The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-20
TALK WITH PRESIDENT POLK.
Some Stale VisWs on Finance and
Political Questions.
From the Ne1cs and Courier


RICHMOND, VA, Aug. l8.-Col. L. L.
Polk, president Of the farmers national
alliance. who was here to-day attending a
uesting of the state convention of the order
was interviewed on important ques ions
connected with the political contest of 1892.
What follows are the authorized utterances
of the president of the national alliance.
The colored people have an entirely separate
alliance from the whites. They number, SO
Col. Polk has been told by Mr.. Humphreys
Of Texas, their president, about l, $50, 600.
The colored alliance, as rule, has whit Q
organizers. They are working in perfect
harmony with the whites.
"Wnat effect will the alliance movement
have upon the state election in Virginia
next fallP' asked the newspaper man, COM
ing down to politics.
THAT l cannot tell, u replied Col. Polk, AZ
have not talked politics with any members
of the order In this state. 1t is something
have nothing to do with. The national alli-
ance takes no part in state affairs. In the
canvass in my state North Cardinal last
fall refused to take any part whatever in
the contest"
Would you mind saying how the alliance
people in Virginia look upon a second term
for Senator DanielF'
"As have just remarked, know nothing
Whatever of politics In Virginia, aud, of
course, don't know what course the mem
bers of the order will pursue with regard to
the matter of Daniels reelection"
"Col. Polk, will the next congress pass a
free coinage of silver billp
81 do not believe it will. If they do so
it will be because that body believes that
such a measure will be defeated in the
Senate; or even if passed by that branch will
be vetoed by the President"
"In the event that congress fails to pass a
silver bill how will it affect Mr. Cleveland's
availability as Presidential nomineeN
ut would not increase it, certainly"
IF Mr.. Cleveland is nominated by the
democrats, and, taking into Consideration
his record on the coinage question, will he
receive the support of the farmers alliance
and other agriculturistsF
mo, l do not believe that any self
respecting alllancemau would support him
in view of his position on the subject"
What will be the attitude, colonel, OF
the farmers alliance in the national cam
paign of next yearm
GAS an organization it can take no part
in it, but its members as citizens will have
perfect freedom. / will say that the senti>
ment in favor Of third party is gaining
strength every day among the masses"
Who is prominently spoken of as the
candidate o. the Peoples party for Presi-
dentn
mo one is now prominently spoken of in
that connection. My name has been men =
toned for place on the ticket, but ] have
no desire to hold any political office and
have 80 declared time and again"
President Polk seems TO feel confident
that Cleveland will be the democratic nomi-
nee in 1892. The calculation of Mr.. Cleve-
lands friends, the colonel thinks. is that
there will be no result at the polls, and that
the election will be thrown into the House
OF Representatives.
A reporter present just here suggested to
the colonel: ''Then, you think, Mr.. Cleve-
land will be elected."
mo. Be sure you don't put me down as
saying SO. do not think So"
Colonel, you have been recently quoted
by newspaper correspondents as saying
that your order have determined to make q
clean sweep of your opponents in the United
States Senate. Is it 500"
THAT interview was manufactured. |
never gave utterance to any such senti-
ments. Yes, it was a romance"
Speaking of the growing popularity of the
order and the Peoples party, President
Polk said that its friends are not confined to
ngriculturists. Business men, merchants,
said he, laborers and the working
people are Joining its ranks. The party
could in contest, he thought. count
with some unanimity upon the support Of
the great labor organizations, the Farmers
Mutual Benefit Association. and similar
bodies in the country. The latter Organiza-
ton, Col. Polk said, is very similar in it's
principles and aims to the alliance. They
think theirs the better organization, and we
are, therefore, cooperating with them.
In reply to question, Col. Polk said that
he had not heard that the republicans at
Washington had been sending circulars to
the colored alliancemeu in this state and
North Carolina not to join secret orders.
"We have never made any appeals to the
colored people" continued the colonel ito
leave their political party, aud we do not
intend to do 80. That is a matter with
themselves