Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-09
General Weauer's II
Can to Action

"You take my house when you do take
the prop
That doth sustain my house; you take
my life
When you do take the means whereby
live"
Shakespeare.
These lines were selected by Gen.
James B. Weaver for placing on the
title page of his volume printed just
twenty years ago under the title "a
Call to Action" and in which he re-
corded his ripest judgment as to the
issues inevitably confronting the
American republic.
There was in the book a great deal
that was transient, because it was
published at the opening Of a campaign
in Which the author was candidate
for president and it was intended to
be of influence in securing votes. But
. re-reading Of the book since the
death Of General Weaver suggests the
thought that it contained a great deal
That must live and become a part of
the permanent stock of information as
to economic and Legislative questions
That which appeals first to the read
er of this book today is the evidence
which it affords that General Weaver
was a true prophet, and gifted with
power to see much further into the
future than others of his generation.
pIit 1jca Of
was the elimination rather than the
beginning of great career in Ameri-
can politics. In 1892 General Weaver
received a total Of 1.042.631 votes for
president 1t was because Of his re-
markable career quite as much as be-
cause of what he advocated that LED
to this result.
The vote cast for General Weaver
for president in 1892 gave him plural
ity in five states-Kansas Colorado
North Dakota. Nevada and Idhao He
also received the vote of one elector in
Oregon. making a total of twenty two
electoral votes In all Of these states
which he carried the democrats Joined
in helping the populists The total Of
votes received in some of the states by
the Weaver electors will be interest
ing at this time. The largest of these
were:
Kansas 1911; Texas. 99.63S: Ala
ba.na, S51s1; Nebraska, S3134; Colo
RADIO. 52.5s4: North Carolina. 44.732;
Missouri. 411S3: Georgia. AZ 939: Min
nesota. 3o.29S: Oregon. 2e,s75: South
Dakota 26.512: Kentucky 23,5oo: ILL
nois, 22,207; Indiana, 22,19S; Iowa, 90
GIG
This vote cast for General Weaver
was a remarkable third party vote. It
indicated an intense desire to break
away from both the republican and the
democratic parties. The normally
democratic states cast a larger vote for
Weaver than did the republican states.
In his previous campaign. that of 1880.
as the candidate Of the national
party" better known as the Green
back party. General Weaver had Sc
cured only 30s,57S votes. General But
Ter did not receive so many in 1884 as
standard bearer for the same party.
The party disappeared and In 1888 the
union labor" party appeared with
Streeter at the head but it did not do
as well as the greenback party. Then
came the organization Of the peoples
party" which General Weaver carried
over the million mark.
The victory of the free silver element
in the democratic party in 1895 sound
ed the death knell Of the populist party.
for in that year as four years later it
supported Bryan for president and be-
fore 1904 had completely disappeared.
General Weaver was nominated for
ict ~ n u
vent!on in Omaha July T., 1892. receiv-
ing 994 votes against 265 for James n.
KYLE Of South Dakota. General Weaver
repeated his work of twelve years be-
fore and made speaking campaign OF
tho country. talking to great crowds
in many states.
The platform adopted at Omaha Will
stand as the final expression Of dissent
of that large body Of political insur-
gents who between 1870 and 1895
sought to reorganize political parties
on new lines. Some of the demands
Of that platform, summarized are:
Issues of all money direct by the
government and distribution thru sub
treasures by loaning to the people.
Free coinage of silver and gold at
the 16 to 1 ratio.
Increase OF clrculatlnS medium " Pow
per capita.
Graduated income tax.
Postal savings banks.
Government ownership OF railroads,
telegraphs and telephones
No monopoly of land and alien own
ership forbidden
The secret ballot system.
The initiative and referendum.
The campaign was made almost
wholly, however, upon the demand for
a radical change in the method Of issue
Of money
A glimpse into General Weavers
call to Action gives a clearer idea Oh
the things for which he stood in the
campaign of 1892 which attracted the
votes of million Americans. 1t was
distinctly. as he believed, an appeal to
prevent a class war. I'VE are nearing
a serious crisis" he wrote. IF the
present strained relations between
wealth owners and wealth producers
continues much longer they will ripen
into frightful disaster" Continuing ne
wrote in his preface:
"The sovereign right to regulate
commerce among our magnificent un-
ion Of states, and to control the In
struments of commerce, the right to
issue the currency and to determine
the money supply Of 100000 Of peo-