Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-03-29
The Land-Taz Agitation
An Able Lecture by President Cham
berlaln in Opposition TO the Land
tax Reformer.
A Subject Well Worthy the Consider
alton of the People.

DKs MONIES, Iowa.-Res ponding to a re-
quest of citizens of Des Moiues, Presi-
dent William j. Chamberlain, of Iowa
Agricultural College delivered q public
lecture IN reply 10 the recent address de
ilvere6 by Henry George on Taxation"
Mr.. Chamberla was an attentive listen
or on the occasion of its delivery at the
same place, aud being thoroughly famjl-
lar WITH Mr.. Georges writings, he Is fully
equipped to enter the arena of public
debate as or opponent of that noted
lane tax agitator. He is with all A close
student of practical and economic ones
tions, and being a lifelong farmer he
naturally lnclines to the common sense
view that he rightfully owns the land
which he purchased by his labor.
As Mr.. Georges lecture is embodied in
the book which struck popular chord
and made his fortune, that was made the
subject of criticism and analysis The
speaker said he had carefully read Mr..
Georges published works, and believes
mis- teachings to be harmful. If adopted,
his teachings would revolutionize society.
discourage industry, and destroy the
main incentive to labor and economy.
The ultimate result would be copfscation
of property and bald communism.
| Mr.. Chamberlain quoted liberal ex.
! tracts from Progress and Poverty"
! IN which coumunistic sympatbies are
clearly revealed. Mr.. George therein
| euloglzed those Russian patriots called
NIhllIsts." According to his teachings
all private ownership of land is robbery
| and reform of slavery. The burden OF
! all his Writings is that land must be made
| common property. And this is the grand
| panacea for all the ills of modern society.
! He does not go to the extent of advocat-
| ing a sweeping confscation, but would
! start the avalanche of communism and
attempt to stop it half way down. That
cannot be done. He cannot coniscate
the land of the farmer and leave him his
stock and other products of his labor.
All property, said Mr.. Chamberlain, is
material improved by labor. Every
form of wealth is the product of earth
and the elements of nature-the heritage
of the race from God. Ownership in
land rests on purchase from society. The
title Is valid liz the individual if he paid
society for it, and for all the labor ex-
! pended on 1t. And sooiety-that in the
government-has q right to sell to indi-
vlduals; but this right Mr.. George de-
| MES.
Mr.. George advocates taxing the IN
earned increment of land---that is, the
value put into it by society. This he ad
mitted is not an original commercial
value of land; if not, then it is a creation
of human effort. All the society value of
land is the product of human labor.
The speaker stoutly denied Mr.. Georges
attrmatlon that the rise in land value is
not earned. TO illustrate this argument
he drew vivid sketch of Kansas town.
The pioneer settlers paiC the government
price for their land and IN due time the
community became prosperous aud all
values increased. The land owners paid
for this increment by miscellaneous. in
form Of improvements, building roads,
railroads, schools, churches, etc. Thew
endured privations, suffered from
thoughts, grasshoppers, and other draw
backs. And while the farmers Iaud was
rising, the newspaper property increased
by growth of subscri ption list; the doc
tors practice became more prufitaI lie;
the blacksmith's trade grew; all people
came when the pioneers labors made it
possible for them 70 come. All of these
lncrements Mr.. George would call I'M
earned; aud yet he would only tax the
increment of the farmer, leaving the in
creased value coming to Newspaper, doc
tor, lawyer, blacksmith, GO untaxed. Why
should A be taxed who has put his earn.
ings into land, and leave untaxed the
earning of B, in form of houses, shops
railroads or banks?
This lecture of Presiden' Chamberlain
ia deserving of an extensive hearing. 1t
| contains abundant thought material for a
| volume.