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control, at least so far as the seals were concerned, began to seize vessels catching seals, and to confiscate the skins found on them. As many of the "seal poachers" were from Canada, the British government remonstrated, denying the jurisdiction claimed by the United States. After much diplomatic correspondence a treaty was concluded, providing for the arbitration of the matters in dispute, another triumph for the principle of settling international disputes by arbitration.

421. Ballot Reform. (1888-1892.) But there were internal matters of great interest taking place as well. Partly the result of the elections of 1888, and partly the result of a slow growth in popular feeling, there was a general demand through the country for a reform in the methods of conducting popular elections. This feeling, too strong to be ignored, forced one state legislature after another to pass ballot-reform laws, which, to a greater or less degree, removed occasions for fraud and gave better opportunity for the secrecy of the ballot, so increasing the independence of the voter. By the time of the election of 1892 thirty-seven states had adopted some modification of the Australian ballot, so called because the system was first brought into use in Australia. This most important reform was supported by each of the great parties.

422. Homestead Labor Troubles. (1892.) One of the most serious labor troubles that the country has yet experienced took place in the summer of 1892, at Homestead, near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The trouble arose between the employees in the large iron works at that place and the owners. This trouble was greatly aggravated by the owners employing a private force of men to protect their property. These men were fired upon as they approached the town, and were

forced to surrender. So great was the disturbance, that the governor of the state was obliged to call out the whole militia of the state to preserve order. The strike spread among the iron workers of Pittsburg and the neighboring places until several thousands are said to have been "on strike." Fortunately, there was no collision between the troops and the strikers, but it was some weeks before quiet was assured and the troops withdrawn. The expense to the state was great, and the loss to the workers and to the company was millions of dollars, and worse than all, a fair and amicable adjustment of the claims of labor and capital was in no way helped on.

423. Columbian Exposition. (1892.) In many of the large cities the anniversary of the discovery of America was celebrated by great processions and military and naval demonstrations; some of these were very imposing. In very many of the schools, both public and private, throughout the land, "Columbus Day" was also celebrated by raising of flags, singing, recitations, and speech-makings. From the 21st to the 23d of October, the formal dedication ceremonies of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago took place, in the presence of thousands of spectators (sect. 430).

424. Republican and Democratic Platforms. (1892.) — As the time for a new Presidential election came round, it was evident that the independent voters, whose numbers would be greatly increased by the adoption of the Australian ballot, and also the rank and file of the parties, were likely to exercise more influence than heretofore. This was shown in the selection of candidates. The Republican Convention renominated Benjamin Harrison, and selected Whitelaw Reid, of New York, as candidate for Vice-President. The platform reaffirmed the " American doctrine of protection," upheld the

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McKinley Tariff Bill and the reciprocity measures under it, and praised the policy and actions of the Republican party generally. The Democratic Convention nominated ex-President Grover Cleveland and Adlai E. Stevenson, of Illinois. The platform denounced the attempts of the Republicans to bring about Federal control of elections, the system of protection in general, and the McKinley Bill in particular, and recommended the removal of the tax on state-bank issues of paper money. The money "plank" in both platforms was practically the same, each upholding the use of both gold and silver as currency, and demanding that all dollars issued by the government, whether gold, silver, or paper, should be kept of equal value. The only important difference between the two platforms was in the tariff "plank" and in the recommendation of the removal of the tax on the bank-bills of state banks.

425. Prohibition, and People's Platform. (1892.) The Prohibition party for the sixth time put candidates in the field, choosing John Bidwell, of California, and J. B. Cranfill, of Texas. The platform, in addition to the Prohibition “ plank," among other things, advocated woman suffrage, equal wages without respect to sex, increase in the amount of the circulating medium, and that revenue should be raised by levying a burden upon what the people possess, instead of upon what they consume. All who believed in Prohibition were invited to "full party fellowship."

There was also a new party formed, whose adherents were mostly in the West. This was the People's party, or the "Populists'" party, an outgrowth of the Farmers' Alliance (sect. 416). Its platform, after a general condemnation of the two great political parties of the country, advocated the union of the labor forces of the United States, the loaning of money

by the government to its citizens at two per cent interest, a national currency, "free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of sixteen to one," increase of the circulating medium, a graduated income tax, postal savings banks, government ownership of railroads, telegraphs, and telephones, and prohibition of alien ownership of land. Resolutions were also passed condemning subsidies by the government and the protective system, and others commending the Australian system of voting, the enforcement of the eight-hour law in government work, the election of United States senators by a popular vote, and other reforms of various kinds. The convention nominated James B. Weaver, of Iowa, who had been candidate of the Greenback party in 1880, and James G. Field, of Virginia.

426. Democrats Successful. (1892.) The campaign was the least exciting one that had taken place for a long time, and was marked by the absence of personalities, and by the great stress laid upon matters of public policy. The two chief candidates had each occupied the position of President, the fitness of each was known, and the personal character of each valued and appreciated, and there was a very general feeling that, whichever should be elected, the interests of the nation would be looked after conscientiously and with ability. The result was the choice of the Democratic candidates by a large majority of the electoral votes. The Democrats also retained the control of the House of Representatives, though with a much reduced majority, and gained control of the Senate as well. The People's party developed unexpected strength, choosing one or more Presidential electors in several states, besides congressmen.

Among the important measures passed by the fifty-second Congress were a national quarantine bill, an immigration bill