The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-06-23

days. The result OF consultation OF
physicians was hts removal to the Car
field Hospital, where an operation was
deemed the only means Of saving his
lffe. He became unconscious, from
which condition no never rallied. and it
was decided not to perform the opera
ton.
When the end came Mrs. Polk, who
had just arrive! in the city, was at HE
bedside. kilograms from all parts of
the South were received inluirinY after
Mr.. Folks condition. and he had been
daily visited by prominent iEcn Of the
Farmers Alliance.
Lconidas l.. Polk was n native OF An
eon County, North Carolina, and was
born on April "a, 1897. He was de-
sccndant OF the Meckienburg family
bearing that name, and was related
to Colonel Thomas and William
Polk. brave soldiers of the rcvo-
luton, and James X. Polk. President
Of the Cnit..l States. His parents died
while he was youth. He was married
when II years Of age, and was soon
after nominated and elected to the
lower house Of the State Legislature,
serving a. the regular and two extra
sessions in 1890 and 1861. lie enlisted
in the Confederate army as a private,
declining the offer os captaincy, and
served In the Twenty Nth and Forty
third North Carolina regiments Of ia
fantry till the autumn Of 1864. at which
time he became the army candidate for
the Legislature, and was elected with
practical unanimity.
In 1865, against his expressed desire,
he was chosen q member Of the State
Constitutional Convention. In 1877 he
was elected Commissioner Of Agriculture
for his State. He had meantime con-
| tinucd on his farm and left it with great
| reluctance TO attend 10 his official duties.
| In every instance the Offices bestowed
upon him sought the man, not the man
the Office He was one of the earliest
| advocates OF the establishment of a de-
partment of agriculture. In 1880 he l-,-
| gan the publication of the Progressive
| Farmer, and ut the same time began the
| organization OF farmers clubs, and
soon had 800 charter,d and In active
| working order He also advocated the
| establishment Of an agricultural and
and mechanical college and his plan wa
finally adopted by the State
He brought the alliance before the
| people and at Its organization In NORTH
| Carolina he became It's Suite Secretary
and through his influence the farmers
| clubs previously organized by him Ire.
| came q part of The new organization
| He was the first Vice President of The
| alliance In 1887, and In 1889 was chosen
o delegate Ia the national convention O
the order held in ST. Louis. In December
1889. and took an active part in It's de-
alterations. When the Interstate Farm
ers' Association. composed OF delegate.
| from al! cotton States. was organ
tied IN 1887, Colonel Polk was elect
ed President by exclamation. HI
was twice reelected TO that position
without contest. At the convention II
St. Louis IN December, 1859, Col. Poll
was chosen President Of the Nationa
Farmers Alliance, and held that posi-
ton continuously up TO the date of hi.
death. Under his management the or
deer had n marvellous growth, especiall,
In the South and West, and Its inilucnc,
was shown by the election of member
OF Congress tn North Carolina, Georgia
Kansas and Minnesota, and has mad
great progress In other States, notabl,
Illinois and Indiana, where In numbe
of districts 1t holds the balance o
power.
| Colonel Polk possessed great per
eonal magnetism, and was an cxccllen
|
pleasing public speaker. He was Il
the farmers movement from no motive
of personal ambition or profit, for h
sacrificed much more than he ever coul
hope 10 gain from the success of hi
ideas and plans. He was earnest. en-
thusiastic and sincere, laboring wit
oil his energies for the good Of his fcf
low farmers and the nation at large.
ne had lived he would undoubtedly hav
teen the candidate of the Alliance 70
President Of the United States at tn
election in November next.
Tho funeral was held ut Raleigh. 4
c., his home, Sunday. The train bear
ing the body did not arrive until
o'clock in the afternoon. 1t was met a
the depot by hundreds OF people. Tn
procession was formed and the bod
was escorted to the First Baptis
Church, of which Mr.. Polk wns u oom
municant. By o'clock the church wa
packed, tho audience numbering a
least o thousand. Among those pres
cnt were Gov. Holt and al the STAT
officers, members Of the Su
preme Court, officers of the Stat
TURNER'S Alliance, and Grarrl Sir
Lodge Odd Fellows. The services wcf
conducted by Rev. Drs. J. w. Garter
I. F.. Skinner aud j. J. Hail. The fae.
of the dead was exposed, and after tn
choir had sung ABIDE with Nc" the en-
tire audience passed in single flleshy tn
casket and viewed the body. ThNcaakt
was taken into and out of the chrrch b
the pallhearers, who came from Wash
ington, and who, with ladies' who alss
came, were given seats In front. At tn
conclusion Of the services the Washing
ton party returned to the train'and lei
for that city,