United States Independence Party
Encyclopedia
The Independence Party, or Independence League or National Independence League, was a short-lived minor American political party formed by newspaper publisher and United States Representative William Randolph Hearst
in 1906 as the successor to the Municipal Ownership League
, which had dissolved after Hearst was defeated in his run for Mayor of New York in 1905 on the Municipal Ownership League's ticket against the incumbent Democrat George B. McClellan, Jr.
and Republican William M. Ivins.
The next year, Hearst was defeated in his run for Governor of New York
on a Democratic
-Independence fusion ticket, but all his running mates were elected: Lt. Gov. Lewis S. Chanler, Secretary of State John S. Whalen
, Comptroller Martin H. Glynn
, Treasurer Julius Hauser
, Attorney General William S. Jackson and State Engineer Frederick Skene
.
The party was active in several other states, including California
and Massachusetts
, where party nomineee Thomas L. Hisgen garnered a significant number of votes in the 1907 election for governor
.
The party nominated Thomas L. Hisgen for President of the United States
and John Temple Graves for Vice President of the United States
at its national convention in Chicago
in July 1908. The party platform argued against corrupt machine politics, for the eight-hour work day, for the creation of a Department of Labor
, for government ownership of utilities (including railroads), and for the establishment of a central bank
. The national party collapsed after the 1908 election
, in which Hisgen and Graves won less than one percent of the popular vote.
Hearst ran again for Mayor of New York in 1909, and for Lieutenant Governor in 1910, but was defeated both times. The New York Independence League continued to nominate candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York until the state election of 1914.
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
in 1906 as the successor to the Municipal Ownership League
Municipal Ownership League
The Municipal Ownership League was an American third party formed in 1904 by controversial newspaper magnate and Congressman William Randolph Hearst for the purpose of contesting elections in New York City....
, which had dissolved after Hearst was defeated in his run for Mayor of New York in 1905 on the Municipal Ownership League's ticket against the incumbent Democrat George B. McClellan, Jr.
George B. McClellan, Jr.
George Brinton McClellan, Jr., was an American politician, statesman, and educator. The son of American Civil War general and presidential candidate George B...
and Republican William M. Ivins.
The next year, Hearst was defeated in his run for Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
on a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
-Independence fusion ticket, but all his running mates were elected: Lt. Gov. Lewis S. Chanler, Secretary of State John S. Whalen
John S. Whalen
John Sibley Whalen was Secretary of State of New York from 1907 to 1908.-Biography:Whalen was a son of Richard Whalen of Rochester, one of the oldest tobacconists in the United States. He graduated from St. Patrick's Parochial School, Rochester High School, and Rochester Business Institute...
, Comptroller Martin H. Glynn
Martin H. Glynn
Martin Henry Glynn was an American politician. He was the 40th Governor of New York from 1913 to 1914, the first Irish American Roman Catholic head of government of what was then the most populated state of the US....
, Treasurer Julius Hauser
Julius Hauser
Julius Hauser was an American businessman and politician.-Life:...
, Attorney General William S. Jackson and State Engineer Frederick Skene
Frederick Skene
Frederick Skene was an American civil engineer and politician from New York...
.
The party was active in several other states, including California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where party nomineee Thomas L. Hisgen garnered a significant number of votes in the 1907 election for governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
.
The party nominated Thomas L. Hisgen for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and John Temple Graves for Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
at its national convention in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in July 1908. The party platform argued against corrupt machine politics, for the eight-hour work day, for the creation of a Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
, for government ownership of utilities (including railroads), and for the establishment of a central bank
Central bank
A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is a public institution that usually issues the currency, regulates the money supply, and controls the interest rates in a country. Central banks often also oversee the commercial banking system of their respective countries...
. The national party collapsed after the 1908 election
United States presidential election, 1908
The United States presidential election of 1908 was held on November 3, 1908. Popular incumbent President Theodore Roosevelt, honoring a promise not to seek a third term, persuaded the Republican Party to nominate William Howard Taft, his close friend and Secretary of War, to become his successor...
, in which Hisgen and Graves won less than one percent of the popular vote.
Hearst ran again for Mayor of New York in 1909, and for Lieutenant Governor in 1910, but was defeated both times. The New York Independence League continued to nominate candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York until the state election of 1914.