cincinnati?"
My idea of it is this: 1t is Gale,
avowedly for the purpose of considerin.
n third party movement. OF course
the order. as an organization. can hay