POPULIST PARTY PLATFORM

POPULIST PARTY PLATFORM

• FREE AND UNLIMITED COINAGE OF SILVER

• 16 : 1 RATIO

• Why?– More $ in circulation

• Help farmers obtain loans

– Ease inflation• Help farmers purchase

necessary machines


• GRADUATED INCOME TAX– Rate of taxation goes

up as income goes up.

– 16TH Amendment (1912)

• Reduce power of wealthy over country

• Promote programs to help common man with increased tax dollars.


• SECRET (AUSTRALIAN) BALLOT

• Voting often in public– Avoid pressure from

boss and landlord


• DIRECT ELECTION OF US SENATORS– Constitution;

• Article I

– State legislatures chose US Senators from their state

– 17TH Amendment

• Unfair influence by business lobbyists

• Want PEOPLE to have a direct involvement in choosing their elected officials.


• INITIATIVE• REFERENDUM• RECALL

• Give the PEOPLE more direct voice in government– Initiative enables citizens to

draft laws and constitutional amendments and place them on the ballot for a popular vote.

- Referendum provides for a popular vote on laws passed by the legislature.

- Recall allows citizens to remove elected officials from office.


• SHORTER WORKING HOURS

• RESTRICT IMMIGRATION

• Improve working conditions of laboring class

• Prevent increase in workers from driving wages down.


• SUBTREASURY • Blamed bankers for farmers’ problems

• Want to end national banking system

FAILS: Federal Reserve System established 1913.


• GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF RAILROADS, TELEPHONE, AND TELEGRAPH SYSTEM

• Angered by unfair rates– Want federal gov’t to

take ownership of these companies

• FAILS: Socialist policy; little support

• T. Roosevelt will reform RR practice.

POPULIST PARTY PLATFORM

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