The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-03-21
William R. Hearst's Independence League to
Make Its First Appearance as
National Organization.
Populists, Prohibitionists and Socialists Will
Also Enter the Field With Presi-
Dental Tickets.

1t - altogether probable that 1908
will break all the records in the num-
Der OF important parties which VIII ap-
pear in TIE campaign, says Charles NJ
Harvey III the ST. Louis Globe-Dclno-
| crat.
| Aside from the TWO big organizations
which a;e always with us, aud each of
| whieL will make an earnest cffor. to
| win. we will have four other organza-
| tons, the leaders of each of which cX-
poet To- make a powerful demonstration
at the polls One OF these is the Plpu-
list party. which will meet in national
convention in St Louis on April 2, and
another is the Prohibition party,
which assemblies in Columbus, Ohio, on
July L.. William r. Hcarst's Indepcnd-
encc League as a national organizations
| Is to meet in convention after the two
big parties have put up their tickets.
| AS tn. latest of the big parties, the
Democracy. assemblies in Denver on
| July n it is to be presumed that tho
Independence League will have it's con-
ventinE some time in July. The pres
ent plan among its leaders seems to
be to call it the National party, as In
dependence League has only local as
socia.iols. The Socialists are also to
put up n ticket and to make u strong
canvass; but the day for the conlen-
ton !a.: not yet been announced.
! 1t is easily possible that one or more
Of these Organiza tons may hold the
balanc;' IN some states. The Populists
have been in the field for 1G years, but
have not recently polIcd enough votes
to have any consequence. In their first
natiDnal canvass, that of 1892, when
they l,aL Gen. James p. Weaver, the
old Grccnback candidate or 1882. for
their n prince they rolled up a vote of
over 100000, and carried some states.
Later ca, under the Bryan amalgana-
ton. they dwindled down to small pro-
portions. Just what influence they
will have in 1908 can not be guessed
at now. They intend, however, to make
fight in every state and they will be
one OF .hc disturbing elements which,
! will make the task OF tho political
prop.lct very hard in this campliGll
The Socialists have been with us for
many years, and they have been max
ing steady gains Under the lead of
Haywood, who was until recently the
master spirit in the Western Fedora
ton Of Miners, they may be relied on
to leave Dcbs' big total of 1904 far be-
hind II is the purpose OF Dcbs, who
has had the candidacy in two success
sivc tanIraigns to work for the nornina-
ton Of Haywood, and as he probably
has more influence in the party than
any other person. his efforts ought to
get '1c nomination for his friend.
| The Prohibition party is an oId-t time
acquaintance. II has been hero much
more than a third OF a. century. 1t
made its advent as Il political organiza-
ton in 1872, and has had a ticket and
a platform in every presidential cam
vsss from that day to this. Although
its vote was small at first 1t gradually
increased until the silver cataclysm of
1896 dis, upted it for the moment, and
put two sections Of the party in the
field. In 1904 it polled a vote OF $685.
900, the largest which 1t ever cast ex-
| cept in 1892, when it's total was 264,G0O.
Undcr ;',e new conditions it's leaders
are predicting a vote which will pass
the 100000 mark. AS they have been
making great conquests recently all
over the country in increasing the
"dry" region, they are encouraged to
thins that they will poll a political ,cte
which will leave all the former ballots
far behind. Probably they are correct
in this expectation. Their victories,
howcvc:, in extending the dry area
of the country have been gained
through bipartisan effort chiefly.
The Antisaloon League has led the