The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-11
The Brainiest Republican Of the
State Joins the Victors.
The Candidate for Governor Against
Bate Becomes One of Us.
He Cannot Support the High Pro-
tective Tariff Idea.
An Interview With the Judge Shows
Him To Be an Absolute Free
Trader and a Single Tax
Man-His Theory.

NASHVILLE Tenn, July l0.-Thc
Democrat tomorrow will publish the fol-
lowing. Learning that Judge Frank 7.
Reid, for many years staunch Republic
can in this State, and in 1884 the candidate
OF that party for Governor against the Hon.
William b. Bate, had expressed his inten- |
ton OF voting for Cleveland and Thurman |
at the ensuing Presidential election, a
Democrat reporter called upon him at his |
Office in the Caxtor court today and asked |
him for an expression of his views. In re-
ply to the question, SIS it true that you
intend to support Mr.. Cleveland in the
pending Presidential! campaign" the Judge
answered in the affirmative.
"will you take the stump to explain
your determination to renounce your al
legiance to the Republican partyf' in.
quired the scribe.
Whether shall take the stump during
the canvass will depend on circum-
stances" replied Judge Reid. "But il ]
do 1t will not be TO renounce what YOU
are pleased to term my allegiance to the
Republican party. still believe in the
creed Of that party, with the single excep.
ton that no longer believe in the doc
trinc OF protective tariff, and as that is
the distinctive, il not the sole issue in the
present canvass, think II Is my duty to
vote against the party that maintains II,
although on every other question | am in
agreement with that party. | am not
partisan and have never been one. by
partisan mean man who supports his
III Al.
whether he thinks his party right or wrong.
Jhave always done and shall continue to do
my own thinking on all subjects and shall
prove true TO the truth rs God gives me
10 see il. owe allegiance 10 no organza-
ton, except TO such rs represent ideas
which believe are sound and right. The
appearance within the recent past of the
many gigantic trusts and combinations
OF capital to control produce, TO monop-
ollie many OF the necessities OF life; the
large number and formidable character
OF the labor strikes during the same period
OF time, and the great interest shown in
contemporary literature in politics, social
and economic questions. have caused me
10 study the question Of the tariff rs ]
never did before, and the result is that
am convinced that portectivc tariff
murcs only TO the benefit OF q
- comparatively few manufacturers and
enables them 70 reap immense for
tunes by the tribute Il permits II to exact
OF consumers, and which they more and
more use 10 corrupt Legislatures and the
people nj the ballot box, aud that IL does
not operate to SECURE 10 the laboring men
OF the country higher wages than are paid
elsewhere. The amount OF manufacturers
net profits has nothing whatever to d,
with the rate Of wages he pays his labor
cs. II ought 10, but II does not. Thu
rate OF wages Is determined by the demand
for laborers. II the laboring men Of thi
country are paid better wages than the
brothers in England, which doubt, one OK
PLANTATION Of II is due not 10 the fact OF
protective tariff, but rather 10 the iact--
No pcni up Utica cuntrn = our powcrs
whole bonndlcs continent is ours'
'Tf there was the same density OF pop
ulation on our soilas in England our work
ing men would have no occasion 90 fclic
iiate themselves on getting better wage
than arr paid In England, and II TO insur
our laboring classes higher wages II is nee
essary 10 protect them against cheap ioreig
goods, does Il not equally follow that the
should be protected against the imports
ton OF cheap foreign labor2 But withou
assigning other reasons ! will say that
the gigantic combination OF capital know
as trusts and that these aud simila
monop0lics threaten the masses with u
dusirial slavery and forcshadow the ovcl
throw of free institutions"
"In a general way what Is the theory {
taxation which YOU now entertaint
IL believe In a single tax levied on Ian
values irrespective Of improvements. III
products OF labor, unless II IL unavoidable
ought not 90 be taxed, which Is but anolh'
way OF saying that labor ought 10 be I
Iaht a burden as possible. Men shoul
rather be encouraged 10 obey Gods con
mand. and by their labor on the raw m
= terials provided by him for that purpor
make the earth fruitful aud beautiful
Don't tax n man for building house.
IA 10 the interest OF the human family th
the building Of houses should be encou
aged. The mop houses the cheap
Is the rent and the better tile a
commodations. Don't tax one wi
proposes TO grow fruit and bring "
those In cities for them 20 eat. Don't II
a man for building an organ; We va
music here ON earth. Don't tax him
raising fine stock, or for anything "a
he creates by the sweat Of his brow NJ
brain, but here Is n species Of proper
that In Justice ought 10 bear all the bt
den. namely: land values values Great
not by the man who now enjoys th'
benefit or by any one from whom lac hol
little, but created 10y tho general pub
whose agent and representative the ~
eminent H. Here, for instance, We will :
ha vacant lot In the city VI Nashville
will say Il has been vacant since the CT
ton Of the earth-in other words, noihi
that those Who hold the legal title 10
have done has made Il worth It's rec
value LET ~ suppose " will sell ON
market at 500 loot, who created q
yaluc9 Why. the 1900 OF 5000 pco
who, on progress Of zine, have come h'
and built n city around u, or n man no
1860 acres oi land near the city, VIII
can be cold for $500 m acre without nj
cncc 90 anything he or those from VIII
he holds II has done to add 30 It's val
We will say Il is still the SAINT wildern
n was when our fathers came here O
broke the cane. OF course, moth
that he or they have done
created this value, but " "
solely 20 its continuity 90 this mari
You can sc that the adoption OF the
TEN In the levying and collecting OF TAI
while Il would no, add TO but would raj
= Tighten the burden now borne 10y ~
land owners Who have built on or oil
wise improved their land, would i0rce
owners of vacant land 10 either build
cultivate or else part with u TO those
would. II would destroy that worst
most dangerous species VI gambling, n
L., eaal