The sun., 1904-08-28
NOTIONS or TIE POPULISTS.
Medley OF Fads That Made Up tho Platform
of the Third Party.

With. the practical disappearance OF
the Populist party as factor OF importance
in any State some politicians are inquir-
ing how II could have been possible for an
aggregation OF irreconcilable voters under
the name Of the Populist party to poll over
a million votes in 1892.
By some the explanation has been given
that the peculiar economic conditions
OF that period, especially the abnormally
low price for cereals and cotton, accounted
for much Of its success; by others the ad-
ditional reason Is given that the Populist
electoral ticket in many Of the States,
notably Kansas, Colorado and North Dakota,
received the bulk Of the Democratic vote
as a means of defeating the Republican
electors in States otherwise strongly he
publican.
But there is still another reason to which,
generally, politicians have not referred
the large number Of votes which political
party having some novel fads to present
is always sure to get In an election in which
the candidates Of the regular parties are
already we'll known, as was the case IN 1892
when President Harrison was the Re-
publican and ex-President Cleveland the
Democratic nominee.
The Populist party at its height ap-
pealed in 1892 not merely to one fad, but
to all fads. almost Unfortunately. The
Michigan convention at jackson in August
Of that year, for instance. came out strongly
for the abolition Of private detectives
"the separation OF Church and State, !"
and the project that land sold for delinquent
taxes should be bought by the State.
The Kansas Populists at Kearney pledged
themselves ITO hurl from power and Office
all men who enslave labor crown capital
and make use Of fraud and violence to turn
the United States into the home Of the serf
and the millionaire"
The Peoples party at Danville, ILL.,. in
May came out in favor Of woman suffrage
and denounced the Chicago stock yards
1t advocated the abolition OF the board OF
trade and called upon the railroads OF the
State to carry road builders at the actual
cost OF transportation
The Indiana Populists came out for.
Government telepho ne system and the
choice OF county superintendents by pop
ular vote
The Iowa Populists at Des Moines favo red
the loan of Government money to farmers
at per cent. interest, and asked that all
lands held by corporations in excess OF
their actual needs be reclaimed by the
Government.
Inc OOuLu DakOtd fOPuubtS III Llou-
field In June arraigned both political par
ties -for their discrimination against the
old soldiers and in favor Of the lando wners.
The Populists in Wisco nsin came out
for a revision OF the patent laws to pre-
vent the present system Of monopoly
whereby the holders OF patents were pro-
tected.
There are in every State a considerable
number ~of voters who are attracted to
the support Of the party which offers the
largest number Of proposed radical re-
forms. In times Of political unrest party
which appeals to the discontented is GER
tain to get some measure Of popular sup
port, and there are a large number Of
voters who are always favorable to a change
without special reference to what the
change is.
The Populists, in current phrase. would
stand for anything. No scheme or pro ject
was too vast, wild, radical or impracticable
for them, and as a consequence they were
usually able to draw many recruits from
the great army OF the continue usly dis
contAntAd