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

many votes as the prohihitionists did in the
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 1875
came, and
THE GREENBACkEks WE'RE s'IS TT
The democrats were not slow In making
peace with them, and the two parties fused,
casting 1875, 0s7 votes. The prohibitionists
had no ticket, which fact may be explained
by the following plank In the republican
Resol,ed, That personal temperance IA q
most commendable virtue In people, and
the practical popular movement now active
the state for the promotion OF
has our most profound respect,
and approval.
The prohibitiOnists had won the day; they
had secured control OF the organization of
the republican party, and have held it from
that day to this. But the republicans rec
ognized the great strength Of the fusion
movement and knew that something had to
be done. As 1t was they came out with
9 1000 more votes than the fusionists, but the
little plank indorsing the practical popular
movement" meaning prohibition, Is proba-
bly, what saved their bacon,' for had that
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-
pie we're going Their platform that year
was ripper" 1t consisted of seventeen
planks, nearly all long, except the one that
i've favor q wisely adjusted tariff for rev
enue only" 1t was patriotic platform, re-
and calculated to excite old time enthusi-
aem and DatriOtism,
WITH THIS ENTERING WEDGE
In the body polite of republicanism. the
prohibitionists afterward had comparatively
easy work in getting what they wanted.
hibitionists,. 'if you know what you want ask
for it: IL you see what you want take it." l
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 1873 ran their own
candidates for congress, electing Weaver,
Endorsed BY the democrats In the Sixth dis
trict, and Gillett in the Seventh. They cast
a great vote throughout the state.
In 1879 the republicans reaffirmed their
position of the previous year concerning
temperance and in favor OF submitting .
constitutional amendment. The prohibit
tionists held q convention in Cedar Rapids
which ended In a row, the more ardent ad
vocates favoring q third ticket, declaring
ing their distrust Of Governor Gear. The
prohibition ticket secured about $500 votes
The greenbackers paraly zad the natives by
coming In with over 45,OO0; the demo
Gratis received only 5000. while Gear
DIR opped along with 100. The republicans
were all right SO long as the greenbackers
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
49, l~A LIB "a AIrA M Srrns&
party. The greenbackers were still on deck,
casting 32 .OOO votes in 1850, $500 in ISL,
30, 900 in 1882, and $4,000 in 1883.
The republicans continued to declare for q
special election on the prohibitory amend
ment, until the legislature ordered the same,
which was held June %, 1852, resulting In
the adoption OF the amendment by nearly
3d. 600 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 q
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 waf
the nearest approach thereto, so that as d
tried . general license law OF any kind, to
say nothing about . high license with proper
restrictions.
After the jubilees many prohibitionists
grew weary and relaxed their efforts
The leaders and agitators. however, began
business. They instructed the brewers and
saloonkeepers to 'sciose up' and get out,
and temporarily there was something of q
liquor drought In the state, the wet goods
dealers declaring that they would let thu
drinking republicans ''choke" for what they
had done.
In due time q case was taken into thu
courts, and the supreme court OF Iowa caused
CONSERVATION by declaring the amendment
unconstitutional Ii it were not for ''givinf
away" q political secret, l could unfold q
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
have some reason, think, to feel grateful t.
the senior Iowa senator.
The prohtbitionists s'got together agair
with great suddenness. Statutory prohibi
ton had not yet been enacted, and the whole
bottom was out Of their tub. On February
Z, 1851, 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 prohibitory law
those for office pledged to prohibition. Gov
Sherman refused to call an extra session, re
plying that amendments must be presented
at the RI ocular session.
The ..prohis'' captured the republican pr
maries again that year. and the republican
convention resolved, though making INC
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 1,0l6 ma
jority, and the lower house OF the legis
lature, which stood 81 republicans to l!
democrats at the session Of 1850, managed te
come up after the political cyclone, with
just two majority, showing change ol
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 beer
changed had the party not worded its plat
form in such way as to throw the "antis'
of their guard.
In 1854 st. John received 1,472 votes. The
democrats and greenbackers fused, casting
171,3l6 votes, cutting Blaine's plurality t.
less than 10000. The fusion Of 1854 was thu
last heard Of the greenback party In Iowa
except few votes received by Elias Doty
in 1855. After 1883 the prohibitionists ran
third party ticket every year up to thu
present time, their vote ranging from less
than 800 up to $3.50.
The republicans In 1885 nominated VIM
Larrabee for governor, and their platform
declared that the party has never made
the support Of prohibition q test Of party
fealty.
IT PLEDGED IT'S HONOR
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