Organization of the Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party was organized in 1867. In that year, John Russell was appointed the national chairman. The first candidates ran for office in 1869; among them were candidates in municipal elections in Ohio. A national convention was held on 9/2/1869 in Chicago. Green Clay Smith went on a speaking tour in 1870, trying to lay the foundation for the Prohibition Party [NYT 4/25/1870]. In the elections of 1870, candidates ran for Congress in IL, MA, MI, NY, OH, and RI (some as nominees of the Temperance Party). The candidates met with varying degrees of success;
[More...]
Organization of the Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party was organized in 1867. In that year, John Russell was appointed the national chairman. The first candidates ran for office in 1869; among them were candidates in municipal elections in Ohio. A national convention was held on 9/2/1869 in Chicago. Green Clay Smith went on a speaking tour in 1870, trying to lay the foundation for the Prohibition Party [NYT 4/25/1870]. In the elections of 1870, candidates ran for Congress in IL, MA, MI, NY, OH, and RI (some as nominees of the Temperance Party). The candidates met with varying degrees of success; Jonathan C. Stoughton won 38% of the vote in his race in Illinois. In the elections of 1871, Prohibition Party candidates contested the New Hampshire congressional elections in addition to a special election in Michigan. The alleged drunkenness of President Grant and widespread discontent with abuse of alcohol fostered interest in the party.
Convention Organization
The first Prohibition Party National Convention assembled in Comstock’s Opera House in Columbus OH. There were 194 delegates present from nine states.
Permanent Chairman: Samuel Chase
The party platform (click on Platform Index near bottom, then '1872') called for ending the sale of alcoholic beverages; restrictions on impeachments; direct popular election of the U.S. President; fostering the public schools; universal adult suffrage (including women); and encouraging immigration into the United States.
Nominations.
The convention then turned to the presidential nomination. James Black PA was nominated for President, and John Russell MI was nominated for Vice President (both apparently without opposition).
Campaign
Of all the many third parties which first held national nominating conventions in 1872, only the Prohibition Party survived. State affiliates were organized, in some cases with the label of the Temperance Party. Candidates for Congress appeared in MI, OH, and PA. Slates of Presidential Electors were offered in six states (as the Temperance Party in CT and OH).
Popular vote of 1872
Electoral vote of 1872
2d Prohibition National Convention (1876)
[Less...]