PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES. 287 



sition from most influential quarters. His paper was the 

 first to bring the Alliance before his people, and so faith- 

 fully did it labor that it was adopted as the official organ of 

 the Order, at its organization in 1887, and Col. Polk was 

 elected State Secretary of the Alliance, to which position 

 he was re-elected in 1888, and again in 1889. 



He attended the National Alliance for the first time in 

 1887, and was unanimously chosen as First Vice- President 

 of the great Order. He was chosen as a delegate to the 

 National Convention held in St. Louis, in December, 1889, 

 and took an active part in the work of that meeting. 



In 1887 the Interstate Farmers' Association, composed 

 of delegates from all the cotton States, was organized in 

 the city of Atlanta, and Col. Polk was made President by 

 acclamation. This was a most distinguished honor, com- 

 ing as it did from one of the finest bodies of representative 

 men ever assembled in the South. He was again elected, 

 at its annual meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1888, 

 and again at Montgomery, Alabama, in 1889 each time 

 by acclamation. 



Col. Polk has always been identified with the agricul- 

 tural interests of his State, and always among the foremost 

 in advocating whatever- he conceived to be for its advance- 

 ment. He has the courage of his convictions. He has 

 opinions and is bold to express them whenever necessary. 

 He is one of the most zealous and indefatigable workers in 

 the Alliance cause. He has been a member of the Baptist 

 Church from his youth. In politics he was an old Henry 

 Clay Whig, until the proclamation of President Lincoln, 

 since which time he has been a Democrat. 



At the meeting held in St. Louis, in December, 1889, 

 Col. Polk was elected President of the National body. His 

 administration has been wise and conservative. Under his 

 management the Order has spread with wonderful rapidity. 

 The work of organization has been pushed in new territory, 



