THE POPULIST MOVEMENT 669 



revenue of the state and nation limited to expenses, eight hours' 

 work, and universal suffrage. Three of these measures are 

 sops thrown to certain classes. The election of president, vice- 

 president, and senators by popular vote is a bait for votes. So 

 is the universal suffrage scheme. The eight-hour plank was 

 adopted only after much objection on the part of the farmer, 

 for he sometimes has to work sixteen hours and never less than 

 twelve, so that he is not naturally in sympathy with the eight- 

 hour movement. Policy sways him, however, and so this plank 

 was added to the list. 



The St. Louis convention was held some ten months later, 

 February 22, 1892. This was the preliminary convention for the 

 selection of a national committee with the power to call a national 

 convention to nominate candidates for president and vice-presi- 

 dent. The convention was by no means harmonious, for there 

 was a contest between the Southern Alliance and some of the 

 Northern members for supremacy in the convention. It ended 

 in victory for the northern faction. This convention again framed 

 a platform, containing nearly the same planks as the year before. 

 The planks referring to the abolition of national banks, universal 

 suffrage, direct election of president, vice-president, and sena- 

 tors, and government control of railroads and telegraphs, were 

 omitted. In the place of government control, government owner- 

 ship of railroads was substituted. A scheme for postal banks was 

 also tacked on. 



The Populists now cut loose from their former platforms, and 

 based all their speeches, demands, and speculations on the next 

 platform, that of Omaha. The Omaha convention was the 

 first presidential-nominating convention held by the People's 

 Party. The delegates assembled on July 4, 1892, closely watched 

 by the press and people of the country. It was recognized as a 

 turning point in the history of the new party, which would either 

 put itself on record as favoring sensible measures or it would 

 not. The platform of this convention bears the same stamp as 

 did the others. Free coinage of silver, a minor clause on aboli- 

 tion of national banks, a sub-treasury scheme or some similar sys- 

 tem, a graduated income tax, plenty of paper money, government 



