LAD #19

The Populist Party represented a third party separate from the Democrats and Rpublicans. This party opposed "concentrated capital" of banks and big businesses in response to the growing industrialism. In the preamble the party addresses that workmen have lost all power and have been demoralized, silenced and victims of corruption. It is the Populist Party's goal to restore government to to the hands of the people and end all the poverty due to the injustices of big businesses. The platform states that the union of labor forces of the US should remain permanent and continues to say that wealth that is taken from industry without an equivalent is robbery. Furthermore the government should work on owning and managing the railroads. The platform continues on the topic of finance saying that the party demands a national currency, safe, sound, circulation increased and a graduated income tax. They also believed that the government should operate the railroads, telegragh and telegram in order to benefit the people. Land also should be held by the government and sold to actual settlers only. The party also expresses some sentiments which include: demand free ballot and fair count in all elections, money made from graduated income tax should be used to ease the burned of taxation on industries, support soldiers, protect laborers, and limit the office of President and Vice President to only one term.