Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-06-15
William J. Bryan Makes a
Brief Visit to Columbia.

pen in on Columbia for short Wis
it yesterday morning on his way
from Washington to Miami, Fla.
Mr.. Bryan was here for only
brief time between trains.
The commoner was in the best
of spirits, although suffering from
a severe cold. He came up town
from the railway station to the Of
flee of The State and gave out an
editorial that is to appear in this
weeks issue of The Commoner, in
reference to his change of resi-
dence from Nebraska to Florida.
Gsoss Sales Tax.
Mr.. Bryan also discussed briefly
the gross sales tax while here. "Do
you think the proposed gross sale
tax would tend to reduce the cost
of living" the commoner was asked
and he answered this by some re-
marks published this week in the
Atlanta Constitution.
sNot at all. 1t would simply trans
fer the tax from the profteer to
answers two purposes. First, it col
lects revenue from those who are
best able to pay. Second, it discour-
ages exploitation by taking from
the exploiter a considerable part of
his booty.
"What reason have we to believe
that profteer without conscience
would decrease prices merely be-
cause he can, when by keeping them
up he can make two or three times
as much? But the gross sale tax is
not likely to be indorsed by congress.
It operates too plainly. 1t shifts the
burden from the profteer to his
victim, but the process is so simple
that it is like snare set in sight of
the bird.
"The second suggestion was that
the tax on large incomes be reduced
without any reduction of the tax
on small incomes. 1t is doubtful
whether so plutocratic a proposition
will ever be reported by any commit
tee. If it is, some Democrat will
move to make the reduction apply
to small incomes and demand a roll
call-then the subsequent proceed
ings will interest the sponsors of this
plan no more"
Mr.. Bryan's editorial in reference
to his change of residence to Flor
ida follows: -
cs~ Text of Editorial.
'tThe following news item was CIV
en- to the press in New York on
May 81:
{" Mrs. Bryan's health is such
that it is necessary for us to live in
the South, and, having tested Mi.
amis climate for eight years, we
have chosen that city for our per-
manent home. For some time l have
been, politically speaking, in state
of suspended animation living in
Florida but voting in Nebraska. Be-
ing as much interested as ever in
the problems of government and de-
string to make my remaining years
as valuable to my country as pos
sible, 1 have decided to transfer my
citizenship to Florida, and thus make
my actual residence my legal resi-
dence also.'
"It announces decision reluct-
antly reached after months of. delib-
Grafton. For more than 33 years l
have registered from Lincoln, Neb.,
and my name has been associated
with the name Of the state as / have
been introduced to speak at gather
ings of every kind. look over
third of a century with feelings of
profound gratitude to the people of
Nebraska, as we'll as to the members
of the Democratic party, and the
attachment based upon appreciation
is not lessened by the separation
which 1 have felt it my duty to
make.
Beginning in 1888 the Demo-
Gratis of Nebraska have expressed
their confidence in me time and time
again. Twice they nominated me for
congress, once for the senate, three
times have they supported me for
president, and many times for del
egate to national conventions! Only
once have I been defeated by DEM
ocrats for any positions to which l
aspired, and that was in 1916, when
n, l.l.l:.. o,,oetiop noS hpplr-