The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-08-20

third year OF their new party life. This
would indicate that the reasons for the or
ganization of the greenback party were
looked upon with more favor by the people
than the matter OF prohibition. But 1878
came, and
THE GREENBACKEKs WE'RE IN TT,
The democrats were not slow in making
peace with them, and the two parties fused.
casting l25,0S7 votes. The prohibitiOnists
had no ticket, which fact may he explained
by the following plank In the republican
Resolped, That personal temperance IA q
most commendable virtue In q people, and
the practical popular movement now active
throughout the state for the promotion of
temperance has our most profound respect
The prohibitionists had won the day: they
had secured control OF the organization OF
the republican party, and have held IL from
that day to this. But the republicans rec
ognized the great strength Of the fusion
movement and knew that something had to
he done. As IL was they came ont with
300 more votes than the fusionists, but the
little plank Endorsing the practical popular
movement" meaning prohibition, Is proba-
bly, what saved their Bacon" for had that
plank been left out the prohibitionists
would have put up another ticket and the
democrats and greenbackers would have
elected their ticket without any question.
That was the first time In the history OF the
republican party that it ever looked on the
ground for tracks to see which way the peo-
was . ripper" 1t consisted OF seventeen
planks, nearly all long, except the one that
i've favor . wisely adjusted tariff for rev.
enue only" 1t was patriotic platform, re-
viewing the policy of the party at length,
and calculated to excite old-time enthusi-
aem and patriotism.
WITH THIS ENTERING WEDGE
In the body polite of republicanism. the
prohibitionists afterward had comparatively
easy work in getting what they wanted
The republicans virtually said to the pro-
hibitionists, .if you know what you want ask
for it: II you see what you want take it,
think il the party had then refused to make
the concession, that whether they had gone
to defeat or not they would be far stronger
to-day.
The greenbackers in 1878 ran their own
candidates for congress, electing Weaver,
Endorsed by the democrats in the Sixth dis
trict, and Gillett in the Seventh. They cast
q great vote throughout the state.
In 1879 the republicans reafiirmed their
position of the previous year concerning
constitutional amendment. The prohibi-
tionists held q convention in Cedar Rapids
which ended In q row, the more ardent ad-
vocates favoring q third ticket. declaring
the TepuDilc6uS lnSIHCeF0 ana again express
ing their distrust Of Governor Gear. The
prohibition ticket secured about $500 votes.
The greenbackers paraly zad the natives by
coming In with over 5000; the demo
Gratis received only 5000. while Gear
DIR opped along with 1900. The republicans
remained in the field, and drew, with great
regularity, many thousands OF votes from
the democratic party. The prohibitionists
made no nominations during the next four
years, AZ they had charge OF the republican
party. The greenbackers were still on deck,
casting 81 600 votes in 1850, $500 in 1851,
3O, 900 in 1852, and 23.OOO in 1873
The republicans continued to declare for q
special election on the prohibitory amend
ment, until the legislature ordered the same
the adoption OF the amendment by nearly
$1,000 majority. The prohibitionists were
wild with excitement. They held
JrBILEEs THROUGHOUT THE STATE
and talked as II they thought the millennium
had arrived. The people realized that 9
changed condition Of affairs was at hand
Iowa had been under prohibition before
indeed there never was an out and out
license law in this state. Local option wal
the nearest approach thereto, SO that as Z
matter of fact Iowa has absolutely never
tried general license law OF any kind, t.
say nothing about high license with proper
restrictions.
After the jubilees many prohibitionist.
grew weary and relaxed their efforts
The leaders and agitators, however, begar
saloonkeepers to ''close up and .'get out,
| and temporarily there was something Of |,
liquor drought in the state, the wet good.
dealers declaring that they would let tn,
drinking republicans s'choke' for what they
had done.
In due time a case was taken into tn,
courts. aud the supreme court of Iowa caused
| CONSERVATION by declaring the amendment
| unconstitutional. II it were not for ''givinf
| away" political secret, could unfold Z
tale relating to what Senator Allison had Il
do with keeping prohibition out OF the lowe
constitution, that would ''harrow up good
many souls. Had the amendment not beer
declared unconstitutional Mr.. Allison would
have been looking Tor another job year,
ago. Those who are pleased that the amend
ment did not ''break into' the constitution
have some reason, think, to feel grateful Il
the senior Iowa senator.
The prohibitionists got together" agair
with great suddenness. Statutory prohibi
ton had not yet been enacted, and the whole
bottom was out of their tub. Tn February
| I, 1883, they met at Des Moines and re
IN FAVOR OF AN EXTRA SESSION
of the legislature for the resubmission OF thu
amendment and to pass prohbitory law
and declared that they would support only
those for office pledged to prohibition. Gov
Sherman refused to call an extra session, re
plying that amendments must be presented
| at the regular session.
The ''prohis' captured the republican pri
maries again that year. and the republican
/ convention resolved, though making "nG
test of party fealty,' that the next genera
assembly should pass prohibitory law, and
pledged the faith of the party thereto
Their candidate for governor had 1,Ol6 ma
jority, and the lower house Of the legis
lature, which stood 81 republicans to l.
democrats at the session Of 1850, managed &c
come up after the political cyclone, with
just two majority, showing change oi
fifty eight in the house In four years. A
change OF two votes would have made q
prohibitory Law an impossibility. Those
two and several others would have been
changed had the party not worded its plat
form in such q way as to throw the "antis'
of their guard.
In 1854 st. John received ,472 votes. The
democrats and greenbackers fused, casting
,3l6 votes, cutting Blaine's plurality t6
less than 10000. The fusion Of 1854 was the
last heard Of the greenback party In Iowa
except . few votes received by Elias Doty
in 1855 After 1888 the prohibitionists ran
third party ticket every year up to the
present time, their vote ranging from less
than 800 up to $3.50.
The republicans In 1855 nominated VIM
Larrabee for governor, and their platform
declared that the party 'shas never made
the support OF prohibition Q test Of party
fealty.
1T PLEDGED ITS HONOR
to enact and afterward did enact law, etc.