The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-10
That Ticket of West and South
(ChriStian Science MOnitOr)

AS the time for the presidential election APP
proaches there appears in the press and in the
utterances of more or less radical and discon-
tented publicists the prophecy that the United
States is about to witness the political combina-
ton of the farmers Of the west with those OF
the south. The proposition is put forward as
if it were something entirely new. The argu-
ment is made that the farming Republicans Of
the west have little or nothing in common with
the dominant figures in their party who hold
power by control of it's machinery in New Eng
land and the states east of the Mississippi
river. The corollary is presented that the
dry, Protestant, free-trade Democrats of the
south have nothing in common with the party
organization of the North, which is controlled
by the Democratic machines in great cities,
normally neither dry, Protestant, nor interested
in free-trade. The theory that these some
what disgruntled factors in the two great par
ties can be combined is attractive to those who
would like to see a breakup in party organiza-
ton, and to those who believe that the two ex-
listing parties are too nearly alike in purposes
and in control to afford the voters any fair Sc
lection of policies.
But engaging as the theory may seem, it is
not new. 1t has been put to the test, and has
invariably proved fallacous. Perhaps the ct
fort to give it effect which promised most for
success came at the time of the revolt of the
farmers, north and south, and the organization
OF the Peoples party in 1892 That party at
tanned its greatest strength in the Republican
middle west, but it's genesis was in the south,
and its first platform was drawn in the then
almost unknown town of Ocala, Fla. Many OF
the demands Of that platform have since been
transmitted into legislation by the action Of
one or the other of the old parties which it de.
nounced. One attractive plank, however, failed
of appeal to those who so nearly approach the
position of governing class. For the embat-
tied farmers at that time laid down as one Of
the fundamentals Of their code the rule that
no lawyers should be ever nominated by them
for office. For some six years the Peoples
party, or the Populists, as they came to be
known, was a very real influence in American
politics, electing members to the United States
senate and securing representation in the cleo
toral college. But even at the apogee Of it's
strength the leaders of the party found it diff
ficult, almost impossible, to maintain that liai.
son between the west and south upon which its
success depended and which politicians are
again trying to establish. In 1896 two cand;-
dates for vice president appeared on the ticket
with William J. Bryan-one from the north
and one from the southland neither would re-
tire to make the alliance more complete.
Thirty years is not long time for political
to span. It might be as we'll for
those who are so confidently predicting an al
lance Of the farmers Of the west and south
next year to study the history Of the abortive
efforts in the past to make such an alliance en-
during.