The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-01-31
GOLD WATER PARTY
FIFTY YEARS OLD
Was Organized for National Po-
Utica! Action in 1869.
FIRST PoLLED 5,6o7 VOTES
John p. st. Johns Stirring Campaign
of 1se4-Great Work of Miss Viii
lard and the w. c. r. U. in
SURPRISING Intemperance.

Final triumph for its cause came to |
the national Prohibition party almost
at the time of its golden jubilee, 1t /
came into existence fifty years ago |
next September in FarweIl hall, Chi /
cago, by the act of convention OF
about 500 delegates representing 10
states.
For several years the formation OF |
such a party had been discussed be-
cause the leaders of the Republican
and Democratic parties had virtually
ignored the advocates of prohibition.
The Good Templars, organized in 1851
as a society of total abstainers, urged
such action, and other leaders believed
it necessary. At state temperance
convention held in Pennsylvania in
1867 the plan was first publicly breach
ed, and two years later on May 20,
1869, the call for the Chicago conven-
ton was put out by the grand lodge of
the Good Templars in session at Os-
wego, N. Y. A committee to formulate
the plans was named, comprising John
Russell, Detroit; j. A. Spencer, Cleye-
land, o.; James Black, Lancaster, Pa;
John N. Stearns, New York, and Dam
lei Wilkins, Bloomington, Ill. The con-
vention called by this committee or
| ganized the party on September 1,
adopted a platform and appointed a
national committee of which John Rus
sell was chairman.
First National Ticket.
| Nearly three years later, on Wash
ington's birthday, 1872, the new party
met in convention in Columbus, o., to
place a national ticket in the field.
| James Black was nominated for presi-
dent and John Russell for vice presi-
dent. Mr.. Black was prominent Good
Templar and also was one of the
founders of the National Temperance
Society and Publication house and of
the Camp Meeting association at
ocean Grove, N. j. Mr.. Russell, also
a leader of the Good Templars and a
Methodist minister, was known as the
father of the Prohibition party, for he
published newspaper, the Peninsular
Herald, which led the way in advocat-
ing the organization of the party for
political action.
With all their devotion to the cause,
the Prohibition leaders had no hope OF
success in the election of 1872, and
they were not disappointed. Their
ticket received only SCOT votes. This
did not discourage them, and foul
years later they put Green Clay Smith
of Kentucky and Gideon I. Stewart
on the ticket. These gentlemen re
ceived 9,737 votes. General Neal Dow
of Maine, who had gained fame as the
author of the Maine Prohibition law
was the next presidential candidate
in 1880, with FL. A. Thompson in sec
ond place on the ticket. They police
, only 1896 votes.
St. Johns Hot Campaign.
When the plans were being laid fol
the campaign of 1884, Frances E. vii
lard and her fellow workers of the W
C. II. U. entered the field. They sen
TO the Republican convention grea
petition asking that consideration b.
given the pleas of the temperance ad
vocates, but it was ignored and ever
thrown into the dirt on the floor, ant
Miss Willard promptly turned to tn
!. Prohibition party. Her help was vel
|. coined and John P. st. John of Kan
sas was put at the head of the colt
! water ticket. Already he was nota
BILE figure, for he had fought in tn