Apparently the term dates to the late 1910s.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=%22conspiracy+...
Provide a recommendation for a more neutral tone? That was the intent.
I was pointing out the purposeful use of the word "popularized" over "invented" or "created" or "made up", as it's written in poor reproductions of this conspiracy theory, because the verbiage a popular way to discredit the entire point.