Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1912-09-13

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as follows:
1t IS pleasant thing to return to
Nevada after so long an absence and
o see old friends. to breathe the in
spring mountain air, and to view
the expansive horizon 50 stimulating
to breadth OF thought and compre-
hensive action.
/ We are now upon the eve OF a presi-
Eential election. How changed the
conditions are! The then discredit-
ed candidate of democracy Is now tri-
umphant in public opinion every
where. and the policies which he then
maintained, dating back in their in
ception to his wonderful campaign
OF 1896, now constitute the basic
creed Of the presidential candidate,
who then supporting the republican
party as the best agency for national
development, now abandons and seeks
% destroy 1t. Whilst the triumphant
andidate OF that campaign, deserted
by the men who then constituted his
1talizing support, Is engaged in a
contention with his old-time friend
which entirely obscures his contest
with democracy.
Tho Democrats in Power
The democrats are about to come
into power What will they do with
| power? Is asked, Will the policy of |
the democratic party be revolutionary |
or evolutionary? Will its action be |
so radical, so full or disturbing re-
adjustments as to c. sate a revulsion /
in public sentiment. Or will 1t adj
vance-toward radical ends by conserv-
alive methods. in such a way as to
accomplish in a gradual way the re-
forms it has in view. without dis
turbing American labor or DESTROY
ing American Industries?
National Powers
We are struggling for the con-
troll of the national government What
can the national government do, and
what ought 1t to do? Did you ever
realize how simple our problems are
That they are not really more COM
pl1cated than are the affairs of somej
OF these great corporations which
have been so prominent N the public
eye?
We have a union of states. The
sovereignty OF that union Is limited.
1t does not extend to matters of pure
ly domestic concern which can be-
covered by state and municipal adj
ministration. It extends only to mat
ters relating to the national defense,
the general welfare, the regulation
of interstate and foreign commerce,
the conduct Of our foreign relations,
and the collection of such revenue as
may be needed for these purposes,
Under the national defense the ma
tional government covers the army
and navy; under the general welfare
the nation provides for a postal serv-
ice, cooperates with the states in ad-
yancement OF agricultural and voca-
tional training, and in the advance
ment of literature and arts, and the
investigation OF all subject relating to
public health and to social justice.
Under the power to regulate inter-
state and foreign commerce It de-
velopes our rivers, encourages and
regulates our railroads, promotes our
coastwise trade, and stimulates for
elgn trade.
Taxation and Revenue
To do all these things money is re-
CURED, and hence the necessity for
taxation and revenue Under our
constitution no direct tax can be
levied upon real or personal proper
ty. Our revenue, therefore, consists
of indirect taxes, such as the duties
hn II
taxes, on spirits and tobacco, and
the charges imposed through the
postage stamps for the use of the
mails
OF our revenue about one-tourth
comes from the postal service, one
third from internal revenue taxes,
one-third from the customs duties,
and a small balance from the excise
taxes on corporations and from other
sources. It will thus be perceived
that wealth as such contributes little
to our national revenue, and our con-
tention for years has been to shift q
portion of the burden from mere con-
sumption to positive wealth. The
democratic party has been engaged
In a struggle to accomplish this, and
when the income tax amendment Is
adopted by the states itswill proceed
to. do so. It will also probably pro-
coed to tax inheritances. allowing
deduction Of at least 'one-hak where
similar taxes are imposed by the
states.
Tho Income Tax
The operation OF an income tax 10
always exaggerated. In the first
place. It always exempts fair allow
ance to cover the cost OF living, upon
tho assum ption that the cost of liY-