The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-28
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Some Reflections Upon Democrat
Relations to the Tariff Question.
Indiana and Her Democratic Favorite
SOus---POints About the speak
ersAip---J. G. y. Blackburn
Interviewed.

CINCINNATI, Nov. -"Jayhawker," The
Enqdirer's indianapolis correspondent, in
di. atch discussing the relations of the De-
mocraty To the tariff question, after referring
t. the Democratic national platform OF 1917
and its free trade plank and Senator Voor-
hees prediction that it would lose Hancock
the state of Indiana, continues:
In 1882 Mr.. Voorhees, wrote the Democratic
platform for his party in this state. The fol-
lowia. is The section relating to the tariff:
we demand a revision of the present I'M
lust IN. iii. The constitution of the United
States confers upon congress the power to
establish a tariff of revenue, and as just
and proper exercise of that power we favor
alch an adjustment of its provisions within
the revenue standard as viii promote the in
dustl1es Uf the country and protect the inter
ests OF labor without creating monopolies."
Upon that platform the Democracy went
into tle campaign and carried the state by
1000 votes, and the response which came
from the rural districts showed that the
country people-the agricultural element
had views on the tariff question.
In 1882 the Democracy carried Ohio on the
liquor question In 1882 they adopted the
Indiana platform-the Voorhees, platform
almost literally, and lost nearly the entire
liquor interest vote; but they gained enough
votes among the wool growers TO carry their
state and legislative tickets through. They
carried the wool growing interest vote be-
cause a Republican congress had reduced
the tariff, and consequently the price, ON an
article produced by seven out of ten OF all the
farmers in that state.
But the Ohio Democracy were not the only
ones who adopted the VOORHEES, platform on
the tariff Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey, Missouri, California and New York also
HdoDted it. The action of the Democracy in
those states showed that the lessons OF 1886
were not unheeded In spite Of the noise
made by few politicians, the sentiment OF
the Democratic party so far as it has been
oGiciali. announced since 1880, is in favor
q. such tariff as viii promote The
industries of the country" Senator Voor-
lee, was the first conspicuous member of his
party who Ind the courageo OF his convictions,
ana broke away from the platform which in
1880 Gen Hancock tried to explain away
and in doing 81 wrote his own political cpl
rapi, and in his views Senator VOORHEES, rep
resents three lifths Of the voters of In.
diana If any man holding different
views should be elected speaker Of the
house, the Republicans win carry In
diana i'll 1854 b. fifteen OF twenty
thousand majority, 10 matter what pledges
may lie put in the Democratic platform thai
year. II the pledges Of so many state con
Ventions of this year are meaningless they
will no. be accepted next year. Last yea
indiana produced over 5000, 900 600 worth O
manufactured articles, and whether tariff
''tllat viii promote the industries OF tn
country" IS the right thing or net the peopl
want it tSat way, and they viii not vote TO
any man or party whose convictions are op
posed to their ideas.