The Populists Assemble in Tacoma
Dr. Fred L. Goddard secures the nomination for Mayor on a platform of municipal reform and worker protections.
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The Populists tonight nominated Dr. Fred L. Goddard for mayor. If he polls 2,500 A.P.A. votes, as is predicted, he has a possible chance of election. There will be about 5,000 legally registered voters, of which the Populists will control about 1,000 or 1,200. At tonight’s convention 501 delegates were present. The Populist platform demands delivery of the city from its enemies, who have brought it to the verge of financial ruin; favors a business administration, payment of city employees weekly, eight hours a day's work, employment of taxpayers only on city works, purchase of home-made goods, abolishment of the board of public works, monthly report of the city treasurer, a free employment bureau under the auspices of the city, no special privileges, and the initiative and referendum.
“The Populist platform demands delivery of the city from its enemies, who have brought it to the verge of financial ruin.”
The Populist platform of 1894 highlights long-standing tensions in Puget Sound regarding municipal accountability and labor rights. The demand for 'employment of taxpayers only' and 'home-made goods' mirrors the persistent, protectionist political anxieties that often surface during economic downturns in the region.
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