The Labor enquirer., 1886-10-02

soiu. Dut CduuOG overcome L8nO
Rent. He wishes something for nothing
and will thereby accumulate all Of my
tribe, and prevent our circulation" L
Old Fogy was attorney for Land Rent
He began: "My client is the bulwark
of civilization. If a man builds two
houses and needs but one, he is the BEN
efactor of some houseless family"
+ Progress answered; Don't you see
that imponderable spook standing near
your client2 That is House Rent. His
existence depends upon the fiourishing
condition of his principal. We are not
! trying him. Land Rent is the advocate
of robbery. He demands payment fol
that which costs nothing"
i Mr.. Fogy has not observed the trans
parent form of House Rent, so sat him
down to work up new theory.
Machinery arose and said: 81 wish
to protest against the slanders about me
started bv certain Trades Usions. l
came with no bad motive at the request
of Invention. But in certain cases
Labor has forbidden Capital to employ
me, on penalty of destroying Capitals
buildings. If Labor comedies the right
of Capital to own property, why am l
prescribed? If Labor claims all Capt.
tai why should nv servit es be refused ?"
"The point is well TAKEN" said Miss
Justice, Labor will please deliberate
further and report By the way, how is
Free Speech ?"
Justice looked to oward a small group at
window where a couch stood. Con-
stiUution replied: Still unconscious.
She has no fever, and there are no signs
of blood poisoning. The nervous shock
was great, but there need be no anx-
lety."
Socialism arose to offer a resolution.
Whereas, The laborirg people of CHI
Cago live in squalid tenements there.
fore, Resolved, that the state of Illinois
build twenty raiIro IDS, each fifty miles
long, radlating from Chicag1, and the
fare be fixed at cents for anv distance.
This. your honor, will give suburban
homes to the humblest laborers."
Il object on behalf of my client" said
Old Fogy. City real estate would fall
in value IS per cent. l can countenance
no such robbery. If tenants dislike
their quarters they can move"
Let the resolution be placed on fle,"
said Justice. The next matter in order
will be evidence connecting the late ver-
dict with our prisoner, Land Rent. 1t
seems absurd that men be hung without
being proved guilty. Is it taste of
Anarchy when an earthly jury disre-
gard the law and the evidence?'
Henry George arose. He had chloro-
formed himself in order to attend the
convention in spirit. Il will give my
opinion briefly" be began, Land val
ues gradually absorb the increase of
wealth, until the whole increase is rep
resented by the speculative and actual
value of land. This causes evil in two
ways. 1t prevents Labor's access to
land, and diverts Capital to unproduct-
i've channels Poverty results, and the
prisoners merely predicted that trouble
would occur Eetween the starving peo-
Pile and the officers hired to preserve
the existing order. We're land free, the
people could 60 uoon it, aud would re-
quire no saviors except teachers in CO.
operation and the science Of prOduc-
ton"
In the east gallery, Mr.. George had
assembled motley crew of witnesses,
which he now requested to testify
There were peddlers, thieves, beggars
and politicians pugilis-s, gamblers,
prostitutes and burglars, A tramp was
first askel to testif;.
II was born in Vermont, and was one
often children. The farm of sixty acres
being insufficient for 80 many, | was
laced in a cotton mill in G onnecticut at
the age of ten years | worked there
eight wears when the mill shut down.
Though there were thous lnds of acres
uncultivated around my old home, did
not 90 there, for that land was held for
higher price. started west and ped
died envelopes and writing paper in
| Cleveland, then tried to sell clothes
wringers in Chicago One day l got
tired and begged money enough to get
drunk. and next saw my body taken
out of the river"
AS he finished Charity we It and Mis-
erv shrieked
MY fathers farm said gambler,
was foreclosed bv mortgage, and went
to New York and became gambler, and
continued until stabbed to death over a
disputed game"
Here Justice requested that the con-
&ention preserve order. as respectable
ghosts should.
A miserable looking woman arose and
almost shouted: MY husband started
! west to look for work. I never saw hin
again and tried to live by the only
means that offered, but died in horrible
suffering within five years"
A farmer next testified: II lived in
California until an old claim was brought
for nv land, which had made into
oarden T WouId not vacate so was shot