The election resulted in the success of the entire Republican ticket by an average majority of about 8,500.
The election for Representatives in Congress resulted in the choice of seven Republicans, and two opposition. In the Sixth District, General James B. Weaver, fusion candidate of the Democratic and Greenback parties, was elected; and in the Seventh District, E. H. Gillette, fusion candidate, was elected.
The first political State Convention for the year 1879 was held by the Democrats at Council Bluffs on the 21st of May. The only new declaration among the resolutions was the following:
“We favor the free and unlimited coinage of the silver dollar at 412½ grains and the providing of certificates for silver bullion which may be deposited in the United States Treasury, the same to be legal tender for all purposes.”
The following candidates were nominated for State officers: for Governor, H. H. Trimble; Lieutenant-Governor, J. A. O. Yeomans; Supreme Judge, Reuben Noble; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Erwin Baker.
The State Convention of the Greenback party was held at Des Moines on the 28th of May and adopted a lengthy series of resolutions, making the following new declarations:
“We demand the unlimited coinage of the silver dollar of the present standard of weight and fineness.
We demand the reduction of the official fees and salaries of all officers from twenty-five to fifty per cent.
We favor the suppression of the evils of intemperance by all just and legal means.
We desire that mortgages be required to pay an equitable share of the taxes on mortgaged land.
We desire the reduction of the penalty on delinquent taxes to ten per cent. per annum.
We favor the repeal of the railroad commissioners law and legislation to reduce and equalize freights.
We desire that prison contract labor should never come in competition with free labor.”
