The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1920-05-24
c. O.P. To MEET
NEAR PARTY'S
BIRTH PLACE

semblying at Chicago in Juno tho
! Republican national convention will
be sitting In the section where the
Republican party was first named
and within 600 miles OF where the
first recorded Republican meeting
was held &c years ago. The approach
OF the convention recalls this early
dis;ory, though with the passing OF
the years and the dcyels pmcnt OF
new issues the first steps OF the party
have passed from common view.
1T will probably not be possible
10 trace to the earliest date the first
positive meeting which led to the
formation OF the new party" writes
Francis Curtis. In his history OF thS
Republican party, 1T Is quite likely
that there was no considerable gath
erlng OF men. nor discussion of plans
and policies. until a. Z. Boyay, u
whig OF Ripon, Wis, together with
a Mr.. Bowen. a Democrat, and Mr..
Baker. Frce-Soiler. issued call
for a public meeting to consider the
now alarming situation"
The grea, issue OF the hour was
the extension OF slavery. or the po-
litlcal situation preiaclng the torma-
tion OF the Republican party. Mr..
Curtis says, mo political party was
able to elec, enough members OF con-
gress to oyerrule the united will OF
the Shareholders. and until the anti !
sentiment OF the north should [
be so welded together, and It's expon-
ents should be so united IN cne party .
as to be able to send to Washington 4
enough men TO outvote the reprosen-
,atiyes OF the slave power. there was
no hope that It's advance could be
checked"
Reference was made 20 the R!pon
meeting by Henry Wilson. when vice
president OF the United States, In his
book Rise and Fall Of the slave
power" published In 1874. "ono OF
he earliest. II not the earliest. OF the
he said. that contem-
plated definite action and the forma-
ion OF a new party was made In
Ripon, Fond du Lac county, VIA. In
he early months OF 1854. IA conse-
luence OF a very thorough canvas.
e sn.erence and general comparison
4 Views Inaugurated by \. z. Boyay.
prominent member OF the Whig
,arty. among the whigs. Free Sellers I
md Democrats OF that town. a call
vas issued for a public meeting to
onsider the grave issues which were ,
an aspect OF such alarming /
The meeting thus called, wrote 4
NJ. Harvey in the Chautau-
uan. September. 1897. was held In Il
he Congregational church at Ripon, u
'ebguary rs. 1854. A resolution 1,
'as adopted In the meeting that II .
ne bill then pending In the senate TO a
arrow open TO slavery the territories h
I Kansas and Nebraska should pass, e.
ie old party organization in Ripon II
lould be cast off. and new party. v
, be called the Republican. formed n
a the sole Issue OF opposition to le
avery extension. a
THE bill passed the senate. In OF
hich body II originated. on March 3, II
,54. and on March 20. the second III
Getting, participated In by men OF th
parties. was held. this time In a
hoolhouse at which Bovay was the We
ading spirit. ye
by vote Of the assemblage. the
wn committees OF the Whig and
ee Soil parties xere dissolved. and ell
committee OF five. three wings. one sp
mocrat and one -Soiler. was ha
osen to begin the task Of forming
new party. To-
'At these two meetings was started e'
, earliest systematic work begun =
ywhere in the country to bring
1ut the coalition OF the enemies OF a
very extension. who were eventu- =
y fused into a homogeneous and Z
sressiye party. adopting the name 4
publican" 2
Mr.. Harvey quoted a letter Bovay =
Dte to him about this meeting, In y
ich he said: =
4 went from house to house and =
NJ shop TO shop and halted men Gu 80
streets to get their names for tn. x
citing Of March 20. 1854. At that d
g there were not more than bna- z
d voters In Ripon, and by vast
] OF earnest talking ] obtained So
hem. =. We went into a little