The 1890s Populist Movement in Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 12/2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ The 1890s Populist Movement in Union Parish Louisiana As Told Through Articles from the Farmerville "Gazette" abstracted and edited by T. D. Hudson ================================================================================= ================================================================================= THE POPULIST MOVEMENT: Southern farmers attempting to recover from the economic depression that followed the War Between the States and Reconstruction faced repeated set-backs during the 1870s and 1880s. Farm prices fluctuated repeatedly during the 1870s before plummeting in the 1880s, causing many small farmers and sharecroppers across the South to become deeply in debt. These events rekindled long-term grievances the Southern and Western farmers held against the northeastern financial interests, who they blamed for the depressed economy. Groups such as the Farmers’ Alliance and Knights of Labor emerged throughout rural areas in the latter 1880s, and this led to the formation of the Populist, or People’s, Party in 1891. The Populists gained their primary support from the middle and lower-class white farmers, previously solid Democratic supporters. They had suffered from years of economic depression and saw the Populist platform as a way to improve their condition. However, race played a major role in American politics of that era, and the fear that a Democratic split could revive the old Republican–black alliance kept many Southern farmers firmly in the Democratic camp. Thomas Watson of Georgia energized the Populist movement in 1892. He condemned the lynching of Southern blacks and encouraged black males to vote. Watson urged Southern white farmers to overcome their antipathy toward blacks because both groups were suffering at the hands of the same oppressors – Northern industrialists. This was a radical political ideal for an era in which the concept of white supremacy permeated all aspects of American life. Additionally, the Populists were the first political party to actively include women in their affairs. They also advocated the free and unlimited coinage of silver to provide economic relief, arguing that silver should replace gold as the currency standard. Other Populist goals included public ownership of railroads and steamboat lines, banking reform, voting by secret ballot (public voting was still the common done in many areas), direct democracy, and the popular election of United States Senators. The Populists ran strong nationally in 1892, and in 1896, they managed to gain control of the Democratic Party through the concept of fusion and secure the nomination of William Jennings Bryan for President. Bryan’s narrow defeat severely damaged the Populist Party, and the movement lost steam and died out in the early 1900s. Ironically, the Democratic Party adopted many of the Populist ideals, and these became law in the early years of the twentieth century. THE POPULISTS IN LOUISIANA Building up to the 1896 election, the Populists attempted to sway black voters to support them instead of the Democratic establishment. While this worked to some extent in the hill parishes of north/central Louisiana, in the Mississippi Delta region, the wealthy Democratic plantation owners maintained control over their black sharecroppers, keeping them firmly in the Democratic column. The result was that, although they ran well, the majority of the statewide Populist candidates lost by slim margins in 1896. The strong showing of the Populist candidates across Louisiana and the South worried the Democrats, who realized that to retain their political power, they needed to neutralize the black vote. This quickly led to suffrage reform, laws enacted that required literacy and land ownership in order to register to vote, unless one’s father or grandfather had voted prior to 1867. These “Grandfather Clause” laws effectively prevented the vast majority of Southern blacks from voting. In fact, not one single black man registered to vote in Union Parish in 1898. Louisiana held a Constitutional Convention in 1898, one important goal of which was suffrage reform. Like most states across the South, Louisiana’s Grandfather Clause became law that year. This is an ironic outcome of the Populist attempt to improve racial attitudes and equality only a few years earlier. The Grandfather Clauses in the Southern states remained in effect until 1915, when the United States Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional. DUELING FARMERVILLE NEWSPAPERS: "GAZETTE" VS. "HERALD" District Court Judge James E. Trimble (22 Feb 1834 – 19 Dec 1887) founded the Farmerville “Gazette” in 1878. A Yankee by birth, Trimble was a professed supporter of U. S. Grant during the 1868 Presidential campaign, casting the only Republican vote for president recorded in Union Parish that year. After Trimble’s death in a shootout on the Farmerville streets in 1887, control over his paper passed to his sons. The younger Trimble brothers were firm supporters of the Democratic Party. When the Populist movement began in earnest in the 1890s, they wrote scathing editorials in the “Gazette” against the Populist ideals and principles, as well as the Populist candidates. To give the Populists a voice in print, Mr. B. T. Johnson founded the Farmerville “Herald” in late June 1895, and a Mr. Anderson later worked as editor on the paper. The two Union Parish newspapers frequently dueled in print over the differing political principles of the Democrats and Populists. Unfortunately, no issues of the “Herald” are known to have survived, so we only have the Democratic side printed in the “Gazette” to study today. The “Herald” remained in publication until after 1900, but as the Populist principles became absorbed into the Democratic Party platform and the influence of the Populists waned, the paper probably folded a few years after 1900. ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 4 April 1894, page 3, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Mr. J. C. Rockett authorizes us to announce that President Pickett and Lecturer Benoit, of the State Alliance, will be in Farmerville, April the 10th, to address the people of Union Parish. Everybody are respectfully invited to attend on that occasion, and especially all Alliance men. NOTE: The State Alliance was one of the groups that formed the core support of the Populist Party during the 1890s. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 4 July 1894, page 3, column 1 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Mr. R. W. Goyne has been appointed by the governor a member of the Parish School Board, for the Spearsville ward, vice J. H. Rockett, resigned. The new appointee qualified last week. Note: This article contains a typographical error - it should have said that J. C. Rockett had resigned. Joseph Cannon Rockett was first sworn in as a member of the Union Parish School Board on 6 October 1888. He was elected while still a Democrat, so his resignation may have been associated with his switching party affiliation from Democrat to Populist. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 5 September 1894, page 3, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== People Party Convention. ------- Pursuant to a call of the executive committee of the Peoples party of Union parish, La., delegates from the various wards met in the court house at Farmerville on Sept. 1st, 1894. House called to order by chairman of executive committee. On motion, E. A. Dawkins was elected temporary chairman and L. P. McDonald secretary. The chairman at once proceeded to appoint a committee on credentials as follows: J. C. Rockett, Hale Feazel and A. J. Roach. After the committee on credentials had reported E. A. Dawkins was elected chairman and Lopez McDonald, secretary. The following delegates were elected to attend the Congressional convention, which convenes at Monroe Sept. 6: Q. A. Hester H. D. Pardue Eli Rugg J. C. Rockett J. S. Cobb L. McDonald R. J. Tabor A. J. Roach J. A. Gordon E. A. Dawkins D. Jones J. M. Dawkins Mac Stancil Cole Calloway L. B. Hester Jno. Hester J. M. Gore R. H. Reed D. H. Webb William Feazel and W. A. Burk. The Convention then proceeded to elect members for the executive committee, as follows: J. M. Dawkins J. C. Rockett J. W. Pardue L. B. Hester S. Welch J. W. Halley R. H. Reed Jas Pearson J. A. Gordon and C. A. Callaway. The delegates elected to the congressional committee were instructed to support no man for Congress who does not fully endorse and pledge himself to support the Peoples party platform. E. A. DAWKINS, Chairman L. P. McDONALD, Secretary. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 25 December 1895, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The Populist parish convention was in session here Saturday presided over by Mr. J. E. Furgerson, of Shiloh, and its proceedings were written by Mr. C. L. Gunby, secretary. Delegates were elected to the state convention, to the senatorial convention and a member of the Populist state central committee was selected. A long set of resolutions, one of which contained a declaration for the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ration of 16 to 1, and another denouncing the proposed suffrage amendment to the constitution were adopted without a dissenting voice. A full ticket for all parish officers was nominated, and the following gentlemen compose that ticket: J. M. Dawkins, clerk; John S. Cobb, sheriff; C. L. Gunby, representative; A. C. Harper, assessor; Dr. A. R. Tarkington, coroner; S. L. Holmes, surveyor. J. C. Rockett was endorsed for state senator and C. B. Roberts for district attorney. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 8 January 1896, page 3, column 1 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Mr. C. B. Roberts, of this place, and J. C. Rocket, of Spearsville, departed yesterday for Alexandria, where they go as delegates to the Populist State Convention. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 15 January 1896, page 3, column 1 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Messrs. C. B. Roberts and J. C. Rockett returned Friday from the Third Party convention at Alexandria. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 19 February 1896, page 3, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Most of the Populist sheets of the State, by coming over to the fusion ticket, virtually say that a committee created by a convention is greater than the convention itself; in other words, that the creature is greater than the creature. But we are glad to see that there are still a few Populist papers that refuse to support that negro-tainted dicker. ------------------------------------------------------- The Populists of the 22nd senatorial district held their nominating convention last week, and we understand that Messrs. J. C. Rockett, of Union, and McDuffie, of Morehouse, were their nominees. Next April they will be elected -- to stay at home. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 22 April 1896, page 2, columns 2-4 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Tuesday's Results ---------- The election passed off quietly in Union parish and a full vote was polled. Complete returns will be found elsewhere. Telegrams from New Orleans dated early Wednesday morning say that Foster has carried the State by about 18,000 majority... -------------------------------------- Result of Tuesday's Election in Union Parish ---------- WARD ONE. Total vote cast 387. Baird 276 Rockett 99 WARD TWO Total vote cast 131. Baird 37 Rockett 85 WARD THREE Total vote cast 191. Baird 129 Rockett 50 WARD FOUR Total vote cast --- Baird 186 Rockett 146 WARD FIVE Total vote cast 291. Baird 38 Rockett 221 WARD SIX Total vote cast 177 Baird 76 Rockett 97 WARD SEVEN Total vote cast 255 Baird 71 Rockett 178 WARD EIGHT Total vote cast 445. Baird 247 Rockett 167 WARD NINE Total vote cast 176. Baird 75 Rockett 94 WARD TEN Total vote cast 343. Baird 63 Rockett 265 WARD ELEVEN Total vote cast 97. Baird 41 Rockett 50 -------------------------------------- Total Vote of Union Parish ---------- The following is the total vote of the parish cast at the general election of 1896 for the following officers: FOR GOVERNOR. Murphy J. Foster..................1281 John N. Pharr.....................1353 A. B. Booth.........................40 FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. R. H. Snyder, Jr..................1188 J. B. Kleinpeter..................1517 FOR SENATORS. R. B. Dawkins.....................1406 S. T. Baird.......................1239 J. C. Rockett.....................1461 J. W. Burt........................1271 FOR JUDGE. Allen Barksdale...................1463 E. H. McClendon...................1073 J. B. Holstead.....................193 FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY. J. D. Everett.....................1244 J. A. Richardson...................162 C. B. Roberts.....................1376 FOR REPRESENTATIVE. R. M. Gill........................1382 C. L. Gunby.......................1385 FOR CLERK. J. M. Smith.......................1441 J. M. Dawkins.....................1382 FOR SHERIFF. B. F. Pleasant....................1407 J. S. Cobb........................1407 FOR CORONER. C. H. Jameson.....................1388 A. R. Tarkington................. 1401 Total vote of the parish 2847. Full returns of the parish give J. M. Smith 59 majority, C. L. Gunby 3, A. R. Tarkington 13. B. F. Pleasant and J. S. Cobb made a tie. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 29 April 1896, page 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Lincoln Parish Vote ---------- The following is the vote of Lincoln parish as published in the Progressive Age: STATE TICKET. Foster.......................904 Pharr.......................1286 SENATE. Rockett.....................1179 Burt........................1209 Dawkins.....................1005 Baird........................926 JUDGE. Barksdale...................1343 McClendon....................617 Holstead.....................256 DISTRICT ATTORNEY. Everett......................577 Richardson...................542 Roberts.....................1069 REPRESENTATIVE. Pipes........................1224 Lomax........................1025 SHERIFF. Howard.......................1202 Warren.......................1078 CLERK. Williams.....................1163 Ford.........................1403 CORONER. J. R. Moore..................1053 C. H. Griffin.................968 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 29 April 1896, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Third Judicial District ---------- Judge Allen Barksdale and C. B. Roberts Esq. were elected judge and district attorney, respectively, in this district on the 21st inst. The following is the vote of each candidate: For Judge - Allen Barksdale 4112, E. H. McClendon, 3634; J. B. Holstead 605; Barksdale's plurality 478. For District Attorney - C. B. Roberts, 3370, J. D. Everett 2923, J. A. Richardson 2160; Roberts' plurality 447. ------------------------- R. B. Dawkins and S. T. Baird are the new senators from this district. They were both elected by good majorities over their Populist opponents, Rockett and Burt. The vote by parishes is as follows: Dawkins Baird Rockett Burt Union 1406 1220 1461 1271 Lincoln 1005 926 1197 1209 Morehouse 1156 1162 268 267 West Carroll 676 721 3 2 _____ _____ _____ _____ Total 4243 4029 2929 2749 ------------------------- Now that the election is over, let us lay aside all strife and feeling that was engendered in the campaign. Let us exert our best efforts and energies in the development of our section in all things that will make our people happier more prosperous and progressive. Farmerville's business and industries are on the wane, our citizens seem to be asleep. There are more vacant dwellings in Farmerville than we ever before knew. Our people must bestir themselves, wake up and do something for the betterment of themselves and the town, otherwise our once prosperous little city will dwindle away, people will move off, business will go elsewhere, and we will finally drift into a state of innocuous desusitude [sic - I'm not sure what this word is?]. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 6 May 1896, page 2, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== NOTE: The editors of the "Gazette" remained staunch Democrats through the rise of the Populist Party in north Louisiana in the 1890s. As the Populists gained popularity in the hill parishes of north/central Louisiana, the need arose for a newspaper in Union Parish written from a Populist slant. The Farmerville "Herald" debuted in late June 1895 and remained in publication until sometime after 1900. The article below is a response to an editorial published in the "Herald". Unfortunately, no issues of the "Herald" are known to have survived. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Estimating the White Vote. ----------- In quite a lengthy article last week our Populist neighbor, the Herald, endeavored to show that the negroes of this parish, who, by instinct as it were, still have an inclination to stick to the Republican party, forsook the Pop-Repub combine and voted the Foster ticket on the 21st ult. It is a well known fact that three-fourths of the colored voters of Louisiana, if left to vote uninfluenced, will slip in a Republican ticket; hence it follows that if the colored voters refused to support the combine ticket then the objectionable portion must have been the Populist adjunct to the combine and that objection overcame his Republican proclivities. But we do not believe such was the case. THE GAZETTE feels satisfied that where left uninfluenced the vast majority of negroes in the parish as well as throughout the state voted for their old love - the Republican party, and we are reliably informed that in many instances where the white planter favored the Democratic ticket he could not induce his colored laborer to vote against the Republican ticket. The negro naturally feels wedded to the Republican party, and hence it is reasonable to suppose that as a rule he voted for their nominees. In the Times-Democrat of May 3rd there appears a carefully compiled statement giving the estimate of white votes cast for both Foster and Pharr. According to these figures Foster had a majority of white votes in 41 parishes, amounting to 44,222, while Pharr's white majorities in 12 parishes aggregated 5829, and in 6 parishes the white vote was equally divided, thus showing a net white majority for Foster of 37,393. Of course there is no way of separating, with any degree of certainty, the white vote from the black, but these figures are considered a conservative estimate of the caucasian vote received by the two candidates. It will be seen, therefore, if this estimate is any where near correct, that Foster's white majority was more than 10,000 above his total majority in the state, which makes it highly probable that Pharr received the bulk of the colored vote. If this be true in the State as a whole, without evidence to the contrary, it is presumed to be also true in the hill parishes of Louisiana, even including Union parish, the assertion of the Herald to the contrary notwithstanding. In its article the Herald proceeds to lay down six statements which it says THE GAZETTE knows. However much we feel disinclined to admit that we are not as wise as our neighbor gives us credit for being, candor forces us to say that we do not know all the Herald man says we do. THE GAZETTE does know, however, that "there are as good men in the People's party as can be found in the parish," but it also knows that their leaders placed them into awful bad company when they associated themselves with the Cage, Demas & Co. stripe of politicians, and made an alliance with the former Republican plunderers of Louisiana in the hope of getting into office. THE GAZETTE further knows that many of the better element of the Populist party in this parish regretted that alliance, and had it not been for the strenuous efforts of a few of the leaders to hold the party together in the hope of riding into office through the strength of the combine, that combine would have been the rock upon which the Populist party organization in this parish would have been dashed to pieces. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 13 October 1897, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== A Big(?) Mass Meeting. ----------- A mass meeting of the Populists of Union parish was called to assemble in Farmerville last Saturday. We reckon the mass meeting assembled; at least some of the "big guns" of the Populist persuasion were on hand. And for this reason we guess it could properly be called a big(?) mass meeting. District Attorney Roberts was there, also Representative Gunby, likewise Treasurer Dawkins, Editor Anderson, Recent Populist Senatorial Candidate Rockett, and Religious Expounder Calloway. In fact, incredible as it may seem, there were during the meeting the big number of fifteen to twenty-five persons present, including Populists - officials and high privates in the rear ranks - Democrats, "non-politicians" and boys. At no time was there over twenty-five persons in the house and we don't think the number ever dwindled down to less than fifteen. The following delegates were elected to represent Union parish in the Monroe convention: J. C. Rockett W. S. Pickens C. L. Gunby L. P. McDonald B. O. Bird Hale Feazel M. H. Stancil S. J. Wall E. A. Dawkins R. M. Tatum W. N. Feazel J. E. Ferguson Geo. Roberts J. W. Halley Evidently the Populist cause is waning in the parish. Chairman Dawkins made the public admission at Saturday's meeting when delegates were being chosen, that "it seemed mighty hard to find Populists. They seemed to be very scarce from this convention." Really they had to take among delegates above named a gentleman who is not entirely in accord with their movement. That gentleman upon being asked if he belonged to the Populist crowd, replied that he belonged to no crowd at all. He seemed to be in the wrong pew, taking a back seat and not tarrying long in the reform meeting. As a further evidence that the Populist movement is on the decline in this neck-o'-the-woods, Populist Representative Gunby stated in the meeting that it was a "mighty hard matter to get the Populist executive committee to come out." When it is considered that these discouraging admissions regarding the party's progress were made by its leading and most hopeful lights, we can only imagine that a funeral will soon be preached. Don't jump out of the traces, Parson Calloway, you may be needed to preach the funeral sermon yet. It's unkind to desert a dying friend. Above all the Populists appear to be afraid of fusion. The ghost of that "animal" causes the reform leaders to literally shake in their boots with fear and trembling. The mere mention of the word "fusion" will cause a greater uproar and stir in a Populist meeting in Union parish than did the sudden and unheralded approach of a band of war-like Apaches in the days of bloody Indian warfare on the western borders. That big mass meeting "resoluted" unanimously against fusion of any sort, color or description. In the language of the chairman, they showed that they had "darn little confidence" in anything. They are constantly expecting to be "tricked," and appear to have lost faith in even their own leaders. The big leaders are watched by the small leaders with suspicion, and thus do the rank and file of the party watch the would-be local leaders. At the same time the rank and file of the Populist party are learning that there is nothing in politics for them, except loss of time in attending mass meetings and conventions and consequent neglect of their farm interests. They have rightly concluded that their welfare and prosperity depend upon how well they attend to their private affairs. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 17 November 1897, page 3, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The Populists of Union parish held another one of their "rousation" mass meetings at the courthouse Saturday. Despite the fact that the meeting was muchly advertised, our temple of justice could easily have seated a crowd several times as large as was present on that occasion. Mr. J. C. Rockett was nominated as Populite candidate for delegate to the proposed constitutional convention from this parish. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 15 December 1897, page 3, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== THE GAZETTE congratulates our fellow-townsman, Senator R. B. Dawkins, upon his nomination as one of the delegates at large to the constitution convention by the Democracy of Louisiana. Senator Dawkins is just the kind of a man who is needed to remodel the organic law of the state. He possess the ability and experience to know what is needed in that direction, and his high sense of honor and integrity will not permit him to be controlled by designing political tricksters. With a constitutional convention ruled by such men as R. B. Dawkins, the people of Louisiana can rest easy as to the soundness of the organic law they will put forth. --------------------------------------------- By reference to the proceedings of the parish Democratic convention which was reconvened last Saturday, to nominate a candidate from Union parish as delegate to the constitutional convention, vice Mr. W. W. Taylor resigned, it will be seen that the honor has fallen upon the shoulders of ex-Senator E. T. Sellers. Capt. Sellers has accepted the nomination, and promises to make an active and interesting campaign, interesting at least to the Populist nominee. And if the rank and file of the Democratic masses throughout the parish do their duty Capt. Sellers will be heard in the halls of the constitutional convention. Capt. Sellers served in both branches of the State legislature from this parish and he is an affable and forcible speaker. For the past several years he has been president of the Calhoun Fair Association, and is thoroughly identified with the interests of our farming people. The friends of agriculture will have an able representative in the convention in the person of Capt. Sellers. --------------------------------------------- Populist Meeting. ----------- To THE GAZETTE: -- In accordance to their advertisement, the great and only Populist party had their blowout at this place on the evening of the 9th inst. The peeling of the town bell called together a crowd to the public hall, where they met Mr. Anderson of your city who proceeded to give them the usual remedy for the ills of our people. The meeting was composed of 12 Democrats, 5 Populists and 6 kids, 5 of whom are being raised on milk from Democratic cows. The speaker must have taken in the situation, for he addressed himself particularly to them. He diagnosed the disease of the Democratic party, and offered as one antidote the promises of the Populist, who would issue them paper money in any quantity at 2 per cent. on good collaeral. The effect of his speech is seen, by some of the 'kids' looking for collateral. Ignoring the constitutional convention in toto the speaker closed in usual form by making the only point of the evening, sitting down. "GAZETTEER." ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 22 December 1897, page 2, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== A Word to You, Voter. The election in January is for the purpose of choosing delegates to a constitutional convention to be held in February next, the object of which is to recast the organic law of the state. Paramount among the duties of that body will be the reformation of our judiciary system and the suffrage question. There will be other duties before the convention, but these two questions will be the leading issues before that body. To whom, voter, will you intrust [sic] this task? There are two lists from which you may select the men whom you would have to deal with these questions. The Democrats have put out a ticket of thirty-six men, whose ability and patriotism is known throughout the state, men whose whole interest lies in the well-being and good government of Louisiana, and men who have no interest nor design in framing a constitution hurtful to the people of the state. Opposed to these, the Populists and Republicans combined have placed before the voters thirty-six names, the great majority of whom are scarcely known beyond their respective parishes and of whose ability the public is not informed. Besides, among these thirty-six, nineteen are Republicans still holding to all the doctrines of that party that so grievously cursed and robbed Louisiana in years past, and high among these thirty-six we find the names of A. T. Wimberly and C. B. Darrell, whose lives and conduct, if they call for anything, speak for the equality of the negro with the white man. C. B. Darrell and A. T. Wimberly, who with the notorious negro, Demas, control the Republicans of Louisiana, and to-day are laboring hard against calling the convention, that they may preserve to the ignorant negro the right to vote, not that they love the voter so well, but that they may profit by his vote. With these two notorious Republicans the Populists of this state have joined hands, and by their acts are declaring that there shall be no reformation of the judiciary system, nor shall there be any elimination of the ignorant negro voter, but that he shall continue to remain as an irritating sore in our body politic. Oh, ye gods! what has become of the loud protestations of the Populists for ballot reform? Have they forgotten that the ignorant voter is the source of a debauched ballot? Have they so soon forgotten the carnival of debauchery and ruin that sat upon this state when the ignorant negro and the Republicans controlled our elections? Are the white men of this state going to throw away an opportunity to eliminate the vicious element in our politics, and thus defeat the way for an intelligent exercise of suffrage? Voters of Louisiana, in this contest where will you cast your ballot? Will you cast it in favor of the reformation of our judiciary and electoral system? If so, you must vote with the Democracy. They alone declare that this reformation must be made. The past history and record of the Democracy in the state demands this much of you. It has stood and still stands for the supremacy of the white race; it has administered the affairs of the state well and economically; it has advanced the educational interests of the state and placed all of her public institutions in a flourishing condition, and has yearly reduced the public debt. This party comes to you today with men as its standard bearers the very names of whom are guarantees that the interests of the state will be well conserved in their hands. There should be no step backwards. The people of Louisiana have the opportunity presented to eliminate the bulk of that class of ignorant voters, made such by the fourteenth and fifteenths amendments to the United States constitution. This opportunity neglected may never come again outside of revolution. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 5 January 1898, page 3, column 1 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Election next Tuesday. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 5 January 1898, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Monday's Political Speaking. --------- A fairly good crowd of Democrats and Populists were at the courthouse Monday afternoon to listen to the political discussion, participated in by Messrs. R. B. Dawkins and E. T. Sellers in behalf of the Democracy, and Mr. J. H. Anderson in behalf of the Populism. It was our intention to give a brief synopsis of the arguments and points each speaker made, but having been called away early in the action we cannot do so. Mr. Anderson rehearsed the threadbare arguments so generally indulged in by the third-rate Populist orators. From his remarks it was quite impossible to determine whether he was advocating Populist doctrines or endorsing Republican acts; but then those two political parties have combined so often and worked so closely together, that it is impossible to distinguish the difference between a Populist and a Republican; so upon this plea the speaker might be excused for his defense of the corrupt Republican leaders of Louisiana. But we fail to imagine how he can justify himself for his arraignment of the legal profession. Being a professed lawyer himself, it seems that he would try to defend that honorable and high-toned class of citizens, instead of crying them down. But then doubtless the speaker's uncalled for arraignment of the profession was based upon the assumption that he himself was not much lawyer to hurt anyway; and if that be his plea we will not endeavor to keep the public from entering a verdict of not guilty. Messrs. Dawkins and Sellers responded to Mr. Anderson, and they literally tore his argument to pieces; in fact, they did the Populist representative up in such a sweeping style that Mr. Rockett, the Populist nominee against Mr. Sellers, concluded that "silence was golden" and declined to come to the bat when he was called upon for a speech. He doubtless felt that the Democratic speakers would, so to speak, wipe the floor up with him, and so he preferred to remain a "high private in the rear ranks" for the time being. Messrs. Dawkins and Sellers called attention to some of the most glaring defects in our present organic law, and insisted that a constitutional convention was necessary to cure those defects. They argued that the franchise question and our judiciary system alone would justify the holding of a constitutional convention to enact laws that are more in keeping with the times in those particulars. The Populist orator candidly admitted that his party was the first to raise the cry for a constitutional convention, but now after they have a chance to get it they have decided that they don't want it. They think the call for a constitutional convention is a "Democratic trick," and the Pops. are as "skeered" of those things as the devil is of water. With a few more joint political discussions such as was given Monday, we believe all thinking Populists will be ready to forsake the sinking ship of Populism under the control of designing Republicans, and forthwith return under the bright banner of true Democracy. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 5 January 1898, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Candidate Rockett, the Populist nominee for delegate to the constitutional convention, was called upon for a talk at the political speaking Monday afternoon, but he refused to respond. If Mr. Rockett feels a timidity in discussing the political issues of the day before a gathering of his fellow citizens at home, where would he be in a State convention? ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 5 January 1898, page 3, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The election which will take place in Louisiana next Tuesday is the most important one that has been held in this state for many years; yet but few people seem to realize that fact. Time and again THE GAZETTE has urged upon the eligible voters of Union parish the necessity of registering; and now if you are denied the right to vote on the 11th inst., on account of your failure to register, you will have no one to blame but yourself. The registration books will close Friday, and if you have not already registered, do so at once. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 19 January 1898, page 2, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== DEMOCRACY TRIUMPHS ------- POPULISM RECEIVES ITS DEATH BLOW. ------- Union, Lincoln, Jackson, Grant and Many Other Parishes Discard Populistic Fallacies and Return to Old Love ------- CROW, ROOSTER, CROW!! [illustration of a rooster follows here] The enemy met us and they are ours. The victory at the ballot box last week was so sweeping and complete for old Democracy, that our Democratic rooster has jumped from his cage and asserts his right to crow, and we don't feel inclined to stop him either, so let him crow ahead, albeit the crowing might make some of our defeated Populist friends a little sad. Union, Lincoln, Jackson, Grant and other parishes, that for awhile threatened to abandon the pure and staunch principles of Democracy to follow after the false and fallacious teachings of Populism, have returned to their old love. They could not sanction the unholy political alliances that have characterized the Populist party since its birth, resulting in any and all combinations, regardless of principle, simply to land some of its into office. But, alas! the weak ship of Populism was stranded upon the billows of public opinion, fairly expressed at the ballot box, ere it landed but few of its leaders into the port of anxiety -- office. As far as we have heard, Winn parish - the free state of Winn - alone has stood by the corpse of Populism at the trial last week. The majority vote throughout the state in favor of the convention and the Democratic nominees for delegates at large is estimated at 30,000. The victory of the 11th inst. was glory enough for one day's work in behalf of Democracy. That election was parti[ci]pated in mainly by the white voters, the intelligence of the state; and the result shows which party is the representative of white supremacy and honest government. It knocks out the false charge so frequently made by the Populist leaders that the Democratic party of Louisiana lives through the vote of the negro. Again we say, let the Democratic rooster crow to his heart's content over last week's victory. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 19 January 1898, page 2, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Nearing Its End. ------- The crushing defeat of Populism at the polls on the 11th inst., which will practically wipe that political party out of existence in Louisiana, was sad and shocking news to those third-rate politicians who had become professed converts to the Populist faith solely with the hope of riding into office. Its foreshadowed demise is the result of an overdose of Republican fusion, administered through the treachery of "Dr. Office Seeker," in the hope of "buttering his own bread" at the expense of his blind followers. Populism was brought into existence by the prevailing hard times and industrial depression that have pervaded this land for the past few years. It promised the heavily burdened "horny handed sons of toil" relief from all their woes, bodily and financial; and for a while the unthinking and dissatisfied element flocked to it in droves. But after a few year's trial they have been made to realize that the promises of Populism are vain and chimercial -- that the Populist party cannot bring better prices for farm products; that it cannot feed the hungry and clothe the naked; that it cannot stay the blighting drouth (for it is well known that the Populist parishes have suffered most severely from that cause) and bring abundant harvests. In short the Populist party has failed to make itself a panacea for all ills that flesh is heir to, save to a few of its leaders; and now since the people are determined to desert the vain sophism of its dictators, the Democratic party - the white man's party of the South - extends open arms to all repentant sinners, and promises upon a confession of their sins to again receive them into full fellowship. Populism had its birth on the precipice of "Hard Times." Its father was "Old Man rumbler" and its mother "Old Lady Discontent." Its offspring have partaken liberally of the disagreeable characteristics of their parents, and have been incessantly rocked and nurtured in the cradle of prejudice and dissatisfaction. Hence its approaching end will bring forth but few tears, save from those chronic and desperate office-seekers who have failed to get their life-long desire in that direction satisfied. --------------------------------------------- Now since the people have said that they want a new constitution for Louisiana, and have elected delegates to frame that document, it is in order to discuss the reform needed in that direction. First of all we want a suffrage law that will guarantee a pure ballot, honest elections and do away with the corruption and fraud that has heretofore disgraced elections in Louisiana, and at the same time guarantee white supremacy and the rule of the intelligent voter and taxpayer. We also want a general reform in the judiciary - a plan that will give us speedier trials at less expense. We want also the barbarous penitentiary lease system abolished, so that the convicts - criminal though nevertheless unfortunate - can be guaranteed humane treatment at least. We want a chattel mortgage law, so as to enable poor farmers who own only live stock or other property to procure money or credit by pledging their own effects. We want a jury system something like the one in vogue three years ago. We want the rate of taxation reduced, and also the number of officials and their salaries cut down in keeping with the times. These matters will be considered at length later on. --------------------------------------------- Hard times has prevailed in the hill parishes of North Louisiana ever since Populism began to make itself felt. But last week's election knocked the Populists completely out; and now since our..... ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 19 January 1898, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Vote of Union Parish. ------- The election on the 11th inst. passed off very quietly in this parish. Of the 1376 registered voters a little less than two-thirds cast their ballots. Sellers, the Democratic nominee from Union parish to the constitutional convention, defeated Rockett, the Populist nominee, by 34 votes; and the constitutional convention question was carried by 38 majority. R. B. Dawkins, one of the Democratic delegates at large, received 338 votes, running about 30 ballots ahead of the general average of his party. All the Democratic candidates were victorious in this parish by good majorities. A comparison of the votes, by wards, of Sellers and Rockett with the vote for and against the constitutional convention, will show that the Democrats voted for the convention and their nominee, and that the Populists who supported Rockett were opposed to the convention. It was generally understood that the Democratics favored the convention movement, while the Populists opposed it; and the vote on this issue clearly shows that the result was not brought about by the special popularity or unpopularity of either of the opposing candidates, but simply because the Democratic party had a majority of the voters. Hurrah for old Union! She has again placed herself under the bright banner of pure Democracy. Below we give the vote of the local candidates by precincts, as well as that for and against the constitutional convention: |=========================================================================| | PRECINCT | | | | For | Against | | | Dawkins | Sellers | Rockett | Convention | Convention | |=========================================================================| | Farmerville | 69 | 80 | 23 | 79 | 20 | | Colson | 6 | 8 | 21 | 5 | 18 | | Ouachita | 25 | 24 | 2 | 22 | 1 | | Marion | 46 | 43 | 22 | 48 | 17 | | Spearsville | 31 | 30 | 64 | 16 | 62 | | Grange Hall | 19 | 24 | 19 | 23 | 19 | | Junction City | 3 | 3 | 20 | 5 | 15 | | Shiloh | 88 | 81 | 42 | 84 | 31 | | Ebenezer | 21 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 15 | | Mt. Ararat | 20 | 35 | 45 | 28 | 39 | | O'Possum Walk | 10 | 13 | 52 | 7 | 56 | |_________________________________________________________________________| | Total......... 338 | 360 | 326 | 331 | 293 | |=========================================================================| ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 19 January 1898, page 3, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== And Union parish and Jackson too came in out of the sage brush of populism and casts their tents once more upon the peaceful plains and beside the still waters of the democracy. All this goes to indicate that the white man of Louisiana realize at last the emptiness and delusion of the populist's claims and they are casting behind them a party which has nothing to its credit but a long list of broken pledges, hypocrisy and double dealing. The populists, so far as we can recollect, have held three State conventions in Louisiana and in each case the ticket as nominated by the conventions has been pulled down by a handful of self-constituted leaders and a new ticket put up as a result of dickers with opposing parties. The rank and file of the party have been the victims of corrupt leaders who have not hesitated to trade off the party for their own personal profit whenever occasion to do so was presented. Populism is a dead cock in the pit in so far as Louisiana is concerned. ----Baton Rouge Advocate. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 26 January 1898, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Of the 1376 voters who are on the new registration books, 1192 can write their names and 184 cannot. Fourteen are of foreign birth. The number of white and colored qualified voters are divided among the different precincts as follows: |=========================================================================| | PRECINCT | # whites | # whites | # blacks | # blacks | Foreign | | | who can | who make | who can | who make | born | | | write | their mark | write | their mark | whites | |=========================================================================| | Farmerville | 146 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 11 | | Colson | 52 | 7 | -- | -- | -- | | Ouachita | 47 | 8 | 3 | 5 | -- | | Marion | 118 | 66 | 13 | 11 | 1 | | Spearsville | 114 | 4 | 10 | 22 | -- | | Grange Hall | 85 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- | | Junction City | 37 | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | | Shiloh | 226 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 1 | | Ebenezer | 63 | 2 | 5 | -- | -- | | Mt. Ararat | 93 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 1 | | O'Possum Walk | 135 | 28 | 11 | 30 | -- | |_________________________________________________________________________| | Total.........| 1116 | 90 | 76 | 94 | 14 | |=========================================================================| ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 7 September 1898, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The Populists of Union parish held their Parish convention just a week after the Democrats did. The Populists of the third railroad commission district and of the fifth congressional district will hold their nominating conventions just a week after the Democrats have theirs. And we here venture the prediction that the Pops will elect their nominee just a week after the Democrats get tired of holding good fat offices. And that will be never. For a Democrat loves an easy office with a lucrative salary as a Methodist preacher does spring chicken,... or a child does "lasses" candy. The Pops might also love something after that fashion but they can't exactly tell. They remind us very much of th e little boy who was asked, "Sonny, do you like breast of the chicken?" He replied, "Don't know sir; I have three big sisters, and don't get to taste it." ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 26 October 1898, page 3, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The Populists must regard their meetings in the light of a funeral procession, for at the Populist speaking last Wednesday, Judge Gunby, the Populist leader in the fifth congressional district, in referring to the excellent music played on the occasion by the Farmerville band, said it "did not sound much like a funeral dirge." No, Judge, it was not a funeral dirge. The Democratic band could not be so inconsiderate as to play it at the present time. It will be seasonable however, after the 8th of November. Come around then and you can hear the sorrowful funeral dirge. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 16 November 1898, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Union's Vote. ------- The election in Union parish... was very quiet, except in the wards where the stock law was at issue; and even at these precincts a large number of parties cast a ballot for congressman or railroad commissioner. This fact shows that the people of Union parish -- Democrats as well as Populists -- are sick and tired of politics and elections. The vote of the parish... between the Democratic and Populist nominees, is as follows:... Total: Baird: 342; Taliaferro 230; Foster 225; Calhoun 241... On the stock law question, ward 3 (composed of Spearsville Grange Hall and Junction City precincts) gave 95 for and 211 against; ward 4 (Shiloh precinct) 127 for and 63 against; ward 5 (composed of Ebenezer and Mt. Ararat precincts) 121 for and 130 against. Thus it will be seen that Shiloh ward is the only one in the parish where the stock law issue was successful. It was carried at Spearsville and Ebenezer precincts, but the large vote against it at Grange Hall and Mt. Ararat defeated the measure in wards 3 and 5. Baird, the Democratic nominee, beat his Populist opponent, Taliaferro, by 12 votes; and when we take into consideration the fact that the stock law election -- a local issue that carried the voters to the polls -- was held at a majority of the Populist strongholds, we must conclude that the Democrats have grown much stronger in Union parish during the past two years. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 20 December 1899, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The Populists of Union parish held their nominating convention last Thursday. Notwithstanding the day was quite inclement there was a good crowd of those who believe in that political faith in town. They put out the following ticket: For representative, C. L. Gunby and A. C. Harper; for clerk of court, J. M. Dawkins; for sheriff, J. S. Cobb; for coroner, Dr. L. M. Dendy. Evidently most of the nominees considered their nominations more in the shape of an “empty honor” than anything else for they expressed a willingness – yea, a desire – to have the burden thrust on some other fellow. Brother Gunby, however, seemed perfectly willing to take “his’n straight.” He has had a taste of office pie, and he regards it a pretty good thing, and hence is anxious to take a chance, even though it be a slim one, to get at the “crib” again. Mr. Gunby was the only nominee present at the convention who did not express a desire for “the other fellow” to shoulder the burden. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 21 March 1900, page 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Mr. Geo. W. Feazel, of the tenth ward, was a caller at our office Tuesday. He says politics in his neighborhood are dull, the people taking but little interest in them. Mr. Feazel lives in the Populist stronghold of the parish, and yet he says of a Pop. meeting recently held in his neighborhood there was only a small turn-out. The fusion combine is fast drowning out the little enthusiasm that yet lingers in Populist breasts. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 19 March 1905, page 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The Parish Farmers Union held its regular session here last Friday, President J. C. Rocket informing us that a full attendance was on hand. The next regular meeting will be held on Friday before the fourth Saturday in June. NOTE: As noted earlier, the Farmer's Union and other such organizations formed in the 1880s to work economic relief for farmers. These groups helped to found the Populist Party in the 1890s. This article shows that after the Populist movement had waned in the early 1900s, the Farmer's Union remained intact. The man listed above as the President of the Union Parish Farmer's Union, Joseph C. Rockett, had been the Populist nominee for state senator in 1896 and as delegate to the 1898 Constitutional Convention. ##############################################################################