Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-20
THIRD PARTIES
: BY FREDEHIo J. HAsKIH.

AsHINGTON, D. c., June 16-The spectacular
M part which the Progressive party has now
W played during presidential years recalls
the stories of other parties which have had
important place in the American political drama
Nearly always their activities have been striking
and picturesque accompanied by great deal of noise
and enthusiasm. Nearly always, after few years
they completely, quietly and forever disappeared
and their prophets either forgotten have
mounted new hobbies.
This ephemeral and disturbing character has given
third parties rather doubtful standing in the minds
of many persons who conservative than dis
cernng and is certain that the significance of these
political movements has been generally under
stood a matter of fact, third parties, despite the
of zeal and doctrine that have characterized
many of them, been the real instruments of eco
nomic social reform in the United States. Inva
riably they weakened the reactonary of
parties and have thus brought about
the of the more liberal Always, too, they
brought forth large brood of political creeds
dogmas, Of which would not stand the test
of logic and common sense, and others that became
panks of other party platforms and were enacted into
law.
BY far the most interesting these third parties
was Populist Party of Kansas which poled a
midable vote for president in two elections.
in both houses of congress- and controlled
governments To it's splitting
largely due Cevelands defeat of Harrison by a
margin. 1t fahered the notorious free silver
doctrine, which died natural death after having
helped defeat the Democratic party. other
hand, the income tax a Populst doctrine.
the prestige attained by that party is largely
adoption of the income tax plank in the Demo-
cratic platform, and its final enactment into law.
The story of the Populist party is typical of
third party movements that it is worth detailed
account 1t it's origin in the eighteen-eighties,
and in the discomfort of western farmers. At that
time the American market for fOodstufs was in
condition incredible in this day of high living
oOt a
IS cents for while fat cattle sold at
/ IL to 3 a pound. The farmer could live off
his own acres, sought in to get any
In some states, actually burned because it
was cheaper than coal
This condition was probably due in considerable
measure overproduction. Our urban population was
great deal smaller then; the country could not eat
what it raised The farmers, however, encouraged by
ambitious political leaders laid the blame upon mono
metalism (the gold standard) protective tariffs exor
bitant freight and many other things that might
be remedied by legislation
,rbo Immediate outcome of this situation the
formation of large number of farmers organizations
among the strongest of which was the Natlonal
ars Alliance Industrial Union, Wnlch ultimately
4toinad q membership of millions. This and other sim
liar organizations met and discussed at length ther
grievances against the politicians and the railroads.
20 sought a measure that would bring relief. The
tier miners of the states suggested one
They pointed that scarcity of the circulating
medium especially a crop-moving time. was at the
root of trouble, and that unlimited col
oqe Of silver was the remedy. This idea took swift
and vigorous 1t seemed logical 1t offered quick
and complete the difficulty by the passage
of one measure of legislation. Trained economists
who had studied history of currency knew that BIZ
metalism was Anticipated doctrine, which had been
tried wanting but anything they had to say
was drowend by the noise of perfervid oratory.
The Farmers Alliance took to itself national
organization after another and formid-
able political influence In the campaign of 1890 it
elected some thirty congressman senator and three
by its influence and that in spite of desper-