1897 Populist Parish Convention in Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 11/2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== 1897 Populist Parish Convention in Union Parish Louisiana 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 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== 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." ###############################################################################