The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-08
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
1.-THE LANDSLIDE OF 1890
By FREDERIC ! HASKIM

reelected In Maine, In September. bJ
that was before the bill had passed
Mr.. Mckinley, Mr.. Cannon and maI
other Republican leaders went dow
in the general disaster The houd
which passed the Mckinley bill, hal
IFS Republicans TO SO Democrats am
one Independent. The house electd
In 1890 had 23l Democrats, only \
Republicans, and IA Populists. Til
Democrats had the largest majorld
I'm that congress. the hfty-second, evd
possessed by any congressional partt
The Democrats in great glee begal
at once TO prepare for the presidentid
campaign OF 1892. The Mckinley bill
had been repudiated, the house wa
overwhelmingly Democratic but th
senate still was Republican. Cred
political unrest filled the country. TIL
Republican congress In 1890. attemp
ed TO settle the money question \
passing the Sherman compromia
measure providing for the purchas
of certain amount OF silver build
each month. But the problem gre
more and more insistent. The coul
try was in a very bad condition. final
cially. and in the west the farmer
were grooming under burden OF del
and poverty which was threateniu
political revolution. The Farmers Al
lance developed into the Populii
party and the new organization mad
some surprising advances In the ives
sending Ia representatives and tw
senator's TO the fifty-second congress-
II s.f. oil "a
free silver. The fasteners. OF bot
parties, were for the gold standard.
But in 1892 neither party was vii
ing or able to take position on m
money question. The Democrat
forced the lighting by declaring nj
equivocally for a reduction OF tart
duties. The Republicans defended IN
Mckinley bill as best they could. |
view OF the disaster of 1890. but the
talked more about reciprocity tina
about protection.
Harrison and Cleveland again wei
the leaders OF the two parties. Tt
Populists nominated James b. Weai
er, OF Iowa and in many westeI
states the Democrats and Populis1
fused against the Republicans. Tt
result was a confirmation of the eleI
ton OF 1890. The Republicans game
back some or the congressional d1
trlcts they had lost two years befoT
but the Democrats had 220 membei
Of the house to 1913 Republicans a1
eight Populists, while the senate nd
again changed complexion and va
practically under Democratic cortrd
There were a. Democratic senator
SO Republicans, one Independent an
two Populists, with three vacancid
This gave the Democrats a maJorii
OF three and a plurality over the X
publicans OF six.
Cleveland carried states whid
Heretofore had been deemed solid,
Republican, including illinois All
Wisconsin. receiving PIT electorl
votes TO las for Harrison and % n
Weaver. This was the only TIM
since the civil war that a third parl
candidate for president has receive
any electoral votes. Weaver carrie
Colorado. Idaho, Kansas and NebraI
ka and got one vote from Oregon an
one from North Dakota.
The result was that the Democrat
on MarCn 4, 1880. came Ihlo CoHhPiSI
control OF the federal government n
the hrst time since Buchanan's al
ministration The president, the SCI
ate and the house Of representative
all we're Democratic. After the ele|
ton in November, the Democratl
press was jubilant, but even befot
! the beginning OF the new administT
ton signs of dlscord began to be al
parent and the rumble of the comtil
storm was plainly TO be heard. TH
| Democratic triumph was destined 500
TO be turned into a party catastrophI
Touorrow-The Landslide Of 1894