Greenback Party during the first Cleveland Administration
The Greenback Party was in decline throughout the entire Cleveland administration. In the election of 1884, the party failed to win any U.S. House seats outright, although they did win one seat in conjunction with Plains States Democrats (James B. Weaver IA) and a handful of other seats by endorsing the Democratic nominee. In the election of 1886, only two dozen Greenback candidates ran for the House, apart from another six who ran on fusion tickets. Again, Weaver was the party's only victory.
Calling a National Convention
In early 1888, it was not clear if the Greenback Party would hold another national convention. Moses W. Field, the Michigan Greenback chairman, was anxious to get the state ticket in the field and announced the state convention would meet on 5/10/1888. The date selected was the same as the Democratic state ticket, and it was clear that the state chairman intended to effect a fusion. The chairman of the Greenback national committee, E.H. Gillette IA, opposed any further fusion of the Party with other parties. [NYT 3/25/1888]
Much of the Greenback news in early 1888 took place in Michigan, where the party remained active. Anti-fusion Greenbackers, called the "Simon Pure" faction, complained that no call for a state convention should have been issued until the call for a national convention, in order that the state convention would select delegates. [NYT 3/31/1888]
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Greenback Party during the first Cleveland Administration
The Greenback Party was in decline throughout the entire Cleveland administration. In the election of 1884, the party failed to win any U.S. House seats outright, although they did win one seat in conjunction with Plains States Democrats (James B. Weaver IA) and a handful of other seats by endorsing the Democratic nominee. In the election of 1886, only two dozen Greenback candidates ran for the House, apart from another six who ran on fusion tickets. Again, Weaver was the party's only victory.
Calling a National Convention
In early 1888, it was not clear if the Greenback Party would hold another national convention. Moses W. Field, the Michigan Greenback chairman, was anxious to get the state ticket in the field and announced the state convention would meet on 5/10/1888. The date selected was the same as the Democratic state ticket, and it was clear that the state chairman intended to effect a fusion. The chairman of the Greenback national committee, E.H. Gillette IA, opposed any further fusion of the Party with other parties. [NYT 3/25/1888]
Much of the Greenback news in early 1888 took place in Michigan, where the party remained active. Anti-fusion Greenbackers, called the "Simon Pure" faction, complained that no call for a state convention should have been issued until the call for a national convention, in order that the state convention would select delegates. [NYT 3/31/1888] Field resigned as state chairman on 4/30/1888 and returned to the Democratic Party [NYT 5/1/1888]. When the state convention finally met, the 75 delegates assembled divided into three factions: one favoring fusion with the Democrats, the "Simon Pure" faction (which sent delegates to the national convention), and the faction favoring fusion with the Labor Party. [NYT 5/9/1888].
The National Conventions
The 4th Greenback Party National Convention assembled in Cincinnati OH on 5/16/1888. There were so few delegates who attended that no actions were taken.
However, it appears that Gillette resigned as chairman of the national committee. On 8/16/1888, George O. Jones, chairman of the national committee, called a second session of the national convention. In his statement, he said "It is fortunate for the National Greenback Party that so many of the cranks, leeches, and adventurers who have heretofore hindered its progress have at last found some other abode." [NYT 8/17/1888]
The second session of the national convention met in Cincinnati on 9/12/1888. Only seven delegates attended. Chairman Jones issued an address criticizing the two major parties, and the delegates made no nominations.
With the failure of the convention, the Greenback Party ceased to exist.
3d Greenback National Convention (1884)
Popular Vote of 1888
Electoral Vote of 1888
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