Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1896 — THE PEOPLE’S PARTY. [ARTICLE]

THE PEOPLE’S PARTY.

Brief History of Its Inception and Snbeeqnent Growth. The recent events at St. Louis make of interest some account of the growth and origin- of the People's party. '±ue party had its inception at a meeting held at St. Louis in December, 1889. In 18G7 the farmers’ movement,began in this country with the organization of the grange, or patrons of husbandry. This was not a political organization, but it spread with the most astonishing rapidity through the western and southern portions of the country. The popularity of 'this movement, caused the organization of a large number of similar societies and all of them grew numerically and acquired some political power. An effort was made to unite all these various organizations, and at the meeting held in St. Louis in 1889 a consolidation was effected and the name of the “Farmers’ Alliance agd Industrial L'nion” was adopted. This was followed by a convention called meet at Ocala, Fla., on Dec. 2, 1890. The convention was held, composed of 163 delegates, representing thirty-five States and territories, and independent political action was decided upon. A platform was .adopted which embodied the following principles: (l)»The abolition of national banks and the establishment of sub-treksurieS to loan money to the people at 2 per cent,interest, with an increase of the circulation to SSO per capita; (2) laws to suppress gambling in agricultural products; (3) unlimited coinage of silver; (4) prohibiting the alien ownership of laud and restricting ownership to ( act^ial ( > iise; (">) restricting the tariff; (6) government control of railroads and telegraph lines, and (7) direct vote of the people for i’residpnt, Vice-President •and United States Senators.

This convention was followed by another, held in Cincinnati on May 19; 1891, at which were 1.418 delegates from thirty States and territories. At this meeting the Ocala platform _xvas reaffirmed and the name of the “People’s party” was given to the organization. A third national convention was held in St. Louis on the 22d of February, 1892, at which little of an important character was done. The first nominating convention was held at Omaha July 4, 1892. composed of 1.290 delegates. No great change was made in the platform, but the income tax and postal savings banks were demanded. In the election that followed the People’s party polled for Gen. Weaver, its candidate for President, 1,055,424 votes 4ind be receivwl 'J'J electoral votes. 1 .He carried the--Sta4es- of tlo-lorailo; Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, North Dakota and One vote in Oregon. The party received almost votes endugh to earry Nebraska, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. There have been no elections since then to test the voting strength of the party as a national organization, but in the congressionaheleetion in 1894 Hile total yote cast for the congressional candidates of the party aggregated 1,310,397, which shows a gain of 254,973-in two years.