Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-19
PARTIES IN AMERICAN POLITICS
Ono OF the Days
by FREDERIC }. IIAsKIN

WASHINGTON, June ls.-The spec
tacular part which the Progressive
party has now played during two prcsi-
Dental years recalls the stories OF
other third parties which have had an
important place in tho American politi-
cal drama.
Nearly always their activities have
been striking and picturesque. accom-
panied by great deal OF noise and on
thusiasm. Nearly always. after few
years. they have completely. quietly
and forever disappeared and their
| prophets have either been forgotten or
have mounted now hobbies.
This cphemeral and disturbing char
acter has given third parties rather a
doubtful standing In the minds OF
many persons who more conScrva-
tive than discerning; and 1t is certain
that the significance of these political
movements has never been generally
understood AS matter OF fact, third
parties. despite the excuses of zeal
and doctrine that have characterized
! many Of them. have been the real in
| strumcnts of economic and social re-
! form in the United States. Invariably
! they have weakened the moro reaction
airy OF the two stronger parties and
have thus brought about the success
| OF tho more liberal Always, too, they
| have brought forth large brood OF
| political creeds and dogmas. some of
| which would not stand the test of
| logic and common sense. and others
| that became planks Of other party
platforms and were enacted into law.
BY far the most interesting OF these
! third parties was the Popul!st party
| of Kansas. which polled formidable
| vote for President In two elections
WAS represented in both houses of
| Congress, and controlled several State
| governments To its splitting OF the
vote was largely due Clcvcland's de-
| feat Of Harrison by II narrow margin.
| II fathercd the notorious free silver"
| doctrine. which died "A natural death
/ after having helped 70 defeat the
| Democratic party. On the other hand,
| the income tax was Populist doctrine.
| and to the prestige attained by that
| party is largely due the adoption Of
| the income tax as n plank in the Demo-
| cratic platform, and its final enactment
| Into law.
| Populist Story IN Typical.
! The story OF the Populist party is so
typical Of third party movements that
| IL Is worth a detailed account. 1t had
| its origin in the eighteen-ei eighties, and
| in the discomfort OF Western farmers.
| At that time the American market for
| foodstuffs was In Il condition almost
| incredible In this day of high living
expense. Farmers got only 40 cents
! n bushel for wheat. and 10 to IL cents
! for corn. while fat cattle sold Mt Ia
| TO cents a pound The farmer could
| live Off his own acres. but he sought
in vain to get any cash. In some
| States corn was actually burned. be-
| cause it was cheaper than coal.
This condition was probably due. In
considerable measure. to overproduc-
| ton. Our urban population was a
| great deal smaller then; the country
| could not eat what it raised. The
| f;rmers. however. encouraged by am
| bilious political leaders, laid the blame
ard protective tariffs, exorbitant
| freight rates, and many other things
| that might be rcmedied by legislation
Tho immediate outcome OF this sit
| uation was the formation of a large
| number of farmers organizations,
among the strongest of which was tho
| National Farmers Alliance and Indus
| trial Union, which ultimately attained
a membership OF millions. This and
| other similar organizations met and
| discussed at length their grievances
against the politicians and the rail-
| roads, and sought a measure that would
| bring relief. The silver miners of the
| Western States suggested one. They
pointed out that scarcity of the cir
| culating medium. especially at crop
! moving time, at the root of the
farmers trouble. and that unlimited
| coinage OF silver was the remedy. This
| idea took swift and vigorous hold 1t
| seemed logical, IT offered n quick and
| complete solution of the difficulty by
the passage of one measure of legisla-
| ton. Trained economists, who had
studied the history of currency, know
| that bmetallism was an Anticipated
| doctrine, which had been tried and
found wanting; but anything they had
to say was drowned out by the noise
| OF perfervid oratory.
Whnt the Farmers Did.
The Farmers Alliance took to itself
one national organization after an
| other, and soon became a formidab BILE
| political influence. IN the campaign
of 1890 1t elected some thirty congress-
men, Senator and three Governors
by its influence, and that in spite OF
desperate efforts on the part of both
the old parties to ridicule. abuse and
crate 1t out Of existence.
The growth of It's political activity
gradually brought about the organiza-
ton OF the membership OF the Farm :
ers' Alliance into political party.
| Peoples parties" wcro organized in
one State after another, and finally, in
1892, n national nominating conven-
ton was held at Omaha. It was a
stormy one. Fervid leaders hotly de-
gates went wild with excitement
climbed on tho chairs and tables
paraded all over the hall, and gen
orally interfered with the proceedings
| Sufficient order was finally obtained to
nominate General Jumping Jim
Weaver for President and James G.
| Field for Vice-Presidcnt. a vigorous
campaign was carried on, In the face
Of all sorts Of difficulties. In the South
the rural population was largely Popu-
list. but tho cities were controlled by
the Democrats. and tho Populist candi-
dates encakinterod such vociferous or
4 position that thoy had to rive I'M GONE