"IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE" IN OREGON - Southern Oregon Digital ...

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elsewhere in the nation:
Believing that for thirty years the legislation of
our country has been in favor of
monopolies... destructive of a republican form of
government.... further that the Democratic and
Republican parties are so hopelessly under the
dominant power and control of organized capital as
to render them ineffectual....Now, therefore,
we... ask the aid and co-operation of all who
believe in a reform from the evils herein set
forth... This is a struggle of the people against
the plutocracy, and being fully aware of our
enemies' strength... let all our friends help. 25
People's Party Clubs proliferated throughout the
county's rural communities during the winter of 1891-92,
their membership generally coinciding with that of the local
Alliances.
Both Charles Nickell and William Leeds published
a steady stream of pleas to rural voters during the spring.
Nickell, claiming that "the real People's party is still the
democratic party," counseled wayward Democrats to "return
home to the old fold" and not to be duped by the Republicans
who stood to gain from Populist strength.
Leeds, sensing
profit from the local Populist movement, softened his
rhetoric while pointing out the dreamy impracticability of
many Populist proposals.
Both men obviously were troubled
by the insurgent challenge.26
25 "People's Party," DT, 18 Dec. 1891, 3.
26 "People's Party Speeches," AT, 4 Mar. 1892, 2; "The
People's Party," AT, 11 Mar. 1892, 3; "The People's Party
Meeting," DT, 11 Mar. 1892, 3; AT and DT, Mar.-May 1892,
passim.