Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1892 — THEIR LEADER DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THEIR LEADER DEAD.

PRESIDENT L. L. POLK EXPIRES AT WASHINGTON. Sketch of His Connection with the Farmers' Alliance Movement—A Man ot Great I'ersonal Magnetism,a Good Parliamentarian anil Forceful Speaker. The Etui Mas Come. Leonidas L. Polk, President of the National Farmers’ Alliance, is dead. The end eame at 11:15 Sat-

urday forenoon, at the Garfield Hospital, Washington, where he had been removed for treatment. Blood poisoning caused by blad-~-dor trouble was the cause of his demise. The patient had been lying seriously ill at his private residence for ten

days. The result of a consultation of physicians was his removal to the Garfield Hospital, where an operation was deemed the only means of saving his life. He boeame unconscious, from which condition he never rallied, and it was decided not to perform the operation. When the end eame Mrs. Polk, who had just arrived in the city, was at his bedside. Telegrams from all parts of th# South were received inquiring after Aft. Polk’s condition, and he had been dally visited by prominent men of tho Fanners’ Alliance. Leonidas L. Polk was a native of Anson County, North Carolina, and was born on April 24, 1837. Ho was a descendant of the Mecklenburg family bearing that name, and was related to Colonel Thomas and William Polk, bravo soldiors of tho revolution, and James K. Polk. President of tho United States. His parents died while ho was a yoirtli. He was married when 21 years of age, and was soon after nominated and elected to the lower house of the Stato Legislature, serving at tho regular and two extra sessions in 1880 and 1801, He .enlisted in the Confederate army ns a private, declining tho offer ot a captaincy, and served in tho Twenty-fifth and Fortythird North Carolina regiments of infantry till tho autumn of 1804, at which time ho became the army candidate for the Legislature, and was elected with practical unanimity. In 1865, Kgulnst his expressed desire, ho was chosen a member of tho Stato Constitutional Convention. In 1877 he Was elected Commissioner of Agriculture for his State. Ho had meantime continued on his farm and left it with grout reluctance to attend to his ofilolul duties. In every instance the offices bestowed upon him Bought the man, not the man the office Ho was one of the earliest advocates of the establishment of a department of agriculture. In 18H<i hobogun tho publication of iho Progressive Farmer, and at the same time began tho organization of farmers’ clubs, and soon had 500 charter* d and in active working order. Ho blho advocated tho establishment of an agricultural and and mechnnlcal college and Ids plan was finally adopted by the State. He brought tho alliance before the poople and at Its organization In North Carolina ho became its Blato Secretary and through his Influence the farmers’ clubs previously organized by him became a part of the new organization. He was the first Vice President of the alliance In 18«7, and in 1881) was chosen a delegato to the national convention ol the order held in St. Louis, in December, 1889, and took an active part in its deliberations. When tho Interstate Farmers’ Association, composed of doiegates from all cotton States, was organized in 1887, Colonel Polk was elected President by acclamation. He was twice ro-olected lo that position without contest. At the convention in St. Louis in December, 1889, Col. Polk was chosen President of tho National Farmers’ Alliance, and held that position continuously up to the date of his death. Under his management the ordeer had u marvelous growth, especially In Rio South and West, and its Influence Was shown by tho election of members of Congress in North Carolina, Georgia, Kansas and Minnesota, and has made great progress In other States, notably Illinois and Indiana, whore in a number of districts it holds the balance of power. Colonel Polk possessed great personal magnetism and was un excellent organizer, a good parliamentarian, and a pleasing public speakor. He was in the farmors 1 movement from no motives of personal ambition or profit, for ho sacrificed much more than ire ever could hope to gain from the success of his ideus and plans. He Was earnest, enthusiastic and sincere, laboring with all ids cnorgies for the good pf ids fellow farmers and tho'nation at largo. If he had lived ho would undoubtedly have been the candidate of tho Alliance for President of the United States at the election in November next. The funeral was held at Raleigh, N. C., his home, Sunday. The train bearing the body did not arrive until 3 o’clock In the afternoon. It was met at tho depot by hundreds of people. The procession was formed and the body was escorted to the First Baptist Church, of which Mr. Poik was a communicant. By 4 o’clock the church was packed, tho audience numbering at least a thousand. Among those present were Gov. Holt and all the Stato officers, members of the Supreme Court, officers of the State Farmers’ Alliance, and Grand Sire Buissee, of the Sovereign Grand Lodge Odd Fellows. The services were conducted by. Kev. Drs. J. W. Carter, T. E. Skinner and J. J. Hall. The face of the dead was exposed, and after tho choir had sung “Abide with Me” the entire audience passed in single file by the casket and viewed the body. The casket was taken into and out of the church by the pallbearers, who eame from Washington, and who, with ladies who also came* were given seats in front. At the conclusion of the services the Washington party returned to the train and left for that city.

L. L. POLK.