standpatters

standpatters, in U.S. history, term used early in the 20th cent. to designate conservatives in the Republican party as against the Insurgents or progressive Republicans. The term is said to have originated in Mark Hanna's remark concerning an election—all that was necessary for Republican success was, in poker parlance, to "stand pat."

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.