Populists Plan a State-Wide Political Circus
As Washington state approaches a contentious election, Spokane Populists prepare a traveling campaign program of bands, juggling, and theater.
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Agitation, pure unadulterated excitement, is in style this year. The Populists of Washington are planning such a wild and woolly political campaign as was never dreamed of in America before. The Freemen's Protective Silver Association is said to be at the bottom of it. In every town where this is organized, companies are to be formed capable of giving variety entertainments of a most complex character. Recitations, songs, juggling, plays—everything that can draw a crowd is strictly in order. Starting about July 1, the companies will wander over the state. Every business center, however small, every mining camp, however deep in the wilderness, is to be visited.
“Everything that can draw a crowd is strictly in order.”
Populist efforts to use performance and traveling theater to build political solidarity highlight a pre-broadcast era of grassroots organizing. It provides a fascinating historical contrast to today's digital, social media-driven political campaign cycles.
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