Description
Marion Cannon is largely represented in this collection by
correspondence, speeches, newspaper clippings, political pamphlets and
biographical materials relevant to his most important years of public life
(1890-1895). Also of interest is his diary of a train trip from Emigrant Gap to
Wheeling, West Virginia (1872). Marion R. Walker is represented by
correspondence, speeches, position papers, clippings, government and party
publications, and biographical materials related to his congressional election
campaign (1949-50). Donald B. Walker is represented in this collection chiefly
by notes he has taken on non-White minorities in San Joaquin county
agriculture. Of particular interest are Walker's indexes of minorities and
agricultural topics derived from local newspapers and county land records
(1900-1925).
Background
The Cannon-Walker family came to California in 1850. The family have
been particularly active in mining, agriculture and public affairs. They are
represented in this collection by the papers of men from three different
generations: Marion Cannon (1834-1920); Marion R. Walker, Cannon's grandson
(1915-); and, Donald B. Walker, PhD., Cannon's great grandson, (1941-). Trained
in blacksmithing, Marion Cannon practiced that trade near Nevada City, using
his earnings to acquire mining claims. By 1857, he owned the Vulcan Mine, the
fourth largest hydraulic operation in Nevada County. Cannon gradually became
involved in public affairs, being first elected State Grand Steward of the
Masonic Order (1860) and subsequently Recorder of Nevada County (1867). In
1873, he purchased land in Ventura County and moved his family there. Cannon
farmed barley, beans, apricots, and walnuts for more than a decade before again
involving himself in public life. As a farmer, he came to know at first-hand
the railroad's strangle-hold on the distribution of farm produce. Although a
lifelong Democrat, Cannon saw that neither political party in California was
sufficiently free of railroad influence to fight its excesses for the popular
good. Thus, he helped to organize farmers, outside the two party system, in
opposition to the railroad's power: first, through the Farmers' Alliance, and,
later, through the Populist Party. An effective leader, Cannon was chosen first
President of the California Farmers' Alliance (1890) and two years later, when
the Alliance joined with labor organizations to create the Populist Party,
delegates to the State Convention chose Marion Cannon to run for the 6th
Congressional District seat, representing the voters of Los Angeles, Ventura,
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. He was
subsequently nominated by the Democratic Party, as well, and, in November 1892,
Cannon was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served one term
before being abandoned by the Populist Party as a result of disagreements with
other Party leaders over his association with the Democratic Party. Cannon's
political views were generally those expressed in the Populist Party platform
of 1892. He favored woman suffrage, government ownership of railways and the
popular election of senators, but was less committed to the cause of Free
Silver.