People's Power League
Encyclopedia
The People's Power League was an important Progressive organization, formed in 1892 by James W. Sullivan
and led by William U'Ren, that was devoted to governmental reforms in the United States in the early 20th century. Ellis Oberholtzer noted that the tradition behind the League reached back to the egalitarian Pennsylvania Constitution
. Both the Pennsylvania radical and the League supported unicameral legislatures (a second house being viewed as a protection for aristocratic influences); a mechanism of rapidly replacing elected officials (in the case of the League, through recall election
s; in the case of the Pennsylvanians, through annual elections and rotation in office); and a body of elected officials to launch a full-scale investigation into the government at fixed intervals (in the League's case, the People's Inspectors of Government; in Pennsylvania's case, the Council of Censors). Other radical leaders associated with the League were Will Daly, George Orton
, Alfred Cridge, and E.S.J. McAllister. Its successor organization was the Direct Legislation League
.
James W. Sullivan
James W. Sullivan was an American art director. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film Around the World in 80 Days.-Selected filmography:...
and led by William U'Ren, that was devoted to governmental reforms in the United States in the early 20th century. Ellis Oberholtzer noted that the tradition behind the League reached back to the egalitarian Pennsylvania Constitution
Pennsylvania Constitution
The current Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, most recently revised in 1968, forms the law for the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
. Both the Pennsylvania radical and the League supported unicameral legislatures (a second house being viewed as a protection for aristocratic influences); a mechanism of rapidly replacing elected officials (in the case of the League, through recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
s; in the case of the Pennsylvanians, through annual elections and rotation in office); and a body of elected officials to launch a full-scale investigation into the government at fixed intervals (in the League's case, the People's Inspectors of Government; in Pennsylvania's case, the Council of Censors). Other radical leaders associated with the League were Will Daly, George Orton
George Orton
George Washington Orton was a Canadian middle-distance runner. In 1900, he became the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal.-Biography:...
, Alfred Cridge, and E.S.J. McAllister. Its successor organization was the Direct Legislation League
Direct Legislation League
The Oregon Direct Legislation League was an organization of political activists founded by William S. U'Ren in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1898. U'Ren had been politically activated by reading the influential 1893 book Direct Legislation Through the Initiative and Referendum, and the group's...
.