The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-01
SEATTLE. SATURDAY,. SEPT. !.


The convention which closed its SEES
sion in this city on Thursday was
marked principally by the complete
extinction Of the Peoples party. the
members OF which have been familiar
~ known as Populists. A skeleton or
gnnization may remain. but the party
itself has disappeared az a political fac
tor In this state. II has been sold out
by its leaders. and absorbed into the
ranks OF one Of the old political parties,
which II war originally brought into
being to fight Organized as much for
practical protest agsinSt the political
methods of the older parties as to adj
vance any particular political Ideas, It's
leaders promptly availei themselves OF
every device of machine politics known
to the most corrupt political organlza-
lions
to eliminate office-holders and office
seekers from any share in the work Of
nominating conventions. It's later days
witnessed each successive convention
dominated and controlled by the men
whom the party had elected 10 office.
Ostensibiy created for the purpose OF
bringing political machinery and legIs-
iative machinery closer to the people.
and to do away. as far as possible. with
the representative idea OF governmen..
substituting therefor direct action by
the people in their individual capaci-
ties, the closing act in It's political ex-
istence Ia 10 join In the nomination OF
man for governor whom the people,
by their votes In the party primaries
and county conventions. had repudi-
ated.
Originally a party Of the so-called
common people. designed TO conduct
crusade against corporate wealth and
special privileges. II surrenders It's
name and it's party existence at the die
tation OF wealthy corporation mine
owner. with whom the leaders OF the
PARTY had bargained for a seat In the
United States senate. and whose only
interest In the Peoples party was that
he might wreck Il and build up a per-
sonai machine TO further his own POI
li,icai fortunes
The representatives Of the Peoples
party. IN convention assembled, voted
tho party ont Of existence, accepted the
Democratic name. and lndorsed the
selection OF ticket on which but three
or four minor offices were given 20 the
former popalists OF the men named
on that ticket IL Is unlikely that more
than enc will ever again claim to be
a Popullst Following the example %
Turner and Rogers. the rulers u tho
presen, Democrats machine they will
probably In the future identify them
selves with the Democratic party.
This Is che end " party which At
one time aspisrd 70 control the pou
slca OF the state, ITS arss appearance
as an independent organization was tn
iSas. when IN the congressional clec-
: ton tt PEELED ia,tes votes against - zoe
for the Democrats Two years uf
I. Democratic. national administration
added rapidly 20 The ranks % the party
% discomfort. ana In 1884 the pcpullsis
10 this state rolisa sSlto votes 20 f4.tsa
cast ny the Democrats In 1895. when
fasien was first effected, :, was easily
the dominant factor Ia an uf the eis-
ments Of opposition 70 the Republicans.
IL dictated the terms ~ fusion; cap
tured the best ~ the state offlces and
secured control oF the state govern
ment and the legislature. by an election
IN which the Democrats were COM
PEELED 60 servo under she Popullstie
banner and name This was It's down
fan. The record made by the fusion
lists was 50 bad that In the succeeding
election. in which al OF the fusion
forces were again united under the
Peoples party name. the people repudl-
ated' thernoby an overwhelming major