The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-03-17
~. r. p. A.
Impromp:u Talks by Weaver. Polk. Dom
nelly, and Strcetcr.

uelly' anu StreetcF
At the meeting of the National Reform
Press Association during the st. Louis
convention Messrs. Polk, Weaver, Dom
nelly, and Street We're called upon for
remarks. President Polk responded as
follows:
Il am delighted to soc such IL large
number OF you brothers present. want
to look into your faces and tell you from
my standpoint am looking at the van
guard OF this reform movement-the
greatest auxiliary power it has in exist
cnce.
Il will say in the beginning that in
organizing this movement We have Sc
cured no ambulances for the lame, or the
fellows who take rheumatism just Oh the
point of battle. II there be any of those
among you who are not going to follow
this order up to the ramparts of battle,
you should get out of this movement.
Il joined the Alliance in 1897, though
l don't want you to understand that this
was the date of my conversion, but
when joined it, joined it believing in
my heart that we were right. 1t is a
part OF my religion, and I have come
here to say TO my brothers of this organ
ization that l propose to stand by my
principles. / want to take my brother
Knights Of Labor by the hand and say.
What is your troubla:'
What has been the answer to our pc
titions? You know too Well what it has
been.
There was resolution introduced be-
fore the American Congress. and to show
you what we have received from the
american Congress after fourteen
months Of pleaiiny-here it is:
IL view Uf he unrest and expressed dis
satisfaction of the masses of this country.
and their inquiry Us t. the p ,siiion OF this
House toward the people: therefore. be it
Resolved. That we extend to them our
sincere symathy. AM promise u d. all in
our power toward improvia; finance; and
reducing taxation.
New, as an American citiZen-not C.,
a Repu! lican or q Democrat or an Ali.
ance man, but as an American citizen
as I stand here to-day and say for
one will never leave st. Louis until
place on record my name protesting
against this infamous demayoguerv
Don't you all feel good since | laid that
resolution before you? What are you
here for. spending your time and your
money?
Brethren. cannot sit down without
warning yol little. am not so afraid
'
within. Let IS he generous, liberal,
charitable; but above all things let US be
just. Just to our people, just to our
country, and just to oar cause. If we
find that we have traitors in our midst,
let us get rid Of them. The worst
thing that has, befallen the Alliance are
those who serve the people to catch the
! Offices. Whenever an Alliance man gets
the office itch badly, I want to see his,
| name struck from the roll, and | wish
to say here in the presence OF Gen.
| Weaver, who will say amen, that roth
| ing in the world in comparison so ef-
| fcctually takes the starch out Of a man
as this itch for place. 1t robs men of
| their moral manhood ordinarily, but
| there are some that it will not. If a
man comes before you, il you look UP
| his credentials and find upon them one
blot or hlur-even if h be your bosom
fricnd-siscaid him. Put none but true
men in your offices.
This is day when we must be care
! full. You are soon to have the entire
| plutocratic press of this country to fight.
You gentlemen, who are before me,
tell you, there is conspiracy formed
and in exist nee to-day among the pluto
cratic press of this country; 1 care not
there is conspiracy that is in extent
from one coast to the other. We have
but to await this thing, and tel you,
! gentlemen, yOu are the men who are in
the fight, ami when you are paying your
weekly visits to the firesi les of these
people, be sure that you are not uncer-
tain in the warnings and admonitions
concerning the real dangers that tlreaton n
our national lie.
In conclusion, let us be true to our
selves, true to our cause, true to Oul
country, true to our God, and He viii
give us the victory
Weaver's Call to Action.
Mr. Chairman, ladios and gentlemen,
Brother Polk spoke about the attitude O
Congress toward us. We are not to bt
surprised at anything we see from tht
present Congress. / want to call YOU
attention to tn condition of the Ameri
can people and ask to-day. Was tina,
Congress elected to do anything? No
Had it any mission? Nothing excep
fill the offices. Now if you had elected
them to do anything they would neve
have male it necessary for this grea
meetings
Did anybody ever have any doubts n.
to what Abraham Lincoln or Andrew
jackson were going to do? Those ad
ministrations were elected to do some
thing. When electing the present Con
, gress was the inquiry made: Il wonde
how he stands on the question OF land
money and transportation? No, thcs,
, inquiries always follow an election in
stead Of preceding it. What we want i
the same inquiry in the minds of tn
people, but we want it to precedo tn
election
:! Let me call your attention TO thre
, things that are necessary in the man
agement of our private affairs. First,
r clear understanding OF what we are 60
ing to do; second, a will to do it; third
, the election of the proper instruments t
carry out the plans. We recognize the,
in our ordinary affairs, and let me say t
? you, that is what We want in our nation
r al affairs. We want a proper understand
ing of what is going to be doae. The
t ! we want the action of all, that It shall b
3 done. And now let me tell you the pluto
I cratic organizations of this country kno,
? what they want, don't they? And the
1 know how to elect the instruments t
!? carry them out.
D My friend Donnelly is an attorney.
ask him, did you ever hear Of a careful
: prudent man who was called upon fc
Il advice in an impending law suit, advis
Q the defendant to go and e1ploy til
8 plaintiffs attorney. Now, if they woul
0 follow that plan what would be the re
: suit? The party that had the longes
;, purse would get the best service, Ihs