Nebraska Newspapers

    PART TWO. OMAHA SUNDAY BEE PKGES 9 TO IB ,
TWENTY-SECOND YEAR. OMAHA , SUNDAY , M011NING JULY 3 , 1892-SIXTEEN PAGES. NUMliEU
THE PARTY LEADERS
Eomo of tbo Mon \Vho Head the Great He-
form Movement ,
_ _ _ _ _
THEY COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE
Tarraors , Artisans , Prohibitionists and Ma-
cbino Politicians Upon Ono Platform.
MEN WHO HAVE FOUGHT IN ALL PARTIES
Bomo Ilavo Won Renown While Only
Notoriety Belongs to Otiers. !
SOME PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITIES
Itnry ofllio I.lfp nt the Vmi AVycks , t'olTon ,
Hlmpscmn , Mclti-lKlmns , Donnelly * nml
Other Shining Lights Among the
modern Apostle's of Ill-form.
Some Intornsiint ; people are figuring In the
present big convention. Many of them have
cut wide swath * during the past your in the
political field und have national fnrao or no-
lorioty. Some of thorn , and they are promi
nent too , are surprises that resulted from the
political revolution of l&'JO , while others are
old war dorses who have sniffed tbo battle
In the ranks of the republican and demo
cratic parties nnd have been forced by the
turn of the political wheel to cuooso between
rear scats In the old parties and chances for
preferment in the reform movement. Appended -
ponded nro sketches ot some of luo promi
nent woruors in the convention.
Clmrli'H II. Van Wyck.
Charles H. Van Wyck has boon congress
man from Now York and senator from Ne
braska , pioneer , soldier nnd lawyer , and
now ho Is in private llfo , but an active
worker in the farmers alllanco nnd people's
party movements. Ho was In congress as n
republican , but opposed the railroads with a
Bood deal of energy , nnd In consequence was
found lying outsldo the breastworks wnon
the Nebraska legislature chose a senator In
1687.
1687.Ho wns born at Poughkcopslc , N. V. , In
1624 : was graduated from Kutgera college ,
New Jersey , after which he studied law was
admitted to tno bar and wns soon elected
district attorney for Sullivan county. Now
York. He gained popularity so fast that in
18.18 ho was nominated for congress by the
republicans of that district , and though the
democratic majority had been 1,200 ho com
pletely reversed it and was elected by nearly
the ( tame majority , assisted greitly , no
doubt , by the general political "stump" ot
i Unit year.
In ISiiO ho was re-elected , nnd while hold
ing his seat in congress was made colonel of
the Tenth Lugion , or Fifty-sixth New York
volunteers. Ho served In the Armv of the
I'otomae to the close of the war , became a
brigadier cenoral , nnd in 1SOG nnd 1SGS was
rc-clecU'd to congress. Soon after the war
closed General Van Wyck and a party of
colonists traversed lown in wagons and
made n location Just west of the Missouri ,
whore Nebraska City now Is. After closing
his fouith term as n Now York congress
man ho located in Ncbra ka , where ho scon
became n member of the constitutional con
vention , and was for three terms n member
of the stale bonato.
It win at the session of 1851 that ho was
elected United States senator to succeed A.
8. Pudduck , and his career in that position
was stormy from the start. Ho hod boon
cU-ctcd partlv because of u growing popular
feeling against railroads , nnd the more ho
wns thwarted the nioro radical ho grcw ,
till ho parted company with his republican
nsKorlntCH , and nntl-rnllroadlsm , so to speak ,
became his absorbing passion. ; ilo stood
quite nlono In the senate , and attacked pow
erful corporations of every kind.
As mutters then wen * a man might as well
liavo gone In Mecca to preach against Mo-
liammcd-inlsni as to talk against corporations
In the United State ; ) senate , or nven In ttiu
Nebraska legislature , borne of his follow
senators mud it nlinott a personal matter to
ECO that lie was defeated , and the argument
most vigorously used ut-alnst him wns that
1m "could not bo depended on to vote with
his party. " Add that ho favored n reduc
tion of llio tnrllT , and It will bo seen that ho
could not bo re-elected. Hon. Algernon S.
I'addock regained the scat and Mr. Van
Wyck , now freed Ironi pnr'.y obligations ,
naturally became an alliance man and promi
nent in thn people' party. Ho is possessed
of n moderate competence and onjovs n
Iirolitablc law practice.
II , I. , l.ourli * .
The vleo president of the National Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union , Mr. H. L.
I > ouckH , wns born In 1810 , In Ontario , Can-
ndn. He Is n practical farmer nml n college
graduate . Ills earnest , kindly nature has
always Impelled Lim to active participation
hi whatever loform or beneficent uudor-
tailing * wcro next nt hand. Ho was worthy
rhlof of the Independent Order of Good
Templar * of Canada before ho was Sift years
old Hutiai lived on hU farm near Clear
Luke , S , 1) . . for bovuiat yrars , and during
that llmo he has btstm one of the lullueutlal
( ion of the Mate.
The llrst Independent or people's pnrtv
ionvcntion pro wing out of ulllanca education
fast Uetd iu Dakota JUDO 7 , IbW , ami wn
called by Mr. LoucUs nnd Mr. Wardall. This
convention antedated the Kansas people's
party organization , nnd makes Dakota , rather
than the former state , the birthplace of the
great organized political revolt against the
two old parties , which has boon steadily
gaining strength since Us Inception ,
Mr. Loucks was the candidate for governor
on the people's party ticket in their first
state campaign , nnd mndo n powerful can
vass. Ho was the president of the National
Farmers alliance , or open alllanco , which ,
by the way , Is the older organization , when
In Its most llourlshingcondltlon , but resigned
his position , bcllovlnpUiatthe.secret motliods
of the Farmers Alliance nnd Industrial Union
would prove more effective , nnd nlso that the
strength of the farmers of the nation should
bo concentrated In ono national body ,
Mr. Loucks Is editor of the onicinl paper
of tha Dakota alliance. Much ot his work ,
his .speaking and writing , for several years
has been done under such distressing inva-
lldlsm ns to render It heroic. Within the
last year ho has suffered the amputation of a
leg. slnco which llmo bis health has become
restored.
II. 1 % Taiihrnrck.
Of nil the now men brought Into sudden
prominence by tbo farmers alllanco vote In
IS'.K ' ) not ono occupied ut first so picturesque
nnd painful n position ns Hun. H. 1C. Tnuuc-
neck of the Illinois state senate. The elec
tion of n United Slates sonl.tor practically
depended on him at tha very time ho was
compelled to co to a deal of trouble to prove
ho was not an cucapod convict.
In the legislature 101 Democrats voted 150
times for Ucnoral John M. I'almor , not
counting an exceptional ballot when n demo
crat traded with an nlllanco man. Sitnt <
larly 100 republicans voted for the re
election of Charles 13 , Farwcll. This left
the decision in the bands of three alliance
men Moore , Cockrell nnd Tauboncck. II
is scarcely necessary to add that there was
some vor.v energetic labor to enlighten the
understanding of these three ccntlcmeu ,
who persisted In voting for A. J. Streotor.
In tho-hottest part of the conlllct the story
was circulated nnd published in various
papers that II. E. Tanbonock was ono Carr ,
alias Honor- ? , who had boon in the Ohio pen
itentiary for forgery and had escaped by n
curious frnud.
Mr. Tnuboneck proved that ho was born at
Tcrro Haute , Ind. , In IS.Vi : that , ho was
reared on a farm near Marshall , III. , and had
never been east of Terra Haute before his
election , and Incidentally that ho was a
bachelor in good standing nnd had been en
gaged all his llfo In fanning and the lumber
business. Nevertheless certain politicians
of his county of Clarkn sent his photograph
to Columbus , O. , nnd got from ollleials of
the prison a statement that it was wonder
fully like tbo escaped Rogers. Then tbero
was n llrst class row in the Illinois legisla
ture ; a committee was sent to tbo Columbus
p&nltbntlary und Mr. Taubeueck' wo'nt
with It.
Judge William A. MrKrlghnn.
The more ono investigates tbo political
cvclono of 1S90 the moro surprises ha finds
in it. That many old stand oys , like In palls ,
Cannon & Co. , should bo laid nsldo is less
surprising than that so many very new men
bhould have como In such ns 1'ofTer , Simp
son , ICylo & Co. IJut n closer examination
shows that these so called now men really
had records in their status ueforo entering on
the national arena.
There , for instance , Is Judge William Ar
thur MclCelL'lian , congressman from the
Second Nebraska district , by virtue of I0,101 !
vote ? , against SITil ! for the republican nnd
1'J'JO for the prohibitionist. He Is Jocularly
ic.fe.rred to as the homeliest in.in in congress
nnd doesn't mind it nt all , for ho is n philoso
pher. It Is said nt his homo ttiat there nro
but thrco thoroughly homely men in Ne
braska , "Dan Nettloton is ono nnd Will Mc-
Kolghnn is the other two. " Ho has dis
played the usual good tnsto of homely men
nv innrrvlnst u smart and pretty woman.
Miss Lois E Brown of Fulton county , Illin
ois.
Ho was born In Cumberland county. Now
Jersey , January 10 , 1842 , wont with his
parents to Fulton county. Illinois , in 1S-IS ,
and gained an unusually good common
scnool education there , becoming noted oven
In boyhood for general Information , Early
in the war lie enlisted In the Eleventh Illi
nois cavalry , of which Bob Jnpnrsoll wns
colonel , and served till n''ur the closo. Ho
then settled on a farm near I'ontiac , III. ,
took an active part In organizing the farmers ,
and ran once for congress , but was defeated.
In IbMI ha located lu Nebraska , settling near
lied Cluud , was made county Judge of Web
ster county In IBS , ' ) , and the next year was
the democratic candidate for congress aealnst
Hon. James Laird.
Ho was defeated , but acquired n reputation
as a "stump speaker" equaled by very few.
HU supporters love to tell how Kuccccslvo
champions oC the republican policy were
called to moot him , and how none o'f thorn
was anxious to meet him thu second tlmo.
His career In Nebraska Is n sort of comedy
In Itself , as ho was living In n sod hou'iO
when elected to congress ono ha put up Im
mediately after the grasshopper * evacuated ,
as ho says. It Is much more comfortnbbo
than an eastern reader would think , n > It has
three room * , nnd the sod walls nro built to n
plank frame. Politically Mr. McICclghau
accepts the peoulo'H party platform as an en
tirety. Ho wns recently nominated for con-
gres in tha Fifth Nebraska district , com-
pi-Mug thu west throe-fourths of his old dli.
trlct.
.lurry Slinpion.
Tlio representative of the Seventh Kansas
district In the Fifty-second congrets Is In
deed H remarkable American , but not by
birth a United Slatcilnn , for ho is n native
of Now Brunswick , lie entered congress
by rca op of u political cyclone , and It is nn
odd colncidoni-o that the llrst compliment-
jiry notice of hl.n which can bo found In
print was In connection with a storm.
Hero are tlia original entries from which the
notice was made up ;
"JJargo J. II. Utittor , Commander Jerry
Simpsou , towed by steamer H. V. ICetciium ,
left port for Chicago 29tu of October , 1878 ;
storm olT Point liutsoy and parted from
Ketcham UUf anchored off Luduint'ton leak-
lug badly ; ov < ro itoriu from southwest No
vember 1 ; foundered ; crew rescued by Ufa
saving station off Point llotsey ; cargo , 40-
24 ! ) bushels corn , 18,7. > 0 bushels ryo. "
Commander Jerry Simpson received great
praise for his skill nsn sailor , especially while
in command ot the Huttcr and other vessels
owned by Curtis & Uralnard ol Toledo. But
this shipwreck lot him out. Ho abandoned
the raglne main of the lakes nnd locntcd in
windy Knnsni. The result Is ho Is now fa
mous ns the statesman of Medicine Lodfto
and figures in current satire us the
"bookless Cicero of the Sunflower Stato. "
But n fcTw popular errors should bo corrected
nt the start. Jerry is his rcnl name nnd cot
a nickname. Ho Is not nt all an Illiterate
man. but above tha average of laboring men
In education. And finally , he not only wears
socks , but dresses Ilka any other gentleman ,
according to his means nnd the work ho Is
outraged In , und he is n devotee of the bicycle
and uno of the most skillful wheelers in
Washington.
Ho wus born in Now Brunswick March 31 ,
1812 , but was taken by his parents to Oncidn
county , No.v York , nt the ago of 0. At 14 he
beeame n sailor on the lakes and remained In
that work about twcnty-thrao years , except
ing ttro llmo ho served in the Twelfth Illinois
Infantry. Iu 1S7S he reached Kansas , and In
duo tlmo pitched his tout about six miles
from Medicine Ledge , in Barber county ,
where bo has subsequently bean engaged in
farming and stock raising.
Ills political oxporlcnco has boon truly
tempestuous quite as stormv ns his llfo on
the lakes. An original abolitionist , so fnr ns
n bov could bo ono , ho cast his first vote in
1SC4 for Abraham Lincoln. Ho adhered to
the republican party till the grout financial
overturn of 187:1 : , thcnca became a grcen-
backnr , and in duo coursa of evolution nn al
liance nnd people's party man. Ho ran twice
for the legislature ns "nn independent nnd
lost the election both times by very small
pluralities. In 1890 ho reccivcd'JW.liSa vote
to 23,181 for James H. Hollowoll , republican.
Dr. C. W. Miicune.
Since tbn death of President Poll : , the
man occupying tha most Important place In
the National Farmers Alllanco and Industrial
Union has been Dr. C. W. Mncunc. Ho is
chairman of the national oxocjitivo board and
odltor-ln-chiot of the National Economist ,
the ofllelal organ of tbo national alliance ,
published nt the nntional headquarters ,
Washington , D. C. Ho is nlso nt the head ot
the Inrutt alliance publishing house at the
snmo place.
Dr. Mncuno was born on n Wisconsin farm
in 1851 , and U of Scotch-Irish descent. His
common school education , nt Frcoport , III. ,
wns supplemented by n course of law study
and afterward of medicine. IQ 1887 ho sat
ed down to practlco uuJIclna In Ml lain
county , Texas. His early llfo having been
passed on n farm , ho wns entirely familiar
with the conditions which gave risu to the
farmers alliance ; and after becoming a
member his services were soon in demand to
further the work of that organization In
Texas. Hu was llrst chairman of the state
executive board , then president of the state
alliance , und later , president of the national
alliance , which position no held until ISb'.l.
For some years previous to the St. Louis
convention , Dr. Macuno had given close
study to our financial system , out of which
thought ho formulated a report , which has
since become famous us "tho subircasury
plan , " the most vital feature of which ho
believes to bo the provision for a llexiblo
currency , conforming to the annual fluctua
tions iu HID money market caused bv tha
muvlng of the great crop * , cotton , corn nnd
wheat ,
W. A. rotlpr.
There Is n remarkable contrast between
John James Ingalls nnd his senatorial suc
cessor. William Alfred Poffor. True , both
are tall and thlu , but Ingallo Is thin llko n
yardstick , or nn Iron ramrod , whllo Poffor Is
thin like n Hiring. Ono somehow cots the im
pression that if Puffer should sit down hard
no would collapse , while If Ingalls should do
the same he would co through an ordinary
chair like n spike. His words como out llko
nrrows from n strong bow , \vhllo those of his
successor seem to How with n sort of soft
ministerial murmur. The dlfforonco is or
ganic it runs through the whulc physical
and mental structure , the one being sarcastic
and cutting , the olhorslngulnrlv mild , downy
nnd unnggrcssiva In general stylo.
William All red PclTor was born on a farm
In Cumberland county Pennsylvania , Sop.
tnmhcr 10 , 18I : ! , his parents being of German
blood. He gained his education at tbo com
mon schools , and became n teacher at the
early ago of 15. teaching In winter and work
ing on u farm in thu summer. In 1852 ho
married n lady whoso good Judgment has
uocii ut varv material iuo to htm. Her
father was William Barber , nn English Im
migrant , who built ttiu llr.t paper mill In
Cumberland county , Around bis mill u vil
lage grew up , now called Mount Holly
Spring * , and there they were married wlion
> ao was 20 years old ,
In Ib53 tnuy removed to St. Joseph county ,
Ind. ; tn lb5U to Morgan county , Mo. , und In
1WW to Illinois , where ho diluted In company
F of the Klgbty-tbiru Illinois Infantry. Ha
became lu turn lleuumuut , adjutant , rcgl-
mental quartermaster. 'Judge advocate of a
military commission and'dcpot quartermaster
nt Nashville. During till" this time ho sent
homo most of his italnryj nnd his wife In
vested It so Judtdnut't that they were In
good fix financially to "ho close of the wnr.
Ho had nlso studied \n\v \ In the Intervals of
camp duty nnd practiced nt Clarksvlllo ,
Tenn. , from 1805 to 1S70 , when ho removed
to Kansas.
It Is nn odd fact thnt ho published n "Tariff
Manual" In 1833 , , which the republicans
thought good oliough to use as a text book ,
though ha Is n very moderate protectionist.
His nrtlclo In The Forum on thu general con
dition of farmers attracted n great deal of
attention , and his iccocomlo work entitled
"Tho Wny Out , " published In IS'.K ) , has had
n wide circulation. Ho flatly declares that
whan ha wns a boy1 on his father's IUO aero
farm in Pennsylvania , when almost every
thing wns done uy band , tbo farmers were
really better off than now. lu short , ho
churns that owing ( o bad politics tha farmers
have loat the bor.olHs of progress and Inven
tion , nnd HO ho advocates tbo munpurcs pro
posed by the aU'.niice. Ha Is nlso n pro-
ulbilionlstln principle nnd n consistent mum
mer of the church.
A very curious complication was developed.
Mr. Taubcncck certainly did resemble Carr ,
alias Hoeers , except thnt ho was very much
taller , and it so happened that ho had gene
to Dakota some tinia before Ca.-r , alias Itog-
OH , was arrested , and returned after the
lattcr's release. He was nominated ns nn in
dependent candidate , nnd then t ho peniten
tiary story was started , nnd coed Judges
Ihlnk this caused hl.s election , as many ot his
old neighbors nnd friends got Indignant on
his behalf. Sufllco It to add that his Inno
cence was conclusively proved , nnd on the
151th ballot the independents lu tha legisla
ture united with tbo democrats , and Ucnoral
Palmer was made senator. Mr. Taubonouk
U an alllanco man from away back nnd en
thusiastic for the pboplo's party ,
Alonio Wnrdnll.
If , in this composite nation of ours , there
bo a typo distinctively American , then Mr.
Alonzo Waruall is ono nf Its clear-cut roprc-
bcntalivcs. Born in 1S4. > , in a Wisconsin log
cabin , before Wisconsin 'vas a. state , Mr.
Wardall has lived n frontiersman all his life.
Farm work nt early morning and late night ,
\\lth country school sandwiched between
took ap the winters of'his ' boyhood until ho
went a soldiering. All through Ibo wnr ho
went without n scratch or ono sick day. His
superabundant How off animal spirits , his
quick perception of tbo humorous , impirted
strcngtn and lent.-support in many n doleful
situation. Always ns full ot jollity nnd
Jokes , iiuaint aml.oricinul , as of bravo endur
ance a'fftl strong-ar.nud helpfulness for n sicker
or wounded comrade , no long march fagged
him. . No lack of hard lack checked his
ch6erlncss.u < . . < , H- . . --U _
Homo from Iho war bcfSro ho was 20 , ho
entered Ccdur Valloy.scmmary , Wisconsin ,
where ho graduated after four years. Mr.
Wardall's splendid health has enabled him
to do hard farm worU Hut would have
broken down most men ; yet , withal , his
reading was kept up. and his earnest thought
wns constantly sceKh.t : ways nnd menus to
lend n hund to such ai had fallen behind in
the life struggle.
When the old Wisconsin home became tro
closely environed by civill/atlon , the pioneer
spirit of Mr. Wardull took him to a newer
spclion of counlry in Iowa. About this time
the grange movement sprung up and in Its
activities ho found elbow room for largo ,
helpful work. Ho was one of the chief
leaders lu the people's revolt tn Iowa wlilch-
changed the political complexion of that
state several years ace , nnd compelled atten
tion to the need's and wishes of llio farmers.
The accomplished jivorte of clvili/'ition
crowded once again and love of pioneering
drew Mr. Wardull Dakotuward. Thn
grange , as a forerunner und preparation for
u larger scope of thoucbt touching the
problems and maladjustments of the busi
ness side of agriculture , had performed its
mission and declined , but the evolution of
thought went on nnd found expression in the
newer organization of the farmers alllanco.
Mr. Wardall was ono of Iho four or five
men whoso energy nnd ability organized the
alliance in Dakota'ntd ] gained for It that
fooling which made iljsomothlng of u dictator
in political mailers In that stnto. He Is a
member of llio executive hoard of the Na
tional Farmers Alllanca and IndustrialUnion ,
with headquarters lit Vasliingtun , D. C.
Ills time IB chiefly devoted to tha insurance
feature of Ihu organization. Mr. Wardall is
a strong advocate of woman suffrage , and Is
also Inclined to be something of u prohi
bitionist , but ho Is content to lot tboso Ideas
rest temporarily aud devote ins efforts to
putting the new party on Its feet.
O. M. Kom.
.Tho political revolution of 1890 was pro-
llllcof surprises , but In no district was the
surprise greater than Iji Ino Third Nebraska.
Messrs. Simpson , Pellor nnd ICylo are indeed
now men , but the Hon. Omor Mndison Kum
IK. if possible , n littla bit newer than either
ot them. A vary practical farmer nnd un
known oulsidoof his counlv , ho received the
Independent nomination for congress , put in
twelve weeks nt campaigning , with u sup
posed republican majority of l'J.030 In the
district , and defeated tha popular George W.
Dorsoy by Ill.SIll votes to SS.aflU.
Such factH would make n man prominent
in spite of himself , and Mr. Hem lias so far
bornu hU honors well. Ho wns born Novem
ber lit , 1855 , in vVnyuo county , Indiana , In
the most radical sec
tion of the famous
old "Burnt District , "
BO culled because It
was the original abolition
lition bolt of Indiantt ,
the district which
sustained George W.
Julian so long and
faithfully. Mr. iCom
was roared on u farm ,
received a common
school education ,
married at tlio ago of
JO , aud lu 188:2 : went
to Custcr county ,
Nebraska , nnd homesteaded -
steaded 100 acres three nnd a half miles from
"tho now thriving town'of ' Broken Bow , " us
tbc local account puta It.
In January , Ib93 , bo was appointed deputy
jf the county treasurer nr.d roniovod to
llrokcn Bow , was nonituntud ns n farmer. * '
man nnd elected to the Fifty-second con
gress as aforesaid. HU supporters proudly
mnounca thnl ho .spoke In every onu of the
llfly-slx counties of his district , made friends
jverywhero , nnd dldfiiil purchase n single
; lasn of liquor for InroHolf or nny ona also ,
lia has long bseu a'.i' n'Jvocalo in u quint
ivny of many of thu reforms demanded by
Ihu new party , assisted In organizing the
ullanco and has been an active nnd promi
nent member ol lt
Senator . ) , II , Kyln.
Senator James Henderson Kvio of South
Dakota ropr < 3U'i > U4uo possibilities of young
( \meriv.i , Ho Is tha incarnation of western
; np.iclty for sudden change nnd phenomenal
dull in seizing opportunities A Iltflo over
two yours ago hu wns as thoroughly obscure
is any younp missionary In thu west. In
February , 1801 , thu South Dakota legislature
icnt. him lo the United Stall's sonata for
> lx years , und boMorthan all , perhaps , ho U
ibsolulclv unpledged to any man or pint-
[ orm , am ) has free courio to run and bo
'lorlUod.
Ho lias views , however , aud very decided
ones. Ho calls himself nnd Indecrnt thnt Is
hnlf dctnocint ana wholly independent be
lieves In the general principles of the farm
ers alliance , wants a heavy reduction ot thn
tariff , no nntional banks nnd n .system of tax
ation which will check Iho present tendency
toward the concentration of wealth. Ho was
born ncarXenlnO. , February 24,1851 , nfScolcJi
paronis , nnd wns graduated from Oberlln
college In l.W , studied law nwhlle , but
chanced his mind nnd took n course nt the
Wosiern Theological soralnnry nt Allogunny ,
I'n , , from Which ho wns graduated li ISs'J.
Allor Ihrco years lu Utah ho located al Ab
erdeen , S. D. , In 1SS5.
On July 4 , IS9J , his hour slruck. his slar
nroso , his good goutua got on deck , or-any
other metaphor you
care ( o use. The people
ple had gathered to n
big Fourth of July
celebration , the oca-
lor of Iho day failed
lo arrive and Iho
managers iisltcd Iho
preacher who bud In
voked the dlvltio
blessing on tho.cxor-
clses to sny n few
\vords. HaspoUoJust
'half an hour and cap
tured the nudlcnco.
His thcmo was Briefly
luis : The concenlrn-
lion of wcallh Is thu
ruin ot A republlclt ; has destroyed all frco
governments where It has prevailed , nnd at
present rr.tos will soon destroy this ; there
fore the farmers nnd oilier laborers must act
together nud devise n fiscal unit industrial
system which will rovorjo the present
process.
The applause wns great nnd In n few days
the orulor was Iho most talked about man In
that section. At the next clpclluu ho was
chosen slnto senator. The legislature had n
deadlock Just llko that In Illinois. Whether
" " made charged
nny "uirnngemont" was ns
need not bo discussed hero. Sufllce It that
the democrats In South Daknln gave way
ami Joined In clccliug n third party man ,
nud tlio third party man In tha Illlno'is leg
islature Joined In electing General Palmer ,
democrat.
To call It a surprise would bo too mild a
term. A majority of the politicians of his
stnlo did not even know him by sight. His
colleague for the next four years , Senator
Pettiiirow. and tha man whoso plnco ho
"
takes , Senator Moody , had seen "him but
once before ho entered congress , nnd Ihun
but for a few minutes. Ho is quite uncon
ventional , out fell in readily with. Iho ways
of the senate. And finally ha is six feet high
und well muscled , n Ccnprcgallounllst
preacher nnd an advocate of piohlblllon nnd
woninu suffrage.
.1. II.Vonvor. .
"Who can bo found to boat Weaver ! "
This was the long standing conundrum for
tbo republicans of the Sixth lown district ,
and ut tha first they did not solve It for
themselves. The democrats did It for them
by nominating another man. After this ,
however. General Weaver came ngain , nnd
only the flood ot 18SS enabled the republi
cans to elect Hon. John F. Lucoy of Oska-
loosa.
General Weaver's success is duo to his na
tive abilities , his brilliant army record , the
popular confidence in his Integrity , to his
winning manners and to n great extent , it
must be admitted , to the weakness of bis
opponents. Ho was born in Dayton , O. ,
Juno 12 , ISIiJ , was graduated at the law
school of the Ohio
university at Cincin
nati in 1S5I , enlUtod
ns n private nt the
beginning of the
war , ana advanced
in rank with a rap
idity equaled in very
few cases. Ho was
elected llrst lieuten
ant of company G of
the Second lown in
fantry , attained Ibe
rank of mnjor Octo
ber I ) , 1S02 , and as
both liie colonel and
lieutenant 'worn
killed at the balllo of Corinlh , hova made
colonel. Finally ho was brcvellcd btlKadicr
general "for gallanlry on Iho Hold lo date
from March 13. ISrtt. "
In 1800 ho wus oiocted district attorney of
the Second Judicial district of Iowa , and in
Ih07 wns appointed assessor of inlernal
revenue for Iho Fifttt dislricl of the slate , an
ofllco he hold for six years. Ho llicn edited
"
the lown Tribune of" Dos Monies , and was
olocled as nn Independent republican lo Ibe
Forty-sixth congress. Mun of his way of
thinking , however , were even ihou organiz
ing a now party , and in ISbO he became tbo
greenbuckers' candidate for pru-tidcnt. Ex
cluding doubtful und fusion tickets bo re
ceived H07.7-IO votes. Ho then resumed pri
vate llfo and professional duties for n time ,
but In IbS 1-0 was re-olected to congress , us
aforesaid.
No man in the Fiftieth congress wns boiler
informed on parliamentary rules , as ho con-
cluMvcly proved uy holding the house in a
deadlock for several days on a question re
garding the Oklahoma reservation. Even
then ho was regarded us n sort of ntormy
petrol in politics , not a str'aiphlout democrat ,
and certainly not n republican. In his llrst
campaign ho scarcely had the backing of anv
party , and his nomination was , in Iho poll-
ueian's phrase , "decidedly irregular , " yet
hu miido a crossroads canva s among Iho
[ armors and defeated ono of Iho brainiest re
publicans in Ihu state.
In IbM the republican candidate , Captain
Frank T. Campbell , was n national baniccr :
so thu old grecnbacKors rallied lo General
Weaver , and in ISbO something else handi
capped Ibc republicans. Seeing him thus
victorious in n confessedly republican dis
trict , the country began to look nn General
Weaver us a inuscol , but in 18Sb tbo repub
licans succeeded in uniting on u strong man ,
nnd remanded the general to private llio nud
people's party politics.
MI-H. .M , i ; . I , < MNO.
Kansas has n trio of whom nil the world
has heard PolTor , Simpson aud Lonso. Per-
imps this Is not a very pollto way of staling
It , for the last named is n lady , but ns sbo is
as good a politician as either of the others ,
and n far moro effective orator , lot It stand.
She Is of Irish birth and about 40 years old ,
yet she wns as obscure ns any other farmer's
wife , when she suddenly ulazed forth nnd
astonished Ibo counlry in the cnmnalgn of
1890. Women do such Ihlng * In ICiuisns.
The parents of Mrs. Mary E. Lease oral-
graiod lo tlio United States when she was n
child , and her father and two brothers gave
their lives for Iho causa of Iho union. Ono
brother died In Auderfionvlllo prison. She
married quite young , has several children ,
aim her homo Is In Wichita , where her hus
band Is n drugplsi. When her children got
old enough not to need constant attention ,
or , moro correctly speaking , wnon llio older
ones got nblo to take care of thoyoungor , she
resumed llio Hludlos which her early mar
riage had slopped.
From her experience she had concluded
thnt the llfo of the average wife nnd mother
is too narrow and therefore has a tendency
to belittle the Intellect. Deomlui ; law thu
bott science to develop Iho Intellect , nho stu
died It long ami earnestly and was admitted
to the bar , She is
still a member of the
Wichita bur , but her
eloquence Is no-.v
exerted In a much
wider field. Many
enthusiastic admir
ers buy she l the
smartest woman in
Amcilca , whllo as
many critics sny Hint
humiylo Is pain fully
masculine and vitu
perative , and hur
expressions of veil-
gcanco unwomanly. '
She was a irrout factor -
tor In defeating Sen
ator Ingulls , and hU
comment is highly
relished by her op
ponents. Ha suld , when she spoke of him
after hU defeat , "Tell her that men's enmity
ends with thu battle ; only woman and sav
ages scalp the dead , "
Her speech before the Women's Christian
Temperance union at Washington created
something very llko a not Indeed , It would
have been n riot lu u meeting of men. tlio
wus tbo hut speaker on thu program for thu
day and had not proceeded fur uofora there
was hissing. Shu declared that slio was
need to tuuv uud woat ou. Sbo shouted that
ns to Iho farmers nlllanco congressmen.
'neither the liquor trnftlo , Wall street nor
the gates of hull shall prevail ng.ilnst thorn ! "
nnd several of the ladles loll the hall. H
wns scripture , b'lt ' tuoy were nol used to it
In such a connection.
She Is not pretty , nnd nollhor Is she bad
looking , lu build she is what n man would
bo called "wiry" that Is , dellc.uo looking ,
but vigorous. Her volco is splendid and her
endurance Is very grenl. She Is of course an
ardent ndvocnto of Uio pcoplo'.s party doc
trines. She inny bo styled the Miriam of the
exodus , the Joan of Ave of the opening war ,
Iho slormy petrol of Kansas politics , or nny
other Utlu that Indicates during , dovoilou and
a certain divine fury.
Ignatius notinrlty.
Ignatius Donnelly may bu portrayed as
lawyer or congressman , 'reformer , literary
man or politician , nud in each and nil these
roles ho Is tbo finmo brilliant and errnlle ,
sometimes provoking and always interesting
character. His Hist battle royal was with
"Iho Washburncs , " and it is scarcely
necessary lo ndil Hint ho was badly defeated.
His last , with the Pioneer Press of St. Paul ,
was not loss disastrous. In the nicanlliflo he
has tackled tlio geologists , the niillqunrlnns
and uelleveis in Shnkospo.iro , Iho banker *
nnd Iho railroads , bus been occasionally suc
cessful , and has always furnished u good
dual of fun.
Even his name Is suggestive of trouble ,
for the Doiinellys of Ireland were lighters
from away back , whllo St. Ignatius , ns all
readers of church history remember , lived
at uar with the party In power nnd died by
Iho tooth of v.'lld beasts hi n Kotnan amphi
theater. It Is only n coincidence , but an odd
one , that the dispute about the genuineness
of Ignatius' uplsilu-i has bean ten ttmoi hot
ter and forty times longer than that about
Shnkospenro. This modern Ignatius wns
born In Philadelphia November a , 1S31 ,
graduated from the high school there ,
studied law and wns admitted lo practlco In
18SJI. Ho married In 1M , " and located In St.
Paul In ISoO , slnco which time his political
career has been varied aud yet on the whole
successful.
Ho began Ufa as nn nrdont domocrnl , and
as such ran for the legislature , In Pennsyl
vania , but wns doleated. His llrst success
was in being elected
llculpuant governor
of Minnesota. Hu
was re-elected In IbOl ,
nnd having become u
pronounced republi
can on war and'slav-
ery issues , wns elect
ed to tno Thirty.
eighth , Thirty-ninth
nnd Fortieth con
gresses. His verbal
sot-lo with n follow , . , ; !
member In 1SOS wa ra
ono of tlio conprcs f
slonul scandals of Iho
tlmo. Both gcntln-
mon were severely coniured by ether speak
ers , nnd Mr. Donnelly was at ono lima
thought to bo in danger of expulsion , but n
humorous .suggestion that the disputants
'Imllalo the two secretaries ( Thomas and
Stanlon ) and go out and take a drink , " re
stored the liouso to good humor and the pro
ceedings were dropped.
Ho win pronounced "pililicily doid" and
went into litomluro. After various minor
works , among llieui nn "Essay on Iho Son-
nols of Shakespeare , " ho produced "Allan-
Us , llio Anlediluvinu World , " nn nttompt
to show that nn Immense island continent
once oxtcnddd from Iho West Indies almost
to Europe ; thnl civilization originated tliero
and spread lo belli Ihu adjacent continents :
that this land sank , nud that tbo islands are
merely such parts of it ns were too lnph to
bo submerged. Antiquarians tintiuniously
looked on this book ns a uicru intellectual
"sport , " like these works written ostensibly
to prove that tliero was no such man as
Bonaparte. Ciciar , etc. Although convinced
in llmo that thu author really meant il , they
declined lo consider it seriously.
K .j j.i. .
" "
attempts to prove that tho'cla.\veinvol"otc. ,
of the drift resulted from the contact of u
comet or fomo wandering planet with the
earth. In the meantime ho had engaged in
fanning In the northern part of Minnesota ,
and , according to his account , lost all no put
Into It , which prepared him for taking nn
uctlvo part in the farmers alliance raovo-
ment. Ho has since secured u competency
by professional and literary labor nud lives
in the. enjoyment of rural 'llfo in a mansion
overlooking the Mississippi at Niumgcr ,
Minn.
iliihn II. I'ou-crs.
J. H. Powers was born in St. Clnlr county ,
Illinois , in Iblil. A short time after his birth
his parents moved to La Sallo county , Illi
nois , where young Powers rocalvcd a com
mon school education nnd later became n dis-
irictHcuoot teacher. At tha breaking out , of
thu war ho enlisted in the Ono Hundred nnd
Fourth Illinois infantry and fouL'ht through
out tha conflict , returning lo his homo In La
Sallo county when punoj wns declared. In
lbi : , with his family ho settled in the south
ern part of Hall county , Nebraska , where for
fourteen j oars ho wns engaged in Iho busi
ness of farming. At Iho end of Hint tlmo Mr.
Powers roniovod to Hitchcock county , where
tie lias , since lived and followed farming as n
profCHslon.
In thu anil-monopoly movement of 1SS1
Mr. Powers llgured
only us n local chlat ,
hut when Ihu
farmers alliance iu
Nebraska was or
ganized Mr. Powers
came lo Iho front ns
ono of its most
trusted loaders. Ho
drafted much of tha
constitution of tha
party us It now ex-
Isls , nnd for four
yours has beau president -
ident of Iho stnta or-
gunuation , Insl year
occupying llio posi
tion ot nntional pros-
dent of Iho northwest nssoclnllon. IIo Is n
ruirgod. gray-whiskered man of ( W , somewhat
nustr.ro in manner , but thoroughly In earnest
in tils championship of thu causa of the
farmer.
Si-nntor Wllllnin M. SImrart.
' ' nlnco In nomination
The poople's p'irty imy
tion for president , William Morris
Stewart , United States .senator from
Novar'n , and ono of tha best known
men In the wosMr. . Stowutt was horn In
Wayne cojnly , Now York , August i ) , Ib27 ,
but was taken while n small child by his
paronis to Trumbtill county , Ohio. Ho at
tended the L > ons.Unlon school and tno Farm-
Ingtnn academy , n'l.d taught mathomnlies In
the former school whllo yet u pupil. Hon.
James C , Smith , ono of thu Judges of thu su
preme court cf Now Yoik , look n fancy 10
young Stewart nnd aided him In taking n
course ol Btudy at Ynlo college. But llio
course was not completed. Young Stowurt
caught the gold fever nud went to California ,
arriving In Sail Vranolsco In May , 1 WO. Ho
Immediately began work with u pick and
shovel , und accumulated some cash. In
Ih.VJ hu commenced llio study of law , and in
December following wns appointed district
attorney , lo-clcctod to the nlllcotliu following
year , nnd In 151 was appointed attorney
general of California. IIo moved to Virginia
City , XNovndn , in IbuO , nnd was Interested In
early minlmr litigation and the development
ol Iho Comslock lode. Ho wns u member of
Iho territorial council in lb'11 und ot thu con.
stltultonnl convention in lull : ) , was
elected United Stales senator In
18(11 ( , and ro-elcctcd In IM''J. in Ib7. <
ho resumed the practice of law In Nevada
und California und ' .vas thus engaged whan
elected lu Ilia United States senate as a re
publican In 1837 lo succeed James G. Fair ,
democrat. Senator hlownrl lives al Carson
City. _
Tlionm * I. , U'fitxoii.
Congressman Thomas 1C. Watson of Thomp
son , Ga. , Is likely lo bo thu vice presided *
tlal nominee , whoever is named for thu llr&t
plnco. Ho Is Ml years of ago , n nallvn of
Georgia and has been a schoolteacher , law
yer , funnel' und politician , Hu was n mem
ber of Ihu Georgia legislature InlsSJanda
democratic olcctor lu lb . Hu wus elected
to congress as a democrat.
DenverKopubllcan ( rep. ) : Of courss Judga
Grcslicm will not make n national laughIng -
Ing stock of himself by consenting to bucomo
a candidate for proildoit before llio Omaha
convention. Hu U u reformer , but hu U not
a blanked fool.
ORIGIN OF THE PARTY
History of the Stops Loading to a Coalition
of the Reform Forces.
FIRST STEPS BY SOUTHERN FARMERS
Created in Texas to Prevent Further Spoilt *
tiou of the Public Lands.
POLITICS BARRED OUT AT THE BAPTISM
Wonderful Rise and Growth and Woeful
Fall of the Grange Movement ,
NORTHERN FARMERS ESPOUSE THE CAUSE
Itoxlow < if the Various OrgiiiiUatloni nuil
Their riiml Union nt drain nml St.
l.oiii * Tin t form nil \Vlilch
Omiiliu llclocntcx Stand ,
A Httlo mora than twonty-flvo years ago
thu move was made that gave the farmer *
nlluiTico its start.
Soon utter the close of the war President
Johnson sent an ngont into the southern
states to invuulgnlo the condition of the
fanners in Hint suction nml raport the result
of his Investigations. Ono of the results ol
that Journey was the organization of what
was known us the Patrons of Husbandry ,
commonly cnlloa the grange. It was organ
ized in the city of Washington oy seven per
sons , nil but oi < o of whom were employed In
various departments of the government.
The object was to organize the farmers ,
not only of the south but of nil parts of the
country , for purpose * of mutual protoctlou
ngalnsi the encroachments of organized cap.
ilal.
Atttmt tlmo the condition of the publia
mind in the south was suspicious and fever
ish ; the people were distrustful of nil propo
sitions or n social or political character which
did not originate among themselves ; bouci
thu now organization was not received kindly
by the persons for whom it was chloily in" ,
tended.
Itlsii and Full of thn ( IraiiRC.
The grange , however , grow with creal
rapidity , spreading all over the country , o
Unit within the next seven years Its mem
bership was numbered bv hundreds of thou
sand.1 ! . Hut It lacked discipline , and after o
wonderful growth of nine years it quite as
rapidly receded from public view.
While it was the intention of the organis
ers that none but these directly interested iu
iiKrlculturo should bo members , there wo
nothing in tno constitution of tbo body to prevent
vent nuy one from coming in , ana In Now
York and Boston , nnd sovoraL. other large
cities , lawyers , bankers , loan agents , indeed ,
all classes of professional men , were mem
bers of the grange ; In some instances , even
stock gambtori posed as pr.mgcrs. It was
solely in order to relieve the body of this
class of its members that u national mooting
ol the patrons was called nt ot , Louis In 1874 ,
ut\vhieh1timoBUj-.p ( oathorough , revision
of the condtituliou , lTcetoclr < nltlng thu
membership to the class that it was oripliu
ally Intended should form the working body
of the order.
The action of that convention cut oft every
person who was not either practically en
gaged in the work of farming , or was so
closely connected with it as to bo tc all In-
touts and purposes a farmer. This Included
agricultural editors und these who wcro in
any way directly interested in the practical
work of fanning. From tnat tiino forward
the grange membership diminished yearly ,
and nt the tlmo of the celebration of tha
nation's centennial anniversary , two years
later , the ordar had ceased to ho strong- ,
cither socially or politically , nnd about thai
tlmo ' .he gran go as an organization practi
cally passed out of notice.
Illrth of thu Funnum Alliance.
As a child of the grange the farmers nlll-
anco was born. The llrsl effort was made In
Texas , tin- direct object of that llrst organ ! *
nation baing to oppose the spoliation ol tha
Duullc lands of the Louo Star state- .
Bodies of speculators were gathering up
these lands for the purpose of bringing to
themselves wealth out of the Increase in
their value , and tno farmers insisted thatlho
public interests should taka precedence of
lliose of private Individuals.
For two years the movement was purely
local , and it was than deemed advisable to
enlarge the scope nnd worlc of the alllanco ,
so us to taka lu the farmers of the entire *
state and deal with publio altalrj gonorallv.
This extension of the purposes of the alllanco
occurred iu 1879.
1'olltlcs Ilurrml ut tlio IliiptUin.
In organizing the state alllanco everything
of n partisan natiiro was excluded , Its funo.
lions "being educational and IU Held of
operations limited only by the boundaries ol
human exertion. " Its purposes were dc.
clared to bo as follows : (1) ( ) "To labor for
the oducallo.1 of the agricultural classes Iu
tuo science of economical govern
ment in n strictly noiipartlsan spirit ;
K ) to develop n bettor state , mentally , mor
ally , socially mid financially ; ( ! ) ) to create a
better understanding for sustaining civil
ofhccrs In maintaining law and order ; ( I ) con
stantly to strive to bccure entire harmony
and good will among nil mankind and broth
erly love among ourselves ; (0) ( ) to suppress
personal , local , bcctlonal and national preju
dice , all unhealthy rivalry and all selfish
amultlon. " The declaration of purposes also
declared that the laws of the farmora
alllanco "aro reason and equity ; Its cardinal
doctrines inspire purity of thought nnd llfo ,
and Us intentions are peace on earth and
good will toward men1 Those were tha
fundamental principles of the organization.
Driuv tliu Color I.lno.
In IBS ? , the Texas state alliance was form'
ally organized , and Its membership was llm-
lied to white persons , lu four years , eighty-
two counties had become interested In mid
Identillod with thu work of the now order.
A meeting was held at Waco , January 17 ,
Itjs7 , for the purpose of taking stops to
bring Into harmony with the alllanco anotuct
orguiil/atlon of farmer * in the state of Louis
iana , known as the "Farmers Union. " Dolo.
gates from the union wore present and tha
two bodies united , taking the name of tin
"Farmers Alllanco ami Co operative Union
of America , " with C. W. Macuno ai Itspresl *
dent.
Sprimd to Othnr SI nt in.
Measures wcra taken at that mooting tt
extend thu organUallon Into other states ,
and In a short time the farmers alllanco wu
opuratlng In Missouri , Kentucky , Tonnessoa
North Carolina , South Carolina , Georgia ,
Alabama and MUslsslppi.
At that tunu another farmers' organiza
tion known as tha "Agricultural Wheel , "
was operating In the status of Arkansas ,
Missouri and Tennessee , the movement hav
ing begun in IBS. ! .
A meeting was held at Shreveport , La. , In
October , Iss" , fur the purpose of merging-
the "wheel" Into the fanners alllanco , ana
the object wnt euccdfcslully accomplished.
At that meeting , the status of Texas , Louis
iana , Arkauais , Missouri , Tunnoisoo , Flori
da , Kontucicy , North Carolina and Kanias
wort ) prusnnt and participated. Tills new
organization , ombraclng the alliance , tha
union und the wheel , wus dually named thu
" Fiirmorti and Laborer * Uuiou of Ameri
ca. "
. .Motmiumt In the North unit Wont ,
It will to noticed that up to thli time tha
farmers alllanco wan almost excluiively a
southern institution , U wu > a luorot order
with gnpi and password * , It had taken no *
action whatever lu politic * except bjr way ot