THE POPULIST MOVEMENT 



697 



define the section attacked in such a way as to refute the state- 

 ment. This ambiguity is due to the two opinions prevailing in 

 the convention which framed the platform, and to the endeavor 

 to satisfy both. There was, on the one hand, the real element 

 of the party itself and, on the other, the silver advocates who 

 had been drawn to the new party in the hope of advancing their 

 cause. It was for the purpose of appeasing the more conserva- 

 tive element that the platform was softened in places and the 

 utterances on certain subjects made less positive. But despite 

 the ambiguity of the platform as a whole, there are to be found 

 certain positive declarations of principles which may be compared 

 with the purposes of the socialist. By this means the real simi- 

 larity of the two views, if there be any, will appear. 



SOCIALIST 1 

 Abolition of inheritance in land or 

 other means of production, such 

 as machinery, railroads, tele- 

 graphs, and canals. 

 Abolition of private property in 

 land or any other means of the 

 production of wealth. 

 Abolition of wages system. 

 Abolition of competitive system. 

 National ownership of land. 



PEOPLE'S PARTY 



6. National ownership of railroads 

 and telegraphs. 

 A graded income tax. 

 A paper currency or fiat money. 

 Abolition of national banks. 

 The public lands to be declared 

 inalienable. Revocation of all 

 land grants to corporations or in- 

 dividuals, the conditions of which 

 have not been complied with. 



7- 



8. 



9- 

 10. 



" The land, including all the natural 

 sources of wealth, is the heritage of 

 the people and should not be monop- 

 olized for speculative purposes." 



National ownership of telegraphs and 

 railroads. 



A graded income tax. 



A paper currency or fiat money. 



Abolition of national banks. 



"Alien ownership of land should be 

 prohibited. All lands now held by 

 railroads and other corporations in 

 excess of their actual needs should 

 be reclaimed by the government and 



held for actual settlers only." 



1 10 in platform of Socialist Labor Party of the United States; 11, 12, 13, 14 

 in platform of Central Labor Union of Cleveland, Ohio; 1-9 given in Cook's 

 " Socialism and Universal Suffrage," p. 19. 



