Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1888-07-24
OUT FOR CLEVELAND.

One Of the latest sensations in the po-
litical circles of Los Angeles, Cal, is tho
conversion of Hon. Calvin Edgerton, a
life long Republican. to the reform
ideas Of the Democratic party. Mr..
Edkerton was interviewed by an Exam
liner reporter to whom he gave a clear
and concise statement OF the causes
which lead him to abandon the party
with which he has been associated ever
since he became voter. Among other
things he saids
when the defeat of 1884 came I ct
first attributed it to accidental causes,
and not, in large sense, at least, as q
popular expression upon the question
of high protection certainly not as
now presented. Nor did regard it as
the then purpose of the Republican
party to make extreme protection its
absolute and supreme policy. The Re-
publican party, in its platform of 1884,
pledged itself to correct the inequalities
of the tariff, and also to reduce the sur
plus. thus admitting that the tariff, the
work of it's own hands, needed revision.
because it was unequal, and therefore
unjust, and also confessing that the
then surplus was an evil. It empha-
sized this by charging the Democratic
party with having failed completely to
relieve the people of the burden of un-
necessary taxation by a vice reduction
of the surplus. The conclusion
necessarily follows that in 1884 the Re-
publican party, by its platform, did
hold that the tariff wos. to use its own
language, burden of unnecessary taxa.
ton.
~ hold that the Republican platform
Of 1868 directly confessed the inju. tioe
of the war tariff because it bore injuri-
ousIy upon labor, for it said: 1T is due
to the labor of the nation that taxation
Should' be eguaLized and reduced a. fast as
tie national faith OilI permit and added
that the Government should be admin
istered with the striotest economy. If
the tariff then hurt labor and did not
raise wages, how can it be possible for
increased duties upon the necessaries of
life in 1883 to help it and raise its
wages2 And if it was then a system Of
taxation, needing reduction and equali-
z.tion for the good of labor, how can
the present position of the party be de-
Tended?
1.-THE representatives of the Republi-
can party in Congress and at Chicago in
1888 hive, however, unitedly opposed
all attempts at revision or reduction and
treat the surplus as triumph and vim
dication Of Republican policy. / regard
the fact of o surplus itself us IN evil
deuoe, to put it mildly. of something
wrong. Sensible men know thnt it is
not mere menace, but n positive dau.
ger to the country. 1t is gathered, not
from the ill-gotten wealth of the mo-
nopolist, but wrenohed from tho earn
ings of labor
ITO vote for Harrison and Morton il
TO give vote for TN arrogant, insolent
aud selfish oligarchy of wealth, whose
superiority, rank and right to ho'd
power are based only upon the power OF
money dishonesty acquired aud dis.
hone fly held--which will be oorruptly
used to secure the SUCCESS of the Rcpub,
lican party, which success means the
wretcheduess Of labor, riches Tor the
few aud poverty for the many. The cry
OF free trade il but cry. There il
no occasion for it. No man of sense
fears it as result Of the success Of the
Dcmocratic party. III Republican sue
ce5s see only the triumph Of the fov