People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1892 — BEGINNING TO HEDGE. [ARTICLE]

BEGINNING TO HEDGE.

Free Trade and an Income Tax U the Ideal System of Civilised Taxation. Senator Vest, of Missouri, says in an interview that the democrats would proceed cautiously in reforming the tariff and would not smash the McKinley bill as a blacksmith would destroy a watch. Free trade, pure and simple, he said, was impossible, for the only proper way to raise money to carry on the government was by a customs tariff. The tariff, however, would be reduced along conservative lines in such a manner as to lessen the cost of living to the common people. The senator ridiculed the idea of an extra session of congress to deal with the tariff. “Mr. Cleveland,” he said, “is too level headed for any such nonsense. He does not believe in a cavalry charge upon the existing system of taxation and finance, and he will proceed slowly.” Mr. Vest is off his base. The only just and proper way to raise revenue is by a graded tax upon net incomes and a tax upon unoccupied and unused land. Trade between nations should be absolutely free. The protective features of the tariff apply to money lenders and not to laborers. Give us as . cheap money as England enjoys and we can complete with the world. The present scale of wages allows laborers little else than a bare subsistence. When clothes and iron are free from duty and tea, coffee and sugar are taxed, it will not be lopg before laborers are willing to vote for free trade and an income tax. —L'or the first time in twenty-five years the democrats are in a minority in the “solid south.” Even in Texas, a majority of 111,000 is changed to a minority 30,00 a