William A. Peffer of Kansas, from the Presidential Possibilities series (N124) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888

W. Duke, Sons & Co. produced this lithograph of William A. Peffer, the Kansas Senator, as part of a series called "Presidential Possibilities," used to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. During the late 19th century, political endorsements and advertising were frequently intertwined, reflecting an era of rapid industrialization and shifting social norms. Peffer, a leader of the Populist Party, advocated for farmers and laborers against corporate power, at a time when the country grappled with the consequences of economic inequality. The image of Peffer, with his distinct and substantial beard, taps into a visual language of authenticity and rugged individualism, characteristics often associated with the heartland and its values. But this presentation of rural virtue also obscures the complexities of race, class, and labor that defined the Populist movement. The romanticization of the rural, of "honest" labor, can blind us to the historical realities and lived experiences of many.