The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-05-06
SOME PARTY HISTORY
tCoatl..ea nom Frs, Page,

ton party. Thus swinging around the
circle back to its first name in 1872. Now,
why all this talk about the change of
name. The party has been changing its
name every campaign, save two since It
started out. And now what it needs most
Is another change. It can never hope to
get much beyond Its present vote unless
there Is radical change both In its name
IN Its general make up, as well as in many
OF It's alleged leaders. Some of it's leaders
are monometallists. others are bi-metal-
lists. some are free traders, and others
are prOtectionSits.
SOME OF ITS MOST PROMINENT OF
FICERS ARE STANDARD OIL
MONOPOLISTS,
while the major portion Of the party are
anti-monopolists. Some of it's leading
men favor municipal ownership Of nearly
all public franchises to be operated by the
people and for the people, while others
favor private monopoly of these franchis-
es, Tor the benefit of the few, which is
class legisla tion
The Populist party is substantially made
up Of men who are opposed to the present
financial system of the country. It is also
an anti-monopoly party, but it's name does
not indicate that 1t is an advocate Of any
special or general reform in government.
1t embraces within It's ranks some Of the
most noted reformers of our time along
secular lines. 1t is practically the sue
cessor of the old Greenback and Union
Labor parties. 1t took on this new form
beginning with the great conference held
at Cincinnati in the spring Of 1892.
This conference was composed of nuta-
BILE men and women from all parts of the
country. It was in every sense of the
WORD representative conference. There
were Greenbackers Labor Reformers, So
cialists, Single Takers, Prohibitionists,
ti-Monopolists and National Reformers
present at this conference.
1t was noticed at A very early nariod
that the subtle and skillful manipulating
hand of the liquor traffic, in the person of
Mr.. Hartman Burkhouser, was there to
offer it's kind 90 assistance as a sort of
a steering committee" to this distin-
tinguished body of men and women, lest
IN their unsophisticated knowledge of poll
teal tactics they might go wrong in some
way. The Cincinnati Zeitung, paper
published In the interest of the brewers
OF Cincinnati. volunteered the following
advlce IN circular which was extensively
circulated among the delegates at the con-
ference. portion Of the circular read as
follows: IF the working men, liquor
dealers, maltsters) join political party,
thinking that they are unable to start a
party OF their own, it can only be done by
concessions made to them the liquor deal
ers, maltsters and brewers). To help an
other party into existence without the
1altnful assurance of reciprocity is folly
Inc suggestions we have to make, and
which we commend to the careful con-
sderation of the delegates, are as fol-
lows: We are in favor of personal free
dom and opposed to prohibition, because
the whole system of our social and indus
trial production is based upon the con-
sumption of values Oiquors) of all kinds
AS class we demand such laws as will
protect us against pauper labor, but do
not want any protection that will only
benefit the manufacturers. This circular
was put out and double headed: "Hints
to the Delegates" To more correctly un-
derstand the full import and meaning of
this insiduous document, the chief brewer
OF Cincinnati proposed to give a grand
banquet to the delegates at his splendid
beer parlors, at which Herman Burk-
houser was to be the chief toast master
TO the honor of this great body of dele
gates be 1t said they refused such delus-
i've and ensnaring hospitality, though
some of them did attend. Thus COM
menced what is now called the peoples
Party" st. John and other distinguished
members Of the Prohibition party were in
attendance as visitors, at that conference
l had the honor of attending the confer
ence as member of the New York dele
cation. Myself and Mr. Hiram Maine,
Marion, Ind, appeared before the commit
tee on platform and resolutions, OF which
the Hon. Ignatius Donnelly was chairman.
and I offered the following preamble and
ant1-monopoly resolution: Whereas, the
liquor traffic, national bank monopoly,
trusts and other combinations of capital
nave forced themselves into the legislative
halls of both state and nation and by
which they have held dominating con-
troll over the will Of the people, first forcing
one party and then the other to submit to
their mercenary and selfish demands
Therefore, Resolved: That we brand
with condemnation any traffic. trust. or
other monopoly which seeks to overthrow
the lawfully expressed will Of the people,
and we pledge ourselves If intrusted with
power, that we will enact and enforce such
enactments as will compel the obedience
OF such institutions to the requirements
of just and righteous laws" This resolu-
tom came within one vote Of being a tie
In the committee-One member, a lady,
Mrs. Curtis, from Cannon City, Colorado.
not voting. Had she voted and made the
tie am assured Mr.. Donnelly would have
voted for it, thus giving it majority Of
one, which would have sent it to the con-
ference from the committee on resolu-
tons. Be it known unto all men that
such noble reformers as Hon. James B.
Weaver, Honorable. A. ]. Streeter, candi-
date for the presidency in 1888 on the
Union Labor party ticket. Mrs. S. E. v.
Emery, whose name will ever be held in
loving remembrance by every true re-
former in this land, and others whose
names do not remember, to the number
of ten. voted for the resolution. Rob-
ert schillings leading the opposition
The rules of order of the Conference were
such that no resolution could be offered
or read in the Conference without it had
first been adopted by the Committee on
Resolutions, previous to the adoption of
the platform" This did not deter u.s.
We went into the Conference and waited
until the adoption Of the platform, and
then offered it as supplementary resolu-
ton. Two previous resolutions were Of
fered-one by Mr.. Sutton Of Iowa, and one
by Geo. M. Miller of Chicago-for abso-
lutte suppression Of the liquor traffic for
beverage purposes. That offered by SUIT
ton was declared out of order it being
presented as an indepedant resolution be-
fore the adoption of the platform Mr..
Miller being better parliamentarian
than Mr.. Sutton, offered his resolution
supplementary to the platform, and of
course it was in order, but his resolution
was quickly voted down, although it re-
ceived a strong support. Mr.. Schillings,
Of Milwaukee, raised the point of order
that my anti-monopoly resolution was out
of order after it had been read to the Con-
chairman, General Weaver-Senator Pfef-
fer who was the regular chairman having
gone to Washington. Gen. Weaver after
wards saw that I was perfectly in order.
and so publicly stated. Then a scene fol-
lowed. After the resolution was declared
out Of order, said to the Conference: In
asmuch as an assumed anti-monopoly par
ty has refused to adopt sweeping anti
monopoly resolution simply because it
mentions the liquor traffic as one of the
great nlonopolies. I therefore have no
cause to remain longer member of this
Conference. I then walked out, and to
my surprise a large number of stalwart
Reformers walked out with me, and an
Immediate adjournment was taken. Thus
ended the incipipnt movement of w ;c