(Populism in Maine) A rare pamphlet entitled, “People’s Party of Maine. Portland, Me., Sept. 12, 1884.” [3pp.] 9 x 5 3/4 in. being a partly-printed circular letter for use in organizing local chapters of the People’s Party of Maine: “…Through the fault, chiefly, of certain of its leaders, the Greenback Party of Maine, has been disorganized and disrupted. Divided into two factions, each of which fritters away its energies in a struggle for supremacy over the other, neither is in a condition to fight a campaign. Many of Labor’s strongest supporters, will, in the coming contest, and because of this state of things, stand aloof from both factions, and the old prejudice against the part name will doubtless keep many more within the old parties. Therefore it is proposed: 1. To organize the state, as Massachusetts and many other states have been already organized, in to the People’s Party, favorable to the candidacy of Butler and West and voicing every demand of organized labor. 2. To make up an electoral ticket which shall include the names of unobjectionable candidates already nominated by the Greenback Party, and pronounced Labor men; and to aid in procuring the withdrawal of other electors nominated by the Greenback factions…” Signed in print at the bottom of the second page: “W. H. JEWETT, H.W. FLETCHER” and “W. L. SAWYER”.

It appears that the piece may have been a draft as the final paragraph on the second page deletes the words “secret and” in the phrase: “The demand of the hour is for such a party as this; the exigencies of the campaign require secret and speedy as well as earnest work…” The third page features a “CALL FOR CONVENTION” and a blank space for signatures and exhorts at bottom: “KNIGHTS OF LABOR, TRADES UNIONISTS, FARMERS, CITIZENS, RALLY TO THE SUPPORT OF YOUR CANDIDATES!”

This call to form a “People’s Party of Maine” is an interesting early use of the name and predates by six years the founding of the national “People’s Party”. This incarnation was an offshoot of the short-lived Anti-Monopoly Party which had nominated Benjamin F. Butler for President in May 1884. The Greenback Party, then in great decline, also nominated Butler together with Absolom M. West of Mississippi. These same political elements would coalesce to form the national populist or “People’s Party” at Cincinnati in 1891.

Extremely light toning at margins, else very fine condition.

(EXA 3848) $625