Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/205

 swept the entire country. In the new Congress the Republicans had but eighty-seven members while the Democrats elected two hundred and thirty-seven. In the last House the Republicans had one hundred and seventy-six members and the Democrats one hundred and fifty-five.

The first State Convention of the People’s party assembled at Des Moines on the 3d of June, 1891, and indorsed the platform of the Cincinnati National Conference of May 19th, 1891.

On State issues it demanded an increase in the assessment of railroads in Iowa to $80,000,000; the enactment of the Australian ballot law; the taxation of mortgages; a two-cent railroad fare; uniform school books; condemned the action of the Republican and Democratic parties in making the main issue on the temperance question; legislation for the suppression of private corporations. The following nominations were made for State officers: for Governor, A. J. Westfall; Lieutenant-Governor, W. S. Scott; Judge of Supreme Court, H. Chrisman; Superintendent of Public Instruction, C. W. Bean; Railway Commissioner, T. F. Willis.

The Prohibitionists held their State Convention at Des Moines on the 10th of June and nominated the following ticket: for Governor, Isaac Gibson; Lieutenant-Governor, J. G. Little; Judge Supreme Court, D. B. Turney; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mrs. M. H. Dunham; Railway Commissioner, C. D. Hart. On State issues declarations were made in favor of absolute prohibition of the liquor traffic, the Australian ballot, arbitration in place of strikes, the payment of wage earners in cash.

The Democratic State Convention was held at Ottumwa on the 24th of June and placed the following candidates in nomination: for Governor, Horace Boies; Lieutenant-Governor, S. L. Bestow; Supreme Judge, L. G. Kinne; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. B. Knoepfler;