Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-06
NEW ISSUES.
Mr.. Hetuttt's Opinion as to the FMtMre Pol.
icy of the Democratic Party.

NEW lSSU EEs
Mr.. He,uttts Opinion as to the Failure Pol
icy of the Democratic Party.
New York Special.
The New York World and the leaders of
the Democracy are casting about for new is.
sues upon which the party may pose in a
more life-like attitude before the country.
The World is upholding civil service reform
as an Issue worthy of the party most zeal
GUS advocacy. Mr.. Hewitt, in an interview,
mentioned few principles which he thinks
the Democrats should cherish and cham
pion. AS to the tariff laws, he said
While they undoubtedly need revision and
reform, think public sentiment is not sufi-
ciently educated to make it advisable for the
Democratic party to declare in favor of un-
restricted free trade. They might win in the
end, but think the victory would be long
time coming. Legislation in this direction
should be tentative and progressive, just as
we find that it can be applied to the public
interest. At present, therefore, it is enough
on revenue reform.
He is strongly in favor of making Demo-
cratic hobby of civil service reform.
He says;
There are already many men who have
grown gray in the civil service, and who are
not removed with the change of politics.
This is because they are skilled and ex-
perienced, and necessary to the proper ad-
ministration of the department.. The diff
Guilty that We labor under is that men are
foisted upon these skilled officers who are
unfit for the work to which they are ap-
pointed because of their political activity,
and places are made for others not at all
necessary. If the incumbent were to be
made permanent, and removable for cause
only, this would cease in great measure.
It certainly would if the appointments
were to be made after a careful ex-
animation. The system of competitive ex-
animation is the best practical substitute for
selfish interest and watchfulness upon the
part of the individual. The levying of po-
itical assessments is an evil which should be
corrected. Whether it is necessary to make
it penal offense or not, am not prepared
to say. I should suppose, however, that the
fact of the places being permanent, not sub
ject to the caprice or whim of the politicians,
the motive for payment would be gone, and
that the system would fall because not sup
ported or effective.
the laboring classes and their grievance
should engage the attention Of the Democ-
racy. He says:
The mission of the Democratic party is
clear and unmistakable. It must take care
of the poor man, redress his grievances and
further his interests. The workingmen
have the balance of the power, and the Dem
ocratic party will assume control when it puts
in 10 r1rn ho nh
of labor. 1t ID far easier to say what should
be done than to tell how it should be done.
The problem Of the relation of labor to cap
ital is not easy of solution. believe the So
luton of this problem lies far deeper
than in any remedy yet suggested
in legislation. The burdens of gov
ernment are not equally distributed
In my opinion capital does not bear irs
proportionate share. The legislation hereto
fore has been largely in the interestof CAPT.
tai and not at all in the, interest of labor.
Capital receives the greatest benefit from So
ciety and the preservation of order, yet it es-
capes by its power and by the system that
has grown up, the burdens it should proper
ly bear. The tax which is laid for the sup
port of the national government, and which
meets its obligations in the way of debt and
interest, is laid upon the consumer. The
poor laboring men are the consumers. The
proportion as capitalists to the poor men is
not relative. 1he burden of tax, therefore,
rests upon the poor man ont of all proper
ton to his means Of sustaining it. He is
not taxed directly, and therefore he does not
know how he is oppressed, or by whom; yet
the actual misery of oppression is
felt nevertheless. Wise legislation should
correct this evil and remove this burden
from the shoulders of the poor man. By
taking the tax off consumption the evil would
be remedied.
There is another phase of this question
that 1 approach with some hesitation, be-
cause l am liable to be misunderstood; and
perhaps it should not be touched upon at all
if not discussed minutely and exhaustively.
However, can raise the question without
being called to account, for I raise it for dis
cussion. This is, what rights have the work
iDgmen, the poor men, ia the
unearned increment is the prop
erty of fhe country. By unearned
increment mean the property which is ao-
cumulated without effort by it's possessor.
For instance, have in my minds eye a
man who inherited some property in real
estate in this city, which, in the
lapse or his years, has grown to
enormous value. That value has come with
the growth of the city. The growth of the
city has been the result of the industry and
Intelligence of the people. The holder of
the property has done nothing to Increase
its value. He has simply held No. l. By
no act of his has he accumulated his wealth.
All of that has been done by other people,
who do not benefit by it particle. He is
allowed to retain possession of it because
| we do not know how to arrange it better
But is not the workingman, who, by his
productive labor, made the land rich, en-
titled to share of it-not in the commun-
istic sense, that he has lately received atten-
tion; but has he not some rights in that
property which is the result of his skilled
and industrious labor, and not that of tie
man who holds possession? 1t seems to me
| be has right that should be made to tell
for him in some way, and if no other, then
in lessening the burden of taxation. John
Stuart Mill has discussed the question of in
crement, and has arrived at the conclusion
that in some way it should belong to The peo-
| pie and not tho individual who happens to
get possession of it. I think the subject
| will bear more exhaustive discussion be-
fore the people than it has received.
There are other questions in this branch