Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-11
HIS VIEWS STATED.
Mr. Cable Answers a Letter of
Inquiry.
n Manly AvOwal on Public Measures
From the Demo cratic Candidate for
Congress-A staunch FRIEND OF the
HeDnepin Canal.

Congress-A Stnunch FRIEND OF the
HeDnepin Canal.
The ARGUS takes pleasure in publish
ing below letter of inquiry from Mr..
j. s. Smith, of Sou tn Moline, prominen,
member of'the Farmers Alliance, to Mr.
Ben I. Gable, and the latter gsntleman's
| reply thereto. Mr.. Cables letter cannot
fail but be read with interest by every
voter in the Eleventh district. as it deals
directly with matters of great public con.
Germ and indicates clearly how his ener-
gies will be directed should he be sent to
Washington to represent this district.
Here are the two epistles:
Rock RIVER STOCK FIRM,
SOUTH MJLNs, Sept. 4, 1890.
BEN L. CABLE. ESQ Dear Sir:-I as.
sumo, of course, that you, as the demo.
cratic candidate for congress. endorse
| the democratic platform. But, in CON,
mon with others. would be glad to have
from you an EXPIRE 5sion of your views in
regard to trusts. the tariff. the free COIN
age of silver, increase of the circulating
medium, government control OF railroad
transportation. the Hennepin canal, and
the organization OF the industrial classes,
to secure Legislation in their interest.
l should re pleased TO have you ex>
press your views for publication upon
these different subjects. Yours truly,
J. s. SMITH.
To j. S Smith, Rock River Stock Farm, South
Moline, H..
Rock ISLAND. sept. 6.-My Dear Sir:
| am in receipt of your letter, wherein
you ask me to dtfine my position upon
certain public Questi ons, which you there
liz submit to me.
In reply thereto, beg to say that nv
acceptance of the nomination to congress,
with which my party so recently bonored
ME, carried with it. thought, in the alb,
sence of any specific disavowal, a full en-
doIsement of the pledges of party faith
made by the democracy in its convention
at Springfield, on June 4th. Yet, as you
desire direct expression of opinion upon
questions answered in part by my hearty
endorsement of my party's platform, |
tdhS SICoe plCdSuic III OHcTiuS IL 10 you
l believe that reduction of the duties
upon imports now paid, under existing
tariff laws, is niece ssary TO the prosperity
of our people, and hence am unuttera
bly, opposed to the whole spirit of the
Mckinley bill. with its increase of what
regard as an already unjust and oppres>
sive taxation.
The necessary moneys TO defray the
current expenses of the government, to
provide properly for national defense, and
for wise internal improvements should be
raised through system of internal reve
nue. taxation. and the levyiug of duties
upon foreign goods brought to our
shores. But these duties should be so
adjusted as to bear as lightly as possible
upon the necessaTies of life, and heavily
upon all Injuries
That manufacturers may be better en-.
abled TO compete in foreign markets as
well as to sell their goods cheaper to the
home consumer, l believe that raw ma
terials should be placed on the free list;
upon the free list likewise should be
placed all goods manufactured by trusts,
| that the power of the latter may be
| broken. and that the people may enjoy
| the benefits of competition from
abroad, which. By combination, has been
stifled at home.
1t is the purpose of the democratic
party to REVISE the tariff in this spirit, and
| from those who hold such a revision a
wise one, it is fairly entitled to support
Upon the farmer and the labo-er the
burden of tariff Taxation has rested with
| crushing weight. II has protected the
| manufacturer but not the laborer of the
| farm and of the shop. | regard it as a
hopeful sign of the times TO find the latter
| joined together in an alliance for mutual
benefit and relief in opposing the silent
tax gatberer who collects tribute al
every customs port of the United States.
u seeking through organization. the full
establishment of their rights. And these
organizations have my hearty sympathy
in their efforts 10 promote the interests
and improve the condition of the indus
trial classes of this country
| | desire circulating medium adequate
to the needs of our people, and with this
in view land to settle definitely what has
been disturbing element in our national
| inance.) | believe in the restoration OF
silver to its former place in our coinage
to coming it as freely as gold is coined un-
der such conditions that It's demonetiza,
ton in the future will be made practical,
ly impossible.
Railroad companies are public servants
and as such are answerable to the people
for proper discharge of their duties.
believe, therefore. not only that il is with
in the province of the government, bu
that it is its duty. to exercise control owe
these corporations, and to prescribe
lequitably and fairly the maximum rate
OF transportation. for both freight anC
passengers.
| Concerning the Hennepin canal, | be.
to assure you that advocate its buildin.
as heartily as you or as any other citiZel
deeply interested in national work of it
Importance. A waterway connecting TIL
Mississippi and Missouri rivers witt
the great lakes giving thus to western
products direct water communication
with the east. enlists my heartiest sympa
thy and support, and have no hesitanc
in pledging my best endeavOrs to &C
lcomplish so desirable an end.
Trusting that / have answered th
questions you have put to me in man
liner sufficiently explicit, | have the homo
to be, respectfully yours.
BEN T. CABLE.