The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-01-19
POLK TO
His Letter to Alliance Members of the
House About the Speakership.

promising. The House is overwhelm-
ingly Democratic, but the peculiar con-
ditions make it difficult to understand
what the term Democratic" means.
For instance, there r protection "
Democrats, tariff reform" Demo
Gratis, free trade" Democrats, "anti-
silver" Democrats, free silver "
Democrats, cleveland" Democrats,
"anti- Cleveland" Democrats, ALI
ance" Democrats, "anti Alliance "
Democrats and perhaps Democrats of
other varieties. The manner and
method in which all these various ele-
ments will be able to harmonic SO as
to accomplish anything Is a matter for
interesting study.
A great reform element arose in the
country last year and claims to have
elected thirty eight men on it's plat
form, Certainly there are as many as
twenty-seven Congressman who were
elected by the Alliance people on the
pledge to stand by the Alliance plat
form and principles. All but nine of
these Congressman made haste to come
to the national capitol and go into a SC
called Democratic caucus, and they
were very active in the support and
election of a man for Speaker who has
publicly inveighed against q most vital
part of the Alliance platform.
President L. L. Polk, Of the National
Alliance, put himself on record by ad-
dressing to each Alliance Congressman
the following letter, written while the
deadlock prevailed:
MY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER:-I have
the honor to transmit herewith an
official copy of a resolution for your
consideration, adopted unanimously by
the Supreme Council of the National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union
at its recent session at Indianapolis:
Realizing that the action Of the
members of the Fifty-second Congress
who were elected by the aid of Alliance
constituencies will have an important
influence upon the welfare of our be-
loved Order, we respectfully request
all representatives in said Congress SO
elected to decline to enter into any
didate for the Office of Speaker, unless
adherence to the principles of the OcalG
platform is made a test of admission to
said q Gus"
AS but few of the members of your
body were present at the meeting of
the Supreme Council, and as the spirit
and intent of the above resolution has
been misrepresented by the partisan
press of the country, | deem it my
duty as President of that body to thus
present you with an official copy, and
give you the reasons which prompted
the adoption of the resolutions as |
understand them.
The Council regarded it as not at all
improbable that among the aspirGnts
for Speakership Of your body would
be found those who were strenuOusly
opposed to the purposes and principles
Of our Order. That it was not at all
improbable that centralized money
power, through it's various combines
and au~xiliaries, would endeavor to play
a prominent part in the election of that
officer. The Supreme Council we'll
knew that by virtue of the prerOga-
tives conferred upon that officer, his
official functions and powers can be
exercised with tremendous influence
upon national legislation through com
mittees appointed by himself and other
wise. It was natural, therefore, that
your brethren in the Supreme Council
should have felt most sOlicitous (for
reasons stated in the resolution) as to
your action in this important matter,
and especially in the event that through
usages and rules Of party caucus you
should be forced to vote for a candidate
to aid influences inimical to our
Order and it's interests.
You will note that the resolution is
simply a respectful request from your
brethren throughout the United States,
through their accredited representa-
tive. in the Supreme Council, and who
were duly authorized to speak for
them. You will note that the resolu-
ton does not in any manner indicate
for or against whom you should vote,
BUTT leaves you absolutely free to make
your o wn selection, assuming, %OfcoUrse,
that you will exercise every necessary
precaution to guard the principles
which we hold SO dear and the general
interests of a cause to which we are so
thoroughly committed.
The plain, simple and practical analy-
sis of the resolution is: That we request
all members of Congress who espoused
our cause and advocated Our principles
in the campaign in which they were
elected not to voluntarily place them
selves in such position that, under the
force of party usage and party caucus,
they would be compelled to vote for
and indOrse a man or men who are Op-
posed to us as an organization. It asks
no man to compromise or forfeit his
fealty to his party, but it does ask those
who are indebted for their seats to ALI
ance votes, given upon their advocacy
and avowed adherence to Alliance prin-
ciples, to be scrupulously careful not
to compromise or forfeit those prin-
ciples.
The situation of the campaign for
Speakership to-day warrants the con-
clusion that the Supreme Council
wisely and correctly anticipated the
unfortunate condition of things which
now exist.
1t is we'll and thoroughly understood
that the great political powers of Wall
street, Tammany Hall, the whiskey
ring and the railroad power of the
country mopsbo1od 116or tboir racvooo