The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-02-12

bdl6ubB aAQ 6u0TS166 W Gn0 30
Torrance of duty.
By reference to his annual address
deliv cred at Ocala December 2nd, 1890,
you can form some idea of his power
as an organizer; for in one short year
he had added to the roll call of the Su-
preme Council, Illinois, Indiana, Mich
igan, North Dakota, California, Colo
RADIO. West Virginia, Pennsylvania,
and Oklahoma; and his organizers were
at work In the States of Washington,
Oregon, Ohio, New York, New Jersey,
and Arizona; he having visited Off
cially "a States during the year 1890.
In reviewing his speeches and his
addresses, delivered while he was
President, l have felt that if time per-
mitted, I would with more satisfaction
to myself, fill the position assigned to
me on this occasion, by reproducing
his own words, so matchless in expires.
sion and pregnant with truth.
With prophetic vision he saw the
dangers which today we realize as
true, when he exclaimed: Centralized
capital, allied to irresponsible corpo
rate power, stands to day as a formid
able menac to individual rights and
popular government. This power is
felt In our halls of legislation, State
and National, in our conventions, at
the ballot, box, and in our temples of
justice, and it arrogantly lays it's I'M
holy hand on that greatest and most
powerful lever of modern thought and
action, the press of country"
President Polk recognized the import
lance of education. He said: IF I were
asked what is the greatest and most
essential need of our order, I should
u~nhesitating answer, and in one
word, education" If we would build
up u order, let us treasure up these
words Of our departed brother, and
make education its chief corner stone.
Educate the people in the science Of
true economical government, and in
the great principles of civil and re-
ligious freedom, and keep them in
formed as to the dangers which
threaten these inestimable blessings,
and we shall establish a safeguard for
the interests of the people,"
After Col, Polk had been duly in
stalled President of the National Far
mers's Alliance and Industrial Union
at ST Louis, he gave his time and en-
nnDioC - h0%h voSo1 nnG hNIu$ ~ &hG
building up of our order. Forgetfu-
of self, living only for the cause sc
dear to him, he neglected to take the
necessary precautions that his physi
cal condition demanded, for he haG
never recovered from the wounds re
ceived when soldier in the Confederate
army. His administration was one
of unparalleled success, for in every
instance wnen his recommendation
were enacted into laws, the best inter
ests of the order were advanced.
The most fatal defect in the organ.
ization OF the Farmers Alliance and
Industrial Union at st. Louis, was the
creation of an executive board, com,
posed of three members, the chair
man of said board being * of1cio
chairman of the legislative committee,
and this executive board was given
full authority to represent the Supreme
Council during recess and to have
charge of the financial and other inn
pOrtant interests. The creation of
and authority for this board is to be
found in sections Is, 16 and II Of Stat.
utory Laws, and was so construed
that Col. Polk was rarely consulted,
or notified of the meetings Of the
board, Notwithstanding the fact
that section 1 article 5 of the con.
stitution declared that 1.-The Presi
dent shall be the chief executive off
cial; he shall have power to direct anC
instruct all executive officers and al
executive work in this department."
During the session of Supreme Coun
cial at Ocalla, the committee on con
Stitution being aware that Pres1den'
Polk had not received that considera
tion from the cutive board which
was his due, recommended that thu
board be increased to five members
making the president ex-oficio chair
man. This proposition was opposed
by the chairman of the board, who, in
a most adroit speech, warned the
Council of the danger of the lone
man power"
The recommendation was defeated,
and the executive board remained as
constituted at st. Louis.
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