Peonage

3670

Pepper

and is a winter invalid and summer bathing
resort; p. 12,087.

Peonage, a term loosely used to denote the
system of labor formerly prevalent in Mexico
and other parts of Spanish America. Event-
ually, through the aggressions of the upper
classes, the laborer was reduced to a state
resembling serfdom.

Peony (Pteonia), a genus of perennial her-
baceous plants and shrubs belonging to the
order Ranunculacese. They generally bear
large showy flowers, some double, and some
recent garden hybrids being of great beauty.
They like deeply dug, somewhat rich soil, and
plenty of space.

People's Party, the official designation of
an American political party now commonly

site on a broad plateau, 40 ft. above the river,
which widens above into the expanse known
as Peoria Lake. Rolling prairies surround the
city.

Peoria is an important manufacturing cen-
ter. Products include: tractors, lawn sprink-
lers, washing machines, commercial solvents,
food products, whiskies, clothing, agricultural
implements, oil burners, watches, barrels, pa-
per, candies, cereals, steel and wire fence, beef
and pork goods; p. 105,087. There is a live-
stock market and, nearby, a rich coal area.
The city is the seat of Bradley Polytechnic
Institute.

Pepin, or Pippin, the name of several
Carlovingian rulers.

Pepper, or Piper, a genus of plants, chiefly

called the Populist Party. It was organized tropical, belonging to the order Piperuceai. The

St. Michael's Mount, Penzance.

in 1891 to represent the interests of farmers
and workingmen. The platform of the party
demanded free coinage of silver; the issue of
paper -money to be loaned directly to farmers
on the security of agricultural crops; the abo-
lition of national banks; government owner-
ship of railways; telegraphs and telephones;
a graduated income tax; and the prohibition
of alien ownership of land. At the National
Convention of the People's Party in 1892 the
above-mentioned principles were embodied in
the platform, and James B. Weaver of Iowa
was nominated for President. In 1896, the
Democratic Party having adopted many of
the principles advocated by the People's
Party, the latter organization endorsed the
candidacy of W. J. Bryan, but nominated a
candidate of its own, Thomas E. Watson, for
the vice-presidency. In the end the party
lost the greater part of its following through
absorption into the radical wing of the Demo-
cratic party.
Peoria, city, Illinois, occupies a beautiful

most important species is P. ninrum, from
which is obtained the black and white pepper
of commerce. The berries arc bright scarlet
when ripe; the dried berries, collected before
maturity, black and wrinkled, constitute black
pepper. White pepper is obtained by remov-
ing the outer skin of the ripe fruit. Red or
Cayenne pepper comes from Capsicum, a
native of the New World.

Pepper, George Wharton (1867- )»
American lawyer and public official, was born
in Philadelphia, graduated from the University
of Pennsylvania, and practised law in Phila-
delphia where he was active in political, finan-
cial and civic circles. In 1915 he delivered the
Lyman Beecher lecture at Yale College. In
1922 he was appointed United States Senator
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Boies Penrose, and was subsequently elected
for the termn ending in 1927. Among his
writings are Men and Issues (1924) j In the
Senate (1930); Family Quarrels (1031).

Pepper, William (1843-98), American