Chapter 8

1. Chapter 8 Reform Movements: “It Happens First in Kansas”

2. The Gilded Age • Industrialization • Began in late 1800’s • Only benefited a few • No Income or inheritance tax yet. • The Rich are getting richer and throwing their money around. • “Gilded Age” • Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner Novel • Was a satire about materialism and corruption of the time. • One Character was modeled after U.S. Senator from KS Senator Samuel Pomery.

3. The Gilded Age Cont. • U.S. senators elected by state legislatures. • Pomeroy was accused of bribery and corruption, losing his reelection bid. • The other U.S. Senator from KS Caldwell resigned after similar accusations.

4. Tough Times for Many • Only 5% of American families controlled most of the nations wealth. • Average yearly earnings of most Americans fell below the poverty line. • 1870’s: U.S. depression • Railroads were all over the country and could not be supported • Europe had economic troubles which reach the U.S. • Banks demanded loans be repaid • Investors sold stocks • Banks closed, thousands lost their jobs, and many railroads failed.

5. Kansas and Reform Movements • “When anything is going to happen in this country, it happens first in Kansas”—William Allen White, Emporia Gazette • Reformers- Want to solve problems and make things better. • KS has been a leader of Reform Movements • Abolitionists who came to the Kansas Territory • Women’s Rights • Prohibitionists • Populist movement to reform government policies.

6. Prohibition • Alcohol abuse became a major concern during the Gilded Age • Primarily women took up the fight to end alcohol abuse • Some wanted temperance, others end to alcohol sales in public place, and others who wanted KS to be a “dry” state • All were trying to preserve families and create a respectable society • Solution: State made it a local decision

7. Prohibition: Amending the State Constitution • 1870’s • John St. John (R) elected governor (Quote p.165) • State legislature followed his lead and but prohibition to a public vote • Prohibition passed (1st state, 38 yrs before U.S.) • Women’s temperance groups started the Prohibition Party. • Gov. John St. John ran for President under the new party ticket and lost.

8. Prohibition: Carry A. Nation and the Enforcement of Prohibition • Enforcing Prohibition was difficult • Alcohol was still allowed medicinally and people continued to make and use in their home. • Saloons continued to ignore the law paid a monthly fee of $100. • Carry Nation • Medicine Lodge • Lecturer against tobacco and alcohol • Motivated by religious beliefs she began smashing saloons using a hatchet.

9. Women’s Suffrage: The Fight for Universal Suffrage • 6 yrs after KS became a state Kansas began the discussion of universal suffrage in KS. • Nationally known suffragists • Susan B. Anthony • Elizabeth Cady Stanton • Lucy Stone • All came to KS fighting for women's rights • They gave lectures and participated in local discussions • Universal suffrage failed in KS a few years later the 15th Amendment was passed.

10. Municipal Suffrage • Municipal suffrage: right to vote in city elections only. • For: women were as intelligent as men • Against: politics was no place for a woman • After 2 years legislation for municipal suffrage passed. • KS was the 1st state to give women the right to vote in municipal elections

11. How Did Women Voters Change Kansas Politics • Effects of Women’s suffrage • Electioneering pushed back 100 ft. from the polling location. (still used today) • Moral issues became for relevant • Groups such as Woman’s Christian Temperance Union formed • Could run for city office • Susan Salter (Argonia)- 1st female mayor in US

12. The Campaign for Full Suffrage: A Civics Lesson • Women were not happy only being able to vote in municipal elections. • Contacted every member of the state legislature. Had the amendment signed by the Governor, and only needed the men of the state to vote for it. • Many road blocks • Finance- sold balloons “Votes for Mother” • Awareness- gained endorsements, literature, children essay contests, ect. • 7th State to grant women full suffrage

13. Populism:“In God We Trusted, In Kansas We Busted” • Populism • National movement associated with farmers • During difficult economic times • People’s Party • Most successful third-party political movement in U.S. history • Farmers frustrated with the distribution of wealth saw corruption and wanted change.

14. Populism:“In God We Trusted, In Kansas We Busted” Cont. • Farmers were going into debt. • Industrial Era farm equipment cut labor costs and allowed farmers to plant more crops • The down side is that farm equipment was expensive and many farmers were suffering from hard economic times. • Also now farmers produced more crops then the market needed. (surplus=falling prices)

15. Populism:“In God We Trusted, In Kansas We Busted” Cont. • 1880’s-1890’s KS experienced a drought • Over 11,000 KS farms faced foreclosure • Many people up and left the statea • In western KS life was even more difficult as the drought caused loss of food and fuel

16. The People’s Party Platform • Populism broke down to 1 questions: Who should the government represent, the workers or big business? • Farmers were particularly angry with the railroads • Charging too much to transport crops • Banks • High interest rates • The changes proposed by the People’s Party can be found on p.173

17. Populist players in Kansas • 1890 Election saw many elected from the People’s Party in KS • 92 legislators • 5 of 7 congressional seats • Republicans still had more state wide power but began to be friendlier to Populist idea’s • “Sockless Jerry” • Medicine Lodge • Accused his opponents of having silk socks (sign of wealth)

18. Populist players in Kansas Cont. • William Peffer- 1st U.S. senator for the Populist party • He was so important to the Populist movement that sometimes populism was called Pefferism • Believed: • Public functions should be done by government agents • Government should serve all not the few • 1892 election was even better for the Populists • Took ½ the congressional seats • Governor and other elected officials were Populists

19. Legislative War • In the House election results were being questioned still when the legislative session started in 1893. • Republicans and Populists set up separate houses and elected their own officials meaning we had two groups acting like the majority • They had to share the same space and it was chaos. • Populist Governor and Senate declared the Populist house the official one but Republicans refused to leave.

20. Stand-off • Each party tried to assert their authority until the Republican refused to leave the house chamber • Populists strategy was to starve them out turning off all utilities • Eventually came before the state Supreme Court (3 justices) • 2 were Republican • Voted in favor of the Republicans • Last remaining Populists joined the Republicans

21. “What’s the Matter with Kansas” • William Allen White • Owner and editor of Emporia Gazette • Republican • Did not like the Peoples Part and wrote “What’s the Matter with Kansas” about it. • Felt it was wrong for states to ignore the needs of businesses • Later in life he began to take some Populist Ideas • Peoples party decline • “What the Matter with KS” • Democrats pulled support • Internal disagreements

22. Socialism: Appeal to Reason • Socialist wanted to see he wealth of the country distributed throughout all economic classes. • Wanted more government control • Appeal to Reason- Leading socialist newspaper • Published in KS by Julius A. Wayland • Also started a utopian colony • Was a newspaper man for many years • ½ a million readers • Many famous contributors: Helen Keller, Jack London, Upton Sinclair, ect. • Socialist Changes proposed on p.181