Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-29

idea took swift and vigorous hold. II
seemed logical, 1t offered a quick and
complete solution of the difficulty NY
the passage of one measure OF legisla-
ton Trained economists, who had
studied the history of currency, knew
that bi-metallism was an antlquated
doctrine, which had been tried ana
found wanting; but anything they mad
| to say was drowned out by the noise
of perfervid oratory.
-, The farmers alliance took to itself
/ one national organization after anotf'
| err, and soon became formidable pc.
litical influence. In the campaign OF
! 1890 it elected some thirty congress
, men, a senator and three governors oy
! its influence, and that in spite OF des-
perate efforts on the part of both the
old parties to ridicule, abuse and orate
| it out of existence.
| The growth of it's political activity
gradually brought about the organlza.
ton of the membership of the farmers
alliance into political party. "Peo-
pies Parties" were organized IN one
state after another. and finally, IN
! 1892 national nominating convention
was held at Omaha. 1t was stormy
one. Fervid leaders holly denounced
both the old parties; the delegates
went wild with excitement, climbed on
the chairs and tables, paraded all over
the hall, and generally interfered with
the proceedings. Sufficient order was
| finally obtained to nominate General
Jumping Jim" Weaver for president
and James G. Field for vice president.
A vigorous campaign was carried on.
| in the face of all sorts of difficulties.
| In the south the rural population was
largely populist but the cities were
controlled by the democrats. and the
populist candidates encountered such
yociferousi opposition that they had
to give up some parts OF their speak.
linz tours. Nevertheless. the popul1st
party polled over a million votes FOR
president. was the first third party
to obtain a place in the electoral col
lege, and elected number OF sena-
tors and congressman. In 1884 the
country was torn by labor troubles
which reacted strongly in favor OF
the populists. They polled nearly a
million and half votes, and elected
six senators and seven congressman.
After that the party gradually ceased
to function, largely because the demo
Gratis had taken up many of its CHIEF
dogmas Largely ridiculed, 1t had
nevertheless administered rebuke to
the party in power. and initiated prill-
ciples that were to become part OF
the national law. .4 @
The fore-runner of the populist party
was the greenback party. The basic
principle Of this organization was that
the government should issue paper
money directly, and that it should be
used in the payment of government
bonds; but this party did not attain
any real power until 1t united with the
labor reform party Among its princl-
pies were that grants of government
land to corporations should be discon.
tinued. and that oriental labor should
be excluded from this country. .L
| The greenback party first nominted
Peter Cooper, famous New York cap
/ italist and founder of Cooper institute.
for president. He was IS years old,
and of course made no active canvass.
There were about eighty thousand
votes cast for him. Later, in a non
presidential year, the party polled over
a. million votes. Then General Weaver
was nominated for the presidency in
1880. He received only 100000 votes.
! Nevertheless his campaign was me-
morable and significant. He travelled
twenty thousand miles and made over
a hundred speeches. He was the first
leader to thus 60 directly before the
people with his cause, and the hrst
one successfully to crystalline and use
that body of radical reform sentiment
which has come to play such an i'm
portant part as the balance of power
IN A~oricon Do1itics