94 THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



in the other states in that its principal plank was a demand, 

 not for railroad regulation, but for the issue of greenbacks 

 interchangeable with government bonds and the payment of 

 the government debt in legal tender. Two of the nominees 

 of this convention refused the honor and another convention, 

 held in August, not only rilled their places, but also nominated 

 new candidates in the places of two others who had accepted 

 Democratic nominations for the same offices. In the election 

 the new party cast about sixteen thousand votes, the Demo- 

 cratic candidates for state offices being victorious. The Inde- 

 pendents secured five senators and eight representatives in the 

 legislature, which gave them the balance of power in the Senate, 

 but the Democrats controlled the House. 1 



In Michigan an attempt was made to break the Republican 

 dominance by the organization of a " National Reform " party, 

 which held conventions in August and September, 1874. The 

 principal planks in its platform were civil service reform, state 

 rights, tariff for revenue only, and a speedy return to " hard 

 money." Some of the Reform nominees were accepted by the 

 Democratic convention, but the Republicans were victorious, 

 though by greatly reduced majorities. The vote for Reform 

 candidates on which there was no fusion ran from two to seven 

 thousand. 2 



In Illinois the movement which had been so successful in 

 local elections in 1873 speedily developed into a state party 

 in 1874. The resolutions adopted at the meeting of the State 

 Farmers' Association in December, 1873, furnished the basis 

 for the organization of the new party. These declared that the 

 old parties had forfeited the respect and confidence of the people 

 and demanded a reduction of the salaries of public officials, 

 civil service reform, and the enforcement of the railroad laws. 



1 On the Independent party movement in Indiana, see Chicago Tribune, 1873, 

 June 18, p. 5, August 23, p. i, June n, pp. i, 12, August 13, p. 7; Industrial Age, 

 1874, April 1 8, p. 4, June 13, p. 5, June 27, p. 4, September 5, p. 5, October 17, p. 4; 

 American Annual Cyclopedia, 1874, pp. 412-415. 



2 Chicago Tribune, 1874, February 12, p. 8, June 18, p. 3, August 7, p. i; In- 

 dustrial Age, February 28, 1874, p. 4; American Annual Cyclopedia, 1874, pp. 

 557-559- 



