The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-10
A PATRIOTIC LETTER
From Hon. Mann Page, President
of the Farmers Alliance.

In Il letter of July Cd to u gentleman of
this city President Mann Page of the
National Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union, discusses political issues as fol-
lows:>
My Dear Sir:--I regret the delay in not
answering your letter sooner, caused in
part by my absence from the State at
tending to business of the Alliance and
to other passing matters that could not
be neglected or postponed. 1 beg to as
sure you that appreciate very highly the
compliment my kind friends desire to
pay me, but there are many reasons why
would have to decline the nomination
for governor should the July convention
so honor me- In the first place am OPP
| posed to the call of the convention at q
time when we farmers are busy with har-
| vests ana the laying by of our other crops
| which must prevent many of our class
| from attending.
| Second, am opposed to the calling of
the convention until after the action of
the Democratic convention, SO we can
know what the platform and what their
candidates will be, and whether they will
show the appreciation of the services rem.
dered by the members of the Peoples
party in the Bryan campaign last fall by
adopting such IL platform, that when car
Ilcu iulO tuGCt Will lNSuT0 UDC people OIL
| our State more economical -administra-
tion of our State and county governments
and pledge to such reforms as will insure
| equal rights to all in their civil and DO
liticai rights.
| Third, / recognize in the re- election Of
the Hon. Jonn w. Daniel to the United
| States Senate the Indications of those
financial and political reforms set forth
in the Chicago platform, and, rs an en-
dorsement by our people of that gallant
| fight he has been and is now making for
bimeJallsm. TO secure these rights and
| advantages I consider it more important
to cooperate with all who desire success
than to make hasty party nominations
for mere party eXpediency. I trust the
convention will consider we'll before NOM
mating ticket in July, and il the con-
vention shall not be full one, composed
largely of the representatives of the pro-
| ducing classes, such nominations will
prove hut empty honors, barren results.
l hear that there are plans on foot look
| ing to the presenting OF combination
| ticket, in favor of ballot reform and on
posed to ring rule. There are many de-
sirable reforms and no party or ticket
should receive our support that is not in
favor of them, but the recent defeat of II
| constitutional convention which could
have brought about this and many other
desirable changes was largely due to the
almost solid vote of the Republicans,
particularly the colored voters. The
| great desire of the present national adj
miniStratiOn to secure the election of a.
| gold bug Senator as Major Daniels sue
cessOr may cause the administration to
sanction the formation of such Il State
ticket,as will insure the election ola leg
islature favorable to the gold standard.
We have seen the effects Of such n ccm-
bination in our sister State, North Caro-
lima, which caused the friends OF bimet.
tallism and reform to lose United States
Senator. favor II postponement of the
convention until after the meeting of the
Democratic convention or during the ses-
! sion of that convention.
Yours truly,
MANN PAGE.