The Independent Reform Party, sometimes also known as the Anti-Monopoly Party, was a short-lived political party in

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

, in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. Arising out of the disorder created by the fracturing of the Republican Party in 1872, when the Liberal Republican Party had been created, it was organized on June 10, 1874, in a convention at Springfield. 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 The National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864 were two United States federal banking acts that established a system of national banks chartered at the federal level, and created the United States National Banking System. They encouraged developmen ...

, and the institution of an inflationary currency policy based on the greenback. 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. This platform was also endorsed by the state convention of the Liberal Republican Party under former Illinois governor John M. Palmer, with the exception of the currency plank. At the convention,

Richard Rowett Richard Rowett (November 17, 1830 – July 13, 1887) was a leading political figure of nineteenth-century Illinois, a famous animal breeder and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was born in East Looe, Cornwall in 1830 ...

had argued forcefully for the party platform to support the gold standard, but he was defeated by advocates of

inflation In economics, inflation is an increase in the average price of goods and services in terms of money. This increase is measured using a price index, typically a consumer price index (CPI). When the general price level rises, each unit of curre ...

. A provision that would have insisted on the full payment of the national debt was also defeated. Several Independent Reform Party representatives were elected to the 29th Illinois General Assembly in 1874. There they joined other reform parties and independents in caucusing with the Democrats, giving that party a majority in both chambers and control of the leadership. However, the tensions between Democrats and reformers made the 29th General Assembly unusually turbulent. At the statewide level, the Independent Reform Party nominated David Gore for Treasurer and 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.

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* * * * *{{Cite book, title=Illinois Legislative Manual–1875, url=http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/bb/id/48264, year=1875, ref={{harvid, 1875 Blue Book 1874 establishments in Illinois Defunct political parties in the United States Political parties established in 1874

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