Work in progress — cycles are added one at a time. Every quote is machine-verified against an archived source; follow the links to read it.
Frank Knox vs William Lemke
| Issue | Frank Knox | William Lemke |
|---|---|---|
| Public control of the central bank and money creation | — | 'Drive the money changers out of the temple': public control of money and credit, further inflation of the currency vague_gesturenot_applicable The Union Party's founding program as Coughlin stated it -- take money creation from private banks; go 'much further in the inflationists' direction' than the Thomas amendment and silver purchase. |
| Amending the Constitution to enlarge (or restrain) federal power | New federal activities only when legalized by constitutional amendment -- 'the horse and buggy method' specific_pledgenot_applicable Accept that changing conditions call for increased federal activity, but insist every new activity be authorized by amendment, not by laws that 'flout the Constitution.' |
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| Balancing the federal budget | A budget balanced immediately and a currency based on and convertible into gold specific_pledgenot_applicable Balance the budget at once; return to a gold-based, convertible currency 'as swiftly as possible'; no coercion in business or agriculture. |
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| Overall role and scale of the federal government | Fair, honest, economical and efficient government; preserve free enterprise against 'amateur economic planners' vague_gesturenot_applicable No 'patent nostrums': promise honest administration, economy, and sensible measures; the election decides between regimentation by federal bureaucrats and free enterprise under constitutional powers. |
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| Minimum wages | — | A 'living annual wage' -- $1,800 for a family of five -- by federal law and a constitutional amendment if necessary specific_pledgenot_applicable Coughlin's plank for the Union candidate: amend the Constitution so 'free unbridled competition must submit to reasonable Federal laws' guaranteeing a fair annual wage to every willing worker. |
| Farm and home mortgage relief | — | Refinance farm mortgages through the Frazier-Lemke plan (government-issued credit at low interest) specific_pledgenot_applicable The 'inflationary farm mortgage bill' Lemke authored: federal refinancing of farm debt with currency issued for the purpose, blocked by the administration and the House in 1936. |
| Old-age pensions and social insurance | — | The Townsend $200-a-month pension as a plank of the Union coalition vague_gesturenot_applicable Absorb the Townsend clubs into the Union ticket; Dr. Townsend endorsed Lemke at Cleveland in August. |
| How to finance old-age and unemployment insurance (contributory reserve vs. pay-as-you-go) | The Social Security Act is 'unworkable and unsound' -- 'lip service to security'; a Republican administration would offer its own legislation directional_stancenot_applicable Replace the Act; warn workers the taxes will rise and that 'the people are going to retire Santa Claus.' |
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