# Independent Reform Party

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{{About|the defunct Illinois political party|the Canadian party sometimes known by this name|Reform Party of Ontario|the United States movement sometimes called the "Independent/Reform Party"|United States Reform Party}}

The '''Independent Reform Party''', sometimes also known as the '''Anti-Monopoly Party''',{{sfn|Prominent Democrats|1899|p=58}} was a short-lived political party in [Illinois](/source/Illinois), in the [United States](/source/United_States).  Arising out of the disorder created by the fracturing of the [Republican Party](/source/United_States_Republican_Party) in 1872, when the [Liberal Republican Party](/source/Liberal_Republican_Party_(United_States)) had been created, it was organized on June 10, 1874, in a convention at Springfield.{{sfn|1908 Blue Book|p=546}} It fielded candidates in that year's elections but disappeared thereafter.

The platform of the Independent Reform Party called for budget cuts, the repeal of the [National Bank Act](/source/National_Bank_Act), and the institution of an inflationary currency policy based on the [greenback](/source/United_States_Note). It criticized the corruption of the existing parties, focusing on corrupt ties between government and the railroad industry: the party demanded an end to railroad land grants and the giving of free railroad passes to elected officials, and strict enforcement of the existing railroad laws.{{sfn|1908 Blue Book|p=546}}  This platform was also endorsed by the state convention of the Liberal Republican Party under former Illinois governor [John M. Palmer](/source/John_M._Palmer_(politician)),{{sfn|1908 Blue Book|p=546}} with the exception of the currency plank.{{sfn|Moses|1892|p=827}}

At the convention, [Richard Rowett](/source/Richard_Rowett) had argued forcefully for the party platform to support the gold standard, but he was defeated by advocates of [inflation](/source/inflation_(economics)).{{sfn|1908 Blue Book|p=546}}{{sfn|Moses|1892|p=825}}  A provision that would have insisted on the full payment of the national debt was also defeated.{{sfn|Moses|1892|p=825}}

Several Independent Reform Party representatives were elected to the [29th Illinois General Assembly](/source/29th_Illinois_General_Assembly) in 1874.{{sfn|1875 Blue Book|pp=82-88}} There they joined other reform parties and independents in caucusing with the [Democrats](/source/United_States_Democratic_Party), giving that party a majority in both chambers and control of the leadership.{{sfn|Moses|1892|p=829}}  However, the tensions between Democrats and reformers made the 29th General Assembly unusually turbulent.{{sfn|Moses|1892|p=829}}

At the statewide level, the Independent Reform Party nominated David Gore for Treasurer and [Samuel Etter](/source/Samuel_Etter) for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Etter was also nominated by the Democrats, and thus was elected by a narrow 30,000-vote margin, while Gore was defeated by 35,000 votes.{{sfn|Prominent Democrats|1899|p=58}}{{sfn|McPherson|1876|p=255}}

==See also==
*[Opposition Party (United States)](/source/Opposition_Party_(Illinois))
*[Greenback Party](/source/Greenback_Party)

==References==
<references/>

==Works cited==
*{{Cite book|title=A Hand-Book of Politics for 1876|publisher=Philp & Solomons|year=1876|url=https://archive.org/details/ahandbookpoliti03mcphgoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/ahandbookpoliti03mcphgoog/page/n265 255]|first=Edward|last=McPherson}}
*{{Cite book|title=Illinois, historical and statistical|year=1892|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pRcVAAAAYAAJ|first=John|last=Moses}}
*{{Cite book|title=Illinois Blue Book|year=1908|author=|ref={{harvid|1908 Blue Book}}|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=arwGAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA546}}
*{{Cite book|title=Prominent Democrats of Illinois|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7RWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA58|year=1899|ref={{harvid|Prominent Democrats|1899}}}}
*{{Cite book|title=Illinois Legislative Manual&ndash;1875|url=http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/bb/id/48264|year=1875|ref={{harvid|1875 Blue Book}}}}

Category:1874 establishments in Illinois
Category:Defunct political parties in the United States
Category:Political parties established in 1874

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