Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-06-03
FRIDAY, JUNE 8. 1910
END OF THE POPULISTS.

END OF THE POPULISTS.
II HE Populist party which poed more than
4 100000 votes at the national election
eighteen years ago, has almost disbanded Thomas
T. Watson, of Georgia, one of the last OF the big
leaders of the party. has announced his return to
the Democratic ranks. lie has decided that IN the
South his only hope of doing something for his
country is through the Democratic party. He pro
poses to work to restore to the common people
the control OF their public affairs, and to force
ante-bellum Democratic principles once more into
the creed OF the party
In ST. Louis the other day the National Com
mittee of the Populist party conferred to decide
whether the organization should be continued as
a separate political entity or merged with the So
ciast party. No action was taken, and it is not
likely that any definite action will be taken The
Populists never were in a hurry in reaching an
agreement on points at issue The party will prob
ably be allowed to dissolve by mutual consent.
Those who have not already gone into the
ranks of of the other parties will do regard
less of any action of the Populist Committee
In 1902 the Populists had their greatest
strength That was a period of agricultural de-
preston, low prices for products of the farm. Dis
content was prevalent in the West. i'm the strong
agricultural states and out of this POpuliSm grew
and elected several senators and number of rep
resentatives to Congress.
In that memorable campaign it held the bal
ance of power and accomplished the election OF
legislation, and were the only organized opposi-
ton to the conservatism of the older parties
The administration of Mr. Cleveland resulted
in split in the Democratic party and the rise
of Mr.. Bryan as party leader in 1896. Mr.. Bryan
had been in Congress as a Democrat and had
made his mark there. lie was supposed to be as
much of a Populist as a Democrat When nom-
mated for president. he was Endorsed by the Pop
ulists and during that campaign Mr.. Bryan con-
stanty appealed to Populists as we'll as to Dem
L. II
Democrats during that campaign to hear Mr..
Bryan proclaiming Popusm along with Demo-
cratic ideas while i'm Delaware
Tn that fight, however the Popuists retained
their party organization, and while by far the
greater number of Populists supported the Demo
cratic ticket the middle-of-the-road Populists
gave Bryan for President and Watson for Vice
President, 222,53S votes. In 1000 when Mr.. Bryan
was again the Democratic candidate, the Popu-
. list party almost disappeared, but in 1904 wher
Judge Parker was the Democratic candidate Wat
son for President ON the Populist ticket police
1888 votes. The party wa ssteadily declining
in 1908 the Populists poed fewer than 3o,ooo,thC
former members of the party having gone back
to the older parties
1t is probable that few of them became Social
lists, and for that reason it is rather strange thai
the National Committee should think of turning
the remnants OF the party over to the Socialists
The Populists were originally strong in the coun
try districts, in the agricultural states while the
Socialists strength has been in the large cite:
among the working classes. There is nothing at
tractive about Socialism to the farmers
The Populist party has therefore practically
gone, but it is worth noting that many OF the
things for which it stood have been taken up b,
the older parties and some of them have becom,
enacted into laws. The ideas of Populsm hav,
permeated both parties but are dominant il
neither. The Bryan wing of Democracy is tainted
with Populism while many of the ideas for which
the lnsurgent Republicans stand are close to tn,
planks in the old Popust platform. genuine
old time Populist might have difficulty in decid
ing which party to join. But the chief cause o
the decline of Populism is that the reason for it
being has been removed Conditions have changed
Farm products instead of being low in price ar
soaring Money, instead Of being tight is s.
plentiful that many economists attribute the hel
prices to the plcntifulness OF money the great,
increased production of gold If Populism worke
for the high prices Of farm products-which
did-.it has been successful